Trekking Poles

Reviewed by FromSagetoSnow

  Great poles for the mountains Trekking poles have come a long way since the days of using old ski poles. I’ll admit that I resisted them for a long time, just assuming that they were nothing but extra weight and expense. While I seldom use them on easy, family hikes, I find them indispensable on climbing approaches and mountain hiking.  While these poles aren't cheap, Leki has addressed the problem of weight and stowability all while making some fantastic poles with the Makalu FX Carbon poles.

Read more: Leki Makalu FX Carbon review (1)

Reviewed by Pillowthread

Sturdy trekking poles with lockout-able shock absorbers and great cork grips. What's not to like? Mountain goats don't tackle mountains on two legs; why should you?

Best For: People who like good trekking poles. Design The Mountainsmith Carbonlites Pros are three-piece, telescoping poles built for rigorous use. The diameter of the sections is greater than many of the more lightweight options, and this allows a higher user weight limit. The sections can be completely disassembled for cleaning and lubing, allowing one to appreciate the beefy locking mechanisms employed. The poles sections themselves are constructed with an inner tube of aluminum, wrapped in carbon fiber.

Read more: Mountainsmith Carbonlite Pro review (1)

Featured review by Yul

These poles are as tough as it gets. I hiked around 1,000 miles in the last six months and I’m glad I had these poles to support me. These are so durable I never even had to tighten the screws of the Flicklocks! I hiked while carrying an average weight of 36 pounds (16 kilos) and in all types of terrain, but the majority of it were granite and other igneous rocks.

Durability Brilliant, superb, outstanding! There were numerous times I had put all of my weight on these poles and they never bent or seemed like they are going to. I threw them down slopes, dragged them on gravel roads and rock slabs and nothing broke, nothing turned loose. The flicklocks never failed! Neither did I ever have to tighten the screws, for 1,000 miles! That’s unbelievable in my point of view. The carbon tips seem like they will stand at least another 1,000 miles and though there is evident wear to them, it’s not nearly what I would expect it to be.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail reviews (7)

Featured review by Mackaym

The Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork trekking poles work very well and are comfortable. They do a great job of helping me keep my balance while carrying large or shifting loads. I would definitely recommend these poles to others.

I had been considering getting a set of trekking poles for a couple of years, and when I found this set for less than $50, I decided it was finally time. I purchased them at the beginning of January, 2012, and here I am nearly three months later, and I've only had a chance to use them a couple of times. Thus, only 4 stars for now, due to the unknown longevity factor.  If they prove to be durable through the summer, I will definitely up the rating. Immediately I could tell a difference between the quality of these poles and the quality of other trekking poles I've looked at in stores.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork reviews (13)

Featured review by Brian Nordberg

A beautiful pole that takes a beating, but the form over function of the flick lock design loses points. This is the 95-125 cm Women's version.

When the porcupine bites on my wife's 7 year old BD poles started to become annoying, we started looking for another set. These 7 year old poles have been champs with thousands and thousands of miles. And only a few issues. So we decided to grab a pair of the new Black Diamond Women's alpine carbon cork poles. At 5'2" the smaller size and weight limit means a lighter pole. And at 5'9" I was also able to use the poles without issue, but I had to extend them to their max. So we cannot recommend these if you are over 5'9" Old vs new The all carbon shaft is amazing at absorbing shock.

Read more: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork reviews (9)

Reviewed by Aris Kondylides

Very good, three-section aluminum trekking poles for trekking and year-round mountaineering. Sturdy and relatively light, feel dependable, and delivered with multiple baskets. Great price tag and the cost/quality ratio. 550g / 1 lbs 4 oz | Open, Max: 140 cm / 55 in | Collapsed 62.2 cm / 24.5 in

I was looking for a trekking pole to cover my needs for at least three-season use, and I generally accept something a little heavier to gain durability (and dependability). After some research I went with these poles, which are not widely well-known apparently, as other brands have the lion's share of the market and many buyers go by the reviews online to play it safe (completely understandable). Trekking poles fully retracted Trekking poles, fully open (right) and fully retracted (left) I was pleasantly surprised by this pair of trekking poles, which are three-section poles, made entirely of aluminum (MSR mentions the "light, high-strength 7075 aluminum lower sections").

Read more: MSR DynaLock Explore Backcountry Poles review (1)

Featured review by Bill S

The Cascade trekking poles are a very good design and construction. They appear to be very durable long-term. They are certainly a bargain for the price, delivering good performance, as good or better than many better-known, higher priced poles.

Background: The conventional wisdom is that poles provide better balance, promote rhythm when hiking, and “4 points on the ground”, especially on steep, rough trails, when carrying heavy loads. I have been using poles since I was very young, first as sticks I picked up along the trail, then single purpose-made staves (made from bamboo or various woods), often decorated with little plaques that showed where I had hiked. I will have to say that my favorite hiking staff is the one presented to me when I retired as Scoutmaster of Troop 5.

Read more: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Quick Lock Trekking Poles Cork Grip reviews (4)

Reviewed by Soleful2001

A sturdy lightweight staff that provides plenty of support for the backpacker who wants a hand free while hiking.

When my much loved Leki Makalu Tour trekking poles finally wore out after years and miles of use, I thought I might prefer a different approach when replacing them.  I decided after much consideration, to go with a hiking staff instead of trekking poles.  I so far have not regretted my decision.  My one staff, while not super light at 10 ounces, is still lighter than two trekking poles (at least in the sub $100 range). Also, along with the lightweight advantage I have one hand free while hiking at all times.

Read more: REI Hiker Shocklight Staff review (1)

Featured review by Sheila Bergin Goss

I generally use two poles for winter hiking and snowshoeing; but for summer treks, I find one pole is sufficient, and easier to keep out of the way during scrambles. Last summer, I decided to put away the single ski pole I had used for summer, and try an actual trekking pole. I did not want to spend a lot of money, as this was going to be new—using an adjustable pole, with spring mechanism. My husband and I bought the same model...well, I am now sold, and really like the Mountainsmith Trekker monopod.

The straps and grip are comfortable,and have a range of adjustments. I did put bicycle handlebar tape on my grip,as I prefer a thicker grip than is standard on any pole. The adjustable length feature is appreciated, and handy, as I hike varying terrain, and sometimes I want to not use the pole, and it can easily be clipped to my pack in its shortest configuration. My husband is quite tall, and uses the pole to compensate for a bad knee. Neither of us has experienced any slippage in the locking mechanism.

Read more: Mountainsmith Trekker FX MonoPod reviews (2)

Featured review by Phil Smith

The Tubbs 2-Part Adjustable Snowshoe Poles are lightweight, sturdy accessories for snowshoeing, helping with balance and increasing the aerobic workout. They're valuable for probing uncertain terrain as well.

I received the Tubbs 2-Part Adjustable Snowshoe Poles as a free gift with my purchase of Louis Garneau Blizzard II snowshoes from Campsaver. I have to admit that I wasn't expecting much after a few experiences with poles from other snowshoe manufacturers, but I was pleasantly surprised by these.  Not the best shot, but the graphics aren't really important.  The poles are 30.5" fully collapsed, which is 7.5" shorter than my 4- or 5-year old (natural aluminum) Black Diamond Synclines. Max length is 130cm/51", which is long enough for me on level or rolling terrain but not enough for steep descents.

Read more: Tubbs Trail Walking 2-Part Poles reviews (2)