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Trekking poles are the most underrated piece of hiking kit. They take a real, measurable load off your knees on descents, add two extra points of contact on loose or slippery ground, and turn a long, tiring day into a steadier and less punishing one. They also pitch some tents and probe boggy ground. The catch is that a cheap pair with a lock that slips mid-stride is worse than no poles at all, because you lean on them and they give way. Get the lock, the grip and the length right and they quickly become the kit you never leave behind. The picks below run from tough aluminium to ultralight folding carbon.
Quick Picks
- Best overall: Black Diamond Trail Back — durable, reliable, and priced right for most hikers.
- Best upgrade: Black Diamond Pursuit — cork grips and a silky FlickLock for long miles.
- Best budget: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber — carbon and cork grips at a bargain price.
- Best ultralight folding: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z — packs to 15 inches, under 5oz a pole.
- Best premium: Leki Black Series FX Carbon — the stiffest, most refined folding pole.
What Makes a Good Pole
The right poles come down to how you hike and how much you carry them versus use them. Rugged mountain days on rough ground reward tough aluminium poles with a secure lever lock. Fast-and-light trips, where the poles spend time strapped to a pack, favour ultralight folding carbon. Occasional, gentler walks are well served by an affordable adjustable pair. Decide which of those you are, then weigh material, locks, packability and grip in that light rather than chasing the lowest weight for its own sake.
Aluminium or carbon. This is the core trade-off. Aluminium is tougher and cheaper, and under extreme load it tends to bend rather than snap, so it limps home instead of failing outright, at the cost of a little more weight. Carbon is lighter and stiffer, and it damps trail buzz nicely, but a sharp impact or a pinch between rocks can crack it suddenly. For rough, remote ground where reliability matters most, aluminium is the safer pick; for counting every gram on maintained trails, carbon earns its price.
Locking mechanism. On an adjustable pole this is the part that decides whether you can trust it. A lever or flick lock clamps the shaft externally, is easy to adjust with gloves on, and rarely slips once set, which is why it dominates quality poles. A twist lock, which expands inside the shaft, is lighter and cheaper but is the classic culprit for collapsing under load at the worst moment. If you buy adjustable poles, prioritise a good lever lock above almost everything else.
Adjustable, folding or fixed. Telescoping adjustable poles let you shorten them for climbs and lengthen them for descents, and they share and pack down reasonably, which makes them the versatile all-rounder. Folding Z-poles collapse into short, tent-pole-like segments that stow tiny, ideal for fastpacking and travel, usually with limited adjustment. Fixed-length poles are the lightest and simplest but commit you to one length. Match the format to whether adjustability or minimum pack size matters more to you.
Grips, tips and where to spend. Cork grips mould to your hand and wick sweat and are the nicest over long days; foam is soft, light and cheap; rubber suits cold, wet conditions. Carbide tips bite rock and ice, and swappable baskets handle snow and mud. Spend on the lock mechanism and a comfortable grip, since those you feel every step, and treat carbon as worth it only if weight genuinely rules your kit. The mistakes are trusting a slipping twist lock, running the poles at the wrong length so your elbow is not near a right angle, and taking fragile carbon into sharp, rocky scree where a bend would beat a snap.
Tips, baskets, and weight. Carbide or steel tips bite into rock and dirt and are the part that wears fastest — choose poles with easily replaceable tips, and add rubber tip covers for pavement or rock slabs. Removable baskets keep poles from sinking in mud, sand, or snow (swap to wider snow baskets in winter). Keep the pair weight reasonable — under 20 ounces is a good benchmark, with ultralight pairs under 12 — since over thousands of steps, swing weight in the hands adds up. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the trekking poles.
The Trekking Poles, Reviewed
Black Diamond Trail Back
The reliable all-rounder and a long-standing favourite. It handles heavy loads and long miles without fuss, with durable aluminium construction, dependable FlickLock adjustment, and a comfortable grip — all at a price that suits most hikers. It isn’t the lightest or the fanciest, but it’s the pole that just works, trip after trip, and shrugs off abuse that fancier carbon poles wouldn’t. For most hikers and campers wanting one dependable pair, this is the easy, sensible choice. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Black Diamond Trail Back poles.
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Black Diamond Pursuit
The comfortable upgrade. It takes much of what’s great about premium poles — cushy cork grips, a silky-smooth FlickLock+ lever, a balanced feel, and bombproof aluminium construction — and delivers it at a mid-range price. The result is a stable, cruisy hiking experience over long distances, with easily replaceable carbide flex tips that last well past a thousand miles. For keen hikers who want real comfort and quality without paying premium money, it’s hard to beat. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Black Diamond Pursuit poles.
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber
The budget standout. It puts carbon-fibre shafts and real cork grips into a pole that costs a fraction of premium options, making lightweight, comfortable poles accessible to anyone. It’s not as refined or as long-lived as the top picks, but for casual hikers, beginners, or anyone who wants carbon-and-cork on a tight budget, the value is exceptional. A great entry point that punches well above its price. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber poles.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
The ultralight folding pick for fast-and-light trips. Its Z-pole design folds into three sections and packs down to around 15 inches — the most compact here — at under 5 ounces per pole, ideal for trail running, fastpacking, and stowing on a pack during scrambles. It uses a comfortable foam grip and a moisture-wicking strap, with interchangeable carbide and rubber tips. It’s a fixed length, a fair trade for the minimal weight and bulk. For thru-hikers and runners counting every gram, it’s a go-to. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles.
Leki Black Series FX Carbon
The premium folding pole that does everything well. The stiffest folding pole many testers have used, it pairs durable carbon construction with externally reinforced joints, an excellent cork grip, a grip extender, comfortable straps, and a premium flip-lock height adjuster — and it still folds down to about 16 inches. It’s expensive and mid-weight rather than ultralight, but for experienced hikers who want a fully-featured, durable folding pole built to last, it’s the top recommendation. Have a quick look at the current and most recent options on Amazon for the Leki Black Series FX Carbon poles.
Comparison
| Poles | Best For | Material | Why They Stand Out |
|---|---|---|---|
| BD Trail Back | All-round value | Aluminium | Durable, reliable, well-priced |
| BD Pursuit | Comfort upgrade | Aluminium | Cork grips, smooth lock |
| Cascade Mountain Tech | Budget carbon | Carbon | Carbon and cork, cheap |
| BD Distance Carbon Z | Ultralight folding | Carbon | Packs to 15″, under 5oz/pole |
| Leki Black Series FX | Premium folding | Carbon | Stiffest folder, fully featured |
The Short Version
Trekking poles repay their cost in saved knees and steadier footing on almost every walk, provided you buy a pair you can lean on without thinking. Choose tough aluminium with a lever lock for rugged ground, ultralight folding carbon when weight and pack size rule, and a good-value adjustable pair for gentler days. Prioritise a secure lock and a comfortable grip, set them so your forearm is roughly level when the tip is planted, and lengthen them for descents where your knees will thank you most.
Pair them with the rest of a comfortable hike-and-camp setup: our guides to the best sleeping bags for camping, best headlamps for camping, and best camping first aid kits round out the kit.
Common Questions
Are trekking poles worth using?
For most hikers, yes. Poles take a genuine load off the knees on descents, where the impact is hardest, and they add stability on loose, wet or uneven ground and on stream crossings. They also share the effort of climbing between your arms and legs. The main downside is having your hands occupied, so many people carry them and deploy them mainly for descents and rough sections rather than using them every step.
Aluminium or carbon trekking poles?
It depends on where you walk and what you value. Aluminium is tougher, cheaper and tends to bend rather than snap under extreme load, which makes it the dependable choice for rough, remote terrain. Carbon is lighter and stiffer and damps vibration well, but a hard knock or a pinch between rocks can crack it. Choose aluminium for durability and peace of mind, and carbon when saving weight is your priority and the ground is not too brutal.
What length should trekking poles be?
Set them so that when the tip is on the ground, your elbow forms roughly a right angle with your forearm level. That is the neutral length for flat ground. On long climbs, shorten the poles a little for more efficient purchase; on descents, lengthen them so you can plant ahead without stooping. Adjustable poles let you tune this as the terrain changes, which is a large part of why adjustability is useful.