9 Best Trekking Poles (Review) In 2021

Features To Look For In Trekking Poles

Every hiker and backpacker is different in terms of their physicality (height, weight, and frame) and also the terrain and conditions in which they choose to trek. So picking the right pair of trekking poles for you might depend on different features to someone else. Of course, the budget that you have at your disposal will also have a significant part to play. So let’s take a look at some of the most important features you should be considering before you go ahead and invest in a pair of trekking poles.

Adjustability - Assuming that you won’t always be trekking over totally flat terrain, it’s advisable to invest in a pair of adjustable walking sticks so that you can support your weight as well as being more comfortable and secure when tackling various incline ascents and descents. For flat terrain trekking, the optimum poison of your arms is at a 90-degree bend.  Heading uphill you will want to shorten your poles by 5 to 10 cos and heading back downline lengthier by 5 to 10 cms to feel stable footed and secure.

Shaft Material - At the top end of the market, you will find carbon fiber shafts. Aluminum is also a popular choice as they tend to be harder wearing, slightly cheaper and can better survive the occasional dent and ding. It’s also possible to get hybrid poles constructed from a carbon-aluminum which delivers the best of both worlds. These are a cost effective option and will give you a good taste of what you can expect from the enhanced experience of using fully carbon fiber when you are ready to upgrade.

Grips - The grip of your trekking poles is going to be an important consideration as you will most likely spend hours with the poles in your hands, so you want to invest in a material that is both comfortable, supportive and ergonomically designed. You also don’t want a material that is going to make your hands sweat, and that is breathable and moisture wicking. Your main options are cook, foam, rubber and also plastic. They all have their relative merits and costs associated with them too. Most of the high-end trekking poles will feature cork whereas at the budget end you’re more likely to encounter rubber and plastic.

Locking System - If you want to be able to stride forth and seize the day confidently, or the mountain, just you and your poles at one with the tundra, then you need a locking system that won’t let you down and collapse under pressure. It’s not an over exaggeration to say that your life could depend upon the reliability of your trekking poles. Besides the ultralight folding pole style, you have two main options when it comes to locking mechanisms: lever lock and twist lock. Twist lock always used to the industry standard, and they are perfectly adequate, but these days there has been more of a shift in popularity toward lever locking systems. Lever locking poles overall seem to inspire more confidence and are easy to operate and will only occasionally require tightening.

Weight - Weight is important and will to a certain extent determine the overall durability of your trekking poles too. Something like a carbon fiber pole will be lightweight, and they are especially popular with thru-hikers. If you are walking day in day out for prolonged periods at a time, your arm muscles will certainly benefit from having something more lightweight. Heavy poles might be more durable but chances are your shoulders will be beat and not your feet! Even just by eliminating a few ounces of weight you can make a big difference to those overall comfort levels and amount of fatigue you can expect to experience. So weigh up (pardon the pun) how frequently you intend using your poles and decide whether sturdy and robust, lightweight or ultra-lightweight is what you need.

Packed Size - If you opt for either a telescopic of a folding pair of collapsible walking sticks you will be able to pack these down for convenient and space saving storage. If you go for a fixed pair of trekking poles, then you will need to find a suitable space to store these when not in use.

Shock Absorption - Anti-shock technology is a good idea particularly if you are hiking in more challenging conditions or you are keen to protect your joints and minimize impact and stress and strains. Whether you prefer a rigid pair of poles or shock absorbing ones might be a personal preference but generally speaking, anti-shock is a popular choice these days.

Durability - It’s always important to think about how long you want something to last, especially if you are spending a good amount of money on something. It stands to reason that you will want your investment to last you (with proper care and maintenance) for as long as is realistically possible. The more lightweight the shaft material, the more likely they will be to crack, snap, bend or break over time. Ultralight has its place so obvious reasons, but if you want something more reliable and tough as old boots, then you might what to think about the material you go for. Where you hike is important and also how you long go out for at a time. You need to get the balance right between comfortable and practical to use and also long-lasting.

Versatility - In an ideal world, you want to purchase just the set of trekking poles that will meet your requirements whether you are trekking in the summer or the winter months rather than having a different set for all eventualities. If you do intend trekking in snow and ice conditions, you need a pair that are tough and durable and offer a substantial amount of weight support and good balance. Versatile 4-Season poles won’t just save the budget, but they’ll also save on storage space.

Trekking Pole FAQ

Q: What are the advantages of using Trekking Poles?

A: If you are wondering whether you even need to have trekking poles and why then you’ve obviously not tried them out yet. If you had, you’d know what they are pretty awesome and have a tone of benefits.

Not only do they help to reduce and minimize the harsh impact that hiking over rough and uneven terrain can have on the body, but they also provide balance and stability as well as helping you to get into a consistent stride pattern and rhythm. They also importantly take some of the load and pressure off your vulnerable joints, especially those knees, ankles, and hips which can take a lot of strain.

Over time, using trekking poles will significantly reduce unwanted wear and tear on the body plus they also provide you with a much better cardiovascular workout too. Just by using trekking poles you could expect to increase your calorie expenditure by up to 46% as opposed to without them. They really do help to improve mobility and are perfect for all ages and levels of ability.

Q: How long do my Trekking Poles need to be?

А: If you’re new to trekking poles and you’re not quite sure how long they should be don’t worry too much as most poles are designed to be retractable and can be adjusted to accommodate flat terrain versus uphill and downhill activity. For flat ground, the perfect length should be one that allows you to bend your arms at approximately 90 degrees. Once you’ve got that position just right, take a note of it for future reference to make setup quicker. For steeper inclines and declines you will need to adjust the length of your poles accordingly. Hiking uphill your poles will need to be shortened so that you get better traction whereas conversely when trekking downhill, the poles need to be lengthened so that you can extend them into the ground to support your body weight. How much you need to adjust from the 90-degree rule will be a bit of trial and error according to your own height versus the severity of an incline or decline that you are currently tackling.

Q: What are the different types of trekking poles?

A: When it comes to your walking poles design you have three principle choice; telescopic, folding and fixed.

Telescopic - these are perhaps the most common and popular option that consists of two or three sections which nest inside each other with a locking mechanism to adjust and hold them in place. They’re a great option if you want to be able to pack down your poles into a bag for transporting when not in use.

Folding - also known as Z type or folding trekking poles they usually come in three sections that fold to roughly a 1/3 the overall length. They’re held together by an internal tension cord, and each section can be unfolded to form one single shaft that then gets locked into place. Again, like the telescopic version, they can be packed down small and are both lightweight and space saving.

Fixed - the least popular as they can’t be adjusted to deal with uphill and downhill situations. These are a fixed length, straight shaft pole which makes them more difficult to stow away.

Q: How to fix a broken Pole?

A: Your first port of call would be to refer to your manufactures guidelines and to check the warranty that you have in place. You may be able to get a free replacement which will save you the hassle of trying to fix a broken pole yourself. Not much good if you are halfway into a challenging hike through and need two functioning poles to complete your trek safely. We recommend that you check out YouTube where you will find plenty of useful resources and videos on the subject so you can ensure, should be unfortunate circumstance arise, you are well prepared and are carrying an emergency repair kit.