Gossamer Gear Lightrek 3

These poles are so light that you'll never get over how light they are. When it comes to non-collapsing poles, let's face it, a pole is pretty much a pole. What sets one apart from another is grip comfort, strength and weight.

When it comes to weight, nothing comes close to these poles. My 120cm poles weigh 2.9 oz. each! The amazing thing is, this doesn't appear to come as a result of a compromise with strength. I put a lot of weight on them especially on steep, rocky descents and they take it.

As far as comfort goes, they have another winner. The soft grips keep discomfort and fatigue to a minimum. When I'm descending, I usually have the top of the grip against my palm the way I'd use a cane to support my weight. The wide soft top distributes the load across my hand for maximum comfort.

The only potential disadvantage is they're not adjustable for length to collapse for stowing or to adjust for use as a tent pole. If that's an issue, check out the Lightrek 4, a collapsible pole that only weighs a half ounce more.