12 Best Trekking Poles of 2024

Price

Price is a huge factor in any buying decisions for most people and the poles we’ve assessed cover a wide range of budget points – indeed there’s an eight times difference in cost between the least and most expensive poles we’ve assessed and we could certainly find other examples that would widen this gap further! As with any type of equipment, it’s easy to get carried away by features and specification. Spending more money on your walking poles will typically get you more advanced or premium materials such as carbon fiber and cork over aluminum and high density foam. You can also expect to pay extra for design innovation and shock-absorbing technology. Folding or collapsible trekking poles typically cost more than telescopic poles and of course poles form big name brands carry a price premium too. However, the fact of the matter is that hiking poles have a fairly basic job to preform and unless you need specific specialized features that a certain model offers, a basic pole is likely to be all you actually need. It’s also worth considering that trekking poles can have a hard life when in use, being bashed against rocks and so forth.

The bigger brands who dominate the hiking pole market – Leki and Black Diamond – both offer readily available spare parts for their poles and these are not just available direct from the brands, but can also often be found in better stocked outdoors shops. Whilst you’ll definitely pay a premium for a pole form either of these brands, the easy availability of spares means that should anything ever wear out or get broken, that there’s a good chance the poles can be repaired (even mid-way through a trip, provided you can get to a good outdoors store that stocks the parts). This truly makes these poles long-term investments and many of these brand’s products could easily last you a lifetime.

Comfort

Comfort in hiking poles comes from a number of factors. First and foremost is the material used in the pole shafts. Typically this will be aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is seen as having better vibration absorption qualities than aluminum, though it is typically more expensive. Next, manufacturers might add specific shock absorbers into the pole design – these can take the form of joints that compress under pressure or ‘springy’ sections in the main pole shafts. Finally, the grip, both in terms of its material, shape and any tech used in it can also absorb shock and vibration. Taken together, some or all of these features can really help to absorb impact from use. You might think that a pole with more shock absorption is a better choice, but this isn’t always the case.

First of all, anti-shock devices add weight and cost, but in some circumstances, they can also cause problems: imagine you’re crossing tricky technical terrain. At points, you’ll need to put your full weight – and also the weight of any pack you’re carrying – on you poles in order to steady yourself as you progress. In this case, you want to know that the pole has good purchase or grip on whatever surface you’re crossing before you lean into it. In this case, a springy anti-shock joint can make you doubt the grip the pole you’re about to lean your full weight into has on the ground. So, with this scenario in mind, anti-shock features are not always desirable. Ultimately, your choices here should be guided by the type of activity you do and your own comfort expectations. If you do a minimal amount of technical trekking, then a set of poles with plenty of shock-absorbing features makes sense. If you’re more into mountaineering, then something more rigid is probably more sensible.

Grip material is also relevant here. Most poles feature high density foam grips though some models still use cork (you’ll also find rubber used on poles intended for mountaineering or deep winter use – though we haven’t covered any of these more specialist products in our round up). Cork is a natural material and aside from its aesthetic appeal, some hikers prefer it as it will mold to your hand shape over time. For some, this could be a vital factor in their buying decision, though we don’t rate this quality as highly. Every pole we’ve assessed also comes with a wrist strap. To be honest we don’t use these – this is largely because we’re also carrying camera gear when we hike and unlooping your hand from a strap when you want to take a picture can and does slow you down, but in some circumstances – for instance where there’s a risk you may drop a pole somewhere you might not be able to retrieve it – these are helpful.

Versatility

Versatility is a difficult trait to quantify as it really depends on what you, the user of the poles, want to do with them. Traits like a wide adjustable range will appeal to someone who hikes over a variety of terrain and in different weather conditions and who might just as likely use the poles with snowshoes in Winter as they do with boots in Summer. That person will want a strong pole with wide adjustability. However, a trail runner or ultra-lightweight backpacker would probably view that versatility as unnecessary extra weight and will be happy to accept some concessions to save some weight or space in their pack. Similarly, if you travel a lot by air, a smaller packed size – which often comes at the expense of a more limited range of height adjustment – might mean you favor one type of versatility over another.

As with all gear, there’s no ‘magic bullet’ product that ticks all the right boxes. If you want one feature – whether that’s strength, low weight, shock absorption, small packed size or whatever – it will always have to come at the expense of something else. Our comparison tables and individual product reviews listed above contain key stats and our insights into each product we’ve assessed to help you find the poles that are right for you and what you do. Remember, that your experience of the outdoors will be very different to ours and the versatility you may value or need for what you do is likely to different to us too.

Weight

Weight is an important factor with any piece of equipment, and it’s no different with hiking poles. The poles we’ve assessed come in at a wide range of weights – from 340g/14oz up to 612g/1lb 6oz for a pair. Whenever we mention weight, we’ll always be talking about the weight of a pair of poles and never just a singular stick. Certain buyers will always favor the absolute lightest equipment, and there are plenty of options available here, but as with most things, light weight comes with concessions in terms of rigidity, longevity and adjustability. It’s worth considering the type of hiking you do, the kind of loads you routinely carry and the type of terrain you’ll encounter when choosing trekking poles. Heavier poles tend to have sturdier build and wider adjustable ranges, and these are traits that many hikers will gladly exchange some weight for. Our trekking pole reviews will give you an indication of what sort of hiking or trekking each pole is suitable for and this can help inform your decisions on whether ultra lightweight is the way to go for you.

Packed Size

Packed size refers to how long the pole is when folded down and this is clearly an important factor, not just when out on the trail but also when planning the gear to bring when travelling. Be sure to check out our guide to travelling by air with hiking poles, but in summary, if you’re travelling by air, your trekking poles or sticks are going to have to go into checked luggage as airline security can consider them a weapon and generally won’t allow them in carry-on luggage (we actually had poles confiscated by airport security once and had to pay a hefty fee to get them back when we returned from our trip). Hiking poles or sticks generally come in two different designs: telescopic and folding. Of these two, folding poles are typically way shorter when collapsed. It varies by model, of course, but telescopic poles usually fold down to 60-70cm/23.5-27.5in and already that will be too long for many travel bags.

By contrast, folding poles typically collapse to somewhere in the range of 37-45cm/15-18in, making them much more luggage-friendly. Packed size is also important on the trail. You may not use your poles all the way through a hike and when not in use, they’ll likely be attached to your backpack. Long telescopic poles will extend above the height of all but the biggest of hiking packs and we’ve regularly encountered scenarios where the protruding ends have snagged in vegetation – though we’d say this is more of an inconvenience than a severe problem. By contrast, folding poles are unlikely to exceed the height of most hiking packs, so they present less of a snagging risk.

Adjustability

Adjustability is a key element in hiking or trekking poles and personal preference and health conditions as well as the type of activity you’re doing and/or the terrain your crossing will all play a part in the length of your poles. As a general starting point, with the pole upright on the ground, the grip should fall into your hand if you’re stood upright with your elbow bent at 90 degrees relative to your upper arm. Most hiking poles have a marked length scale so you can make a note of this ‘starting point’ length and easily set it again in the future. If you’re determining this length at home, be sure to do so whilst wearing your hiking boots. Now, this is a starting point and whilst this may suit most hikers most of the time, there are also plenty of reasons why you might want to deviate from this.

First off, if you have mobility or joint problems anywhere in your hands, wrists, arms or upper body in general, you may find some slight adjustments make a big difference to your comfort. Next, we should consider the terrain or environment we’re crossing. Steep descents, crossing streams or hiking in deep snow are all scenarios where your poles will be lower than the regular position. If you’re finding you need to slouch forward to keep your grip on the poles, you’re not only going to fatigue yourself faster, but also destabilize your balance, thus negating two of the key benefits poles bring. These are all circumstances where extending the poles a bit more than normal can be helpful – though exactly how much will depend on each situation alongside individual preferences. If you’re ascending steeply on varied terrain (think of rock steps on a mountain side), sometimes shortening your poles can add comfort and control and help with your balance. As a general rule, the steeper and more varied the range of terrain you tend to hike on is, then the more you’ll benefit from poles with a wider range of extension.

You should also consider how your height might impact things here: if your regular extension puts your poles at or very close to their extension, limits then you won’t see all the benefits of being able to adjust your poles for specific terrain. Of course, adjustability is also important if you will be sharing your equipment. Whilst a wide adjustment range is clearly desirable – especially if you hike over tough and varied terrain – there’s always a trade off. The poles with the greatest adjustment range tend to be telescopic designs that won’t pack down as small as folding designs and, of course, poles with greater adjustability need more material, so they are bound to be heavier too. Clearly, you’ll need to make a decision on what factors are most important to you and the type of outdoor activity you do when choosing your trekking poles.

Construction

A trekking pole’s construction can be divided into two categories: the general design of the pole and also what materials and fittings are used. Hiking poles come in two basic designs: telescopic and folding or collapsible. Telescopic poles are what most people will probably think of when they imagine a hiking pole: these poles typically have three sections and the sections towards the tip push inside the section above it for storage and to control working length. This is a simple and time-tested design, and you’ll find this in use at all price points. The downside is that telescopic poles typically have a longer closed length than the alternative.

Folding poles have three sections connected by a strong cable – you might sometimes see these called ‘Z’ folding poles as the sections resemble the letter ‘Z’ when laid out. To extend the pole, these connected sections are typically loosely fitted together, then a single telescopic section is extended to give the pole tension. A further telescopic section may be used to control the working length of the pole. This design is more complex and is typically found on more pricey poles that use lighter weight material to offset any weight premium the more complex design brings. The big advantage of folding poles is that they are generally way more compact than telescopic poles when folded. However, they also tend to have a more limited set of adjustments and are usually more expensive too.

In terms of materials, the two main choices are aluminum and carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is lighter and has better vibration absorption qualities, but it’s also typically more expensive than aluminum and it can be considered less durable too. Aluminum will bend whereas carbon will chip, crack and can even shatter when pushed past its limits. A bent aluminum pole can usually be manipulated back into shape so that at the very least it can get you to the end of your trek, but a badly cracked or shattered carbon fiber pole is beyond repair in the field. There are also concerns that carbon fiber – or more specifically the epoxy resin that binds the fibers – can become brittle in very cold conditions – though note that we’re talking about the kind of cold you’d find in the high Arctic here.

All this said, carbon fiber is still a great choice for trekking poles. It’s been in use for decades and it certainly shouldn’t be considered an overly fragile choice. There’s no reason why a set of carbon fiber trekking poles shouldn’t last you many years or even a lifetime. Those setting out on expeditions into very extreme conditions or isolated places, might still prefer to use aluminum poles though as they are more conducive to field repairs if needed.

One Pole or Two?

Throughout this round up, we’ve spoken about poles as pairs and every pole we’ve assessed is sold as such. However, some poles are available singularly and even if you buy a pair, there’s no reason why you need to hike with both. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to see hikers with a single pole on the trails. So, what’s better, one pole or two? As you might have guessed, there’s no straightforward answer to this and personal preference will play a major role here. If you’re involved in an activity like trail running or Nordic Walking, or simply want the best benefit you can get from hiking with poles, then a pair is definitely preferable. However for general hiking or trekking, there’s a case to be made for using a single pole. If you are used to using a single walking aid – a conventional walking stick or even a full-length umbrella – in your day-to-day life, then you find the approach of taking one pole on the trail feels more natural, and on many trails, this may offer you all the additional support you require.

For those concerned with weight or simply the amount of stuff they carry, there’s also a compelling reason to ditch one of your poles. A single pole can still be a very useful aid, even on more technical terrain. However, we personally find the benefit of carrying both poles over one to be well worth the often small amount of extra weight involved andwhen they can help the most, having both poles available is definitely a plus point.

Nordic Walking

Nordic walking is a subject that often crops up in conjunction with trekking poles and indeed a set of poles is an essential piece of equipment for this activity. What exactly is Nordic Walking? Nordic Walking was developed as a way for cross-country (or ‘Nordic’) skiers to keep training during the Summer months when there was no snow on the ground. It’s a form of extra-active walking that uses the same type of movement used in cross-country skiing and turns walking into more of a full-body exercise. It can be used purely as a work-out (and it’s a very good one at that!), but it also encourages the walker to move faster and (arguably) more efficiently, so it can also be a great technique to employ if you need or want to cover a large distance on relatively even terrain on your hike.

You can buy specific Nordic Walking poles if you search for them, and if you carefully compare these to ‘regular’ walking or trekking poles, you’ll spot some differences like a slightly different grip shape or angled rubber feet or carbide tip. The key difference is the wrist strap. Most hiking poles use a simple loop here, but Nordic Walking poles utilize a cut away glove that may even have a quick release mechanism. Whilst the use of the loop is optional when hiking or trekking, wearing the glove is an essential part of the technique when Nordic Walking. Generally, regular hiking, trekking or walking poles are not recommended for Nordic Walking though they could probably be made to work in a pinch and if you don’t mind some performance concessions.

How to Use Trekking and Hiking Poles

Why use trekking poles at all? Trekking poles bring two main benefits to the user: The first is to help you balance and to navigate across terrain. You can use poles to help lever you up ascents and steady you on steep descents. They can provide extra stability when crossing streams or slippery terrain and help prevent you from losing balance when trying to do all the above with a heavy backpack. Beyond all of this, they can help you avoid fatigue whilst hiking as they engage your core and upper body in your movement, relieving pressure on your hips, knees, ankles and feet.

The starting point with poles is to set them to the correct length. Generally, when stood upright (and wearing whatever footwear you typically do on the trail), with your arms bent at right angles and holding your poles, the tip of the pole should be touching the ground and the pole shafts perpendicular to it. But that’s just a starting point and whilst this length may suit most activities for most hikers most of the time, you may want to fine-tune the length based on your own personal comfort. There are also circumstances where you might want to lengthen or shorten you poles. On steep descents, crossing streams or when hiking in deep snow – basically anything where the ground level is lower than normal, it’s useful to lengthen your poles as having to slouch down with them will negate some of the advantage they provide.

On steep ascents, it may also be helpful to shorten your poles. It’s worth getting to know the ‘feel’ of your poles – what sort of ‘feedback’ to they give when they are engaged with the walking surface and so on. As you grow more familiar with them, you will gain the confidence to put more of your weight on them. Ultimately, poles are a tool you can use to make your hiking easier, safer and more enjoyable, but as with all such tools (crampons, snowshoes. Ice-axes etc.) there’s a bit of a learning curve required.

Conclusion

Hiking or trekking or walking. Poles or sticks or canes. There’s a lot of ways to describe the same thing. Trekking poles are a common sight on the trail, but you’re also just as likely to see hikers not using them. We’ve heard plenty of people say that they don’t use hiking poles because they don’t use a walking stick in their day-to-day life. However, to view hiking poles as simply a mobility aid is, we think, short-sighted. They bring a lot of advantages to hikers, trekkers, backpackers and mountaineers alike. If you want to help improve your balance when crossing tricky terrain or add a tool to help you relieve the pressure on your lower body joints so you can hike for longer and faster, then walking poles are well worth a look. As we’ve covered in this article, there are many different choices to make when choosing the right set of trekking poles for you, but if you consider what your outdoors experience typically is and what you want to get from it, we think that the right choice for poles will be sure to make a positive difference and that’s got to be a good thing!