Trekking poles are typical equipment used for various purposes. However, their main uses are hiking, trekking, backpacking, and even walking in the snow.
Different types of poles are able to offer different benefits.
Most are sold in pairs and are able to enhance your stability while also reducing the amount of pressure that’s put on your knees when you’re walking.
It can be difficult to find the best trekking poles, especially when there are so many options on the market. This is why we gathered the best options in 2019, so you could make an informed purchase.
The items below were arranged from good to best according to several criteria (weight, material, price to quality ratio, endurance, versatility).
Product | Season | Recommended For | Our Verdict | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cascade Mountain Tech 3K Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking | Best lightweight trekking pole | Check Price |
TrailBuddy Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Hiking, trekking, or backpacking | Best trekking pole for the money | Check Price |
Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Adjustable Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Hiking, trekking, or backpacking | Best trekking pole for walking | Check Price |
Foxelli Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking | Best trekking pole for hiking | Check Price |
XMmux Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Outdoors Lifestyle, Hiking, Trekking | Best trekking pole for mountaineering | Check Price |
Andake Ultralight Trekking Poles |
All seasons | Hiking and trekking | Best folding trekking pole | Check Price |
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | 9.9 ounces per pole |
Product dimensions | 25 inches to 54 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking |
These poles are lightweight and suitable for all conditions, so they’re able to benefit you during all activities. They also contain anti-slip grips that are composed of natural cork material.
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | 9.5 ounces |
Product dimensions | 100 centimeters to 135 centimeters |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Backpackers |
These trekking poles are some of the best walking sticks for hiking because they’re lightweight and durable, and they can be used in all types of different terrains and conditions. They also come with accessories, like mud baskets, snow baskets, 2 pairs of rubber tips, connectors, and a carry bag.
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | N/A |
Product dimensions | 43 inches to 53 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, or backpacking |
These trekking poles have a carbide tip that is durable and able to find traction on various different types of surfaces, including dirt and lose gravel. There are also different grip options that you can chose from, including a cork grip as well as an EVA grip.
Material | Carbon fiber |
---|---|
Weight | 7.8 ounces |
Product dimensions | 26 inches to 54 inches |
Season | Spring, Summer, and Fall |
Recommended for | Hiking |
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles are some of the best hiking sticks because they come with a cork grip that’s both comfortable and convenient for you to utilize while you’re on a hiking trip on all types of different surfaces.
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | 9.7 ounces |
Product dimensions | 54 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, or backpacking |
Sold in pairs, these poles come with an adjustable wrist strap as well as a metal flip lock mechanism. It’s also compact and can be folded into your backpack.
Material | Carbon fiber |
---|---|
Weight | 8 ounces |
Product dimensions | 26 inches to 54 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking |
These poles contain handles that are sweat-absorbent, non-slip, and they’re extremely comfortable. They’re also able to reduce the pressure on your knee with lightweight carbon material.
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | 10.4 ounces |
Product dimensions | 26 inches to 54 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, or backpacking |
These trekking poles are able to give you optimized comfort, since they contain ergonomic EVA foam handles as well as a wrist strap for additional stability. These poles also come with replaceable tips, removable ferrules, and even baskets for the mud and snow.
Material | Carbon fiber |
---|---|
Weight | 7 ounces |
Product dimensions | 24 inches to 55 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking |
Foxelli Trekking Poles are one of the best hiking poles because they come with cork grips that are anti-slip and they prevent your hand from slipping, since they can adjust to your hands. They also come with a sleeve that’s made of EVA foam in order to offer maximized comfort.
Material | Carbon fiber |
---|---|
Weight | N/A |
Product dimensions | 26 inches to 52 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking, trekking, and backpacking |
These are the best trekking poles because they’re able to adjust to a variety of heights, and they also have cork grips that are able to provide comfort as well as prevent your hands from slipping.
Material | Aluminum |
---|---|
Weight | 9 ounces |
Product dimensions | 23 inches to 51 inches |
Season | All seasons |
Recommended for | Hiking and trekking |
These are the best hiking poles because they have a shock-absorbing system that absorbs shock while you’re traveling downhill. Additionally, they have an anti-skid grip as well as an adjustable wrist strap.
What You Should Know
When Shopping for Trekking Poles
Before you decide on one pair of trekking poles to purchase, you should consider a few things first in order to choose the best poles for your specific needs.
Length
You want poles that are comfortable to use, so make sure that they allow your elbow to bend at a 90-degree angle when the tip is on the ground.
Adjustment mechanism
You want poles that are easy to adjust, so choose either the lever-lock mechanisms or the twist lock mechanisms. Both are able to effectively adjust your poles to your desired height.
Overall design
There are generally three different designs that you can purchase, including the two-section telescoping design, the three-section design, and the folding design. Two-section poles are the most durable, but they’re heavier and less compact.
Three-section poles are the most common, more compact, and lightweight, but they’re less durable. Folding designs are the lightest and most compact, but their height usually cannot be adjusted.
Material
You should consider the material of the poles because this ultimately determines their durability. Most poles are typically composed of an aluminum or carbon fiber material.
Weight
You’ll want to consider the most lightweight trekking poles that you can find, but make sure that they aren’t too lightweight that they don’t have any durability.
Common Questions
and Answers
Why do I need to use trekking poles?
Trekking poles are needed in order for you to keep balanced and avoid falling over while you’re hiking on uneven surfaces.
Should I purchase poles that have a twist lock or clip locks?
Clip locks tend to be more reliable and less likely to come apart, but both types of adjustment mechanisms are able to effectively keep your pole in your desired height.
Should my poles be made of aluminum or carbon fiber?
It depends on your personal preference, since both materials have different advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum material is heavier, but it’s more durable. On the other hand, carbon fiber is more lightweight, but it can break easily if it’s dented or impacted.
Conclusion
Overall, you should use trekking poles when you’re hiking in order to remain stable and comfortable when you’re hiking, walking, or trekking on different surfaces. Given the various beneficial features that each of these best trekking poles offers, you should consider purchasing one of the trekking pole products on this list.