The best trekking poles 2023: take the strain off and go further, faster

The best trekking poles take the strain off your limbs and joins during long day hikes and backpacking expeditions. They not only extend your body’s hiking shelf life, they also allow you move faster along the trails for longer, which is why they are a common feature at trail runs as well as on the hiking trails.

Of course, you might not need them for every step, hop, skip and jump. Advances in design and lightweight materials mean that many of the best trekking poles are featherlight and fold down to almost nothing, thus slot into your backpack effortlessly. An easily stored pole is worth its weight in gold.

There are many different designs and types available today, from carbon fiber poles for running to most robust aluminium options for backpacking. Confronted by this bewildering array, it’s important to get your hands on the right pole for your height, while the style and specs need to be compatible with the exploits you have planned, whether you’re off in your hiking shoes or trail runners. 

In this buying guide, we featuring the best trekking poles for various applications, including hill walking, backpacking, trail running and snowshoeing – but not Nordic walking, a pursuit that has a different set of requirements. We start with lightweight models, the perfect accompaniment to your trail running shoes, and move on to more robust, heavier models – ideal for longer hiking expeditions.

The best lightweight trekking poles

This excellent product from trekking pole aficionados Leki are on the lighter side of the pole spectrum. They’re not as light as some dedicated running poles, though they're definitely less weighty than a lot of hiking models, placing them somewhere between. This makes them suitable for both walking and running. 

One look at the grip confirms this impression, with an ergonomic faux cork foam handle along with the kind of breathable mesh, glove-style strap typically seen on running poles. Their low gram count comes thanks to a carbon shaft rather than the aluminium found in many premium hiking pairs. The Cross Trails are telescopic – their three segments slide into each other, rather than folding up like a collapsible model. The sections are locked into place using Leki’s Speedlock 2 plus clamps.

If going fast and light is your thing, Leki’s telescopic Cross Trail Lite Carbon poles are just the ticket, with features to please both summit bagging hikers and ridge-hopping skyrunners.

Read our full Leki Cross Trail Lite Carbon trekking poles review

If you’re looking for a pair of poles capable of performing on any sort of terrain, which won’t take up too much space in your pack, the Ridgelines are well worth running your eyes over. Made to a four-piece design, they collapse down much smaller than most telescopic poles, which makes a big difference when you’re transporting them. Sections are thicker than most telescopic poles too, and the extra girth – combined with the quality of the DAC aluminum alloy used in their construction – gives them much more strength. 

The tough tungsten-carbide tips have a pointy profile, allowing for precision placement on technical trail. And we were really impressed with the assembly method, whereby each section slots into place and is held in position by pop-out buttons, with a single lever tightening and securely locking the whole pole in place. Once that’s all done, you can adjust the height from the top section. The shaped top grip feels good and comfortable in the hand, and there is a lower grip area (albeit a small one). They’re pretty pricey, but other grumbles are minor, and include the fact that the wrist strap isn’t overly comfortable. Available in four lengths/versions, Ridgeline poles come with rubber tip covers for use on hard surfaces, and they are covered by a 5-year warranty.

The best trekking poles for robust support

Trekking poles are excellent for transferring weight and stress away from knees and ankles, but that does mean wrists and elbows take up extra strain. For trekkers taking on longer distances over hard rocky terrain, while carrying a full pack, and people prone to joint soreness, this be problematic - and shock absorbing technology can help. Black Diamond aren’t the only brand to offer extra bounce their poles, but their proprietary progressive four-stage control-shock technology is superb. Located in the dual-density grip, it dampens the impact of repeated pole strike on tough terrain, and has a smooth rebound action. The padded wrist strap adds an extra level of comfort. These top-end telescopic poles also feature BD’s superb FlickLock Pro locking system, which allow for easy adjustability combined with a rock solid clamp. These four-season poles are made with aluminum, making them more robust (but heavier) than carbon models, and come with interchangeable carbide tips (rubber tips available separately) and low-profile trekking baskets. Also available in female-specific model.

These aren’t the lightest trekking poles on the market, but they are trekking poles that will reduce the strain on your body thanks to built-in shock absorbers. The poles, which are made from 7075-series aluminum that’s been heat treated for strength, have Leki’s Dynamic Suspension System inside. It’s elastomer-based antishock system that reduces the impact of each pole plant by around 40%, absorbing vibration and protecting your muscles, joints and ligaments from fatigue and overuse syndrome. The poles adjust with Leki’s SpeedLock Plus system, which uses clips that flip open, and press shut to keep the poles the length you choose. How tightly the sections lock is adjustable via twisting, raised speed dials. Grips made from 80% natural, ground cork and 20% rubber absorb sweat to keep the grip from feeling slippery. They’re positioned at an 8° angle to keep wrists neutral when you’re walking. Wicking, buckle-free wrist straps are easy to adjust and super supportive. Carbide Flextips bite into terrain, and though they’re long lasting, they can be replaced. The poles come with three season baskets. Snow baskets are sold separately.

Built by a company that has been making poles for nigh-on 100 years in the shadow of the Alps, and still construct their equipment in Austria, comes this popular and perennial high-performer. A three-piece pole, it’s very adjustable (with measurements provide on the middle section for easy reference), and the powerlock 3.0 system for securing each piece in place is extremely strong and exudes confidence (no twisting required, and therefore zero chance of user error leading to over tightening and jamming issues). The aluminum shaft makes these tough characters. If you do manage to break one, however, you can avail of Komperdell’s fantastic 3-year repair service, which is offered free of charge for all their telescopic poles, no matter how the damage occurred. The Trek 170 grip is comfortable, as is the padded strap, and down at the pointy end, the prodding power is provided by a tungsten/carbide flex tip.

Arguably the best trekking poles you can buy for the price, Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Quick Lock Poles have a wide range of adjustability so that you can climb and descend even the steepest slopes, and always have poles that are the right length. The three-section poles are made from durable aircraft grade aluminum. The sections lock to length with clips that flip open and click shut. Cork grips are easy to hold onto, and they won’t get slippery on humid days or when your hands sweat. The poles have tungsten carbide tips for aggressive, no-slip grip on every imaginable trail surface. But they also come with four sets of tip covers – rubber boot tips, mud baskets, snow baskets and small rubber tips – for four seasons of use. They’re light for aluminum poles at 10.4 oz without the rubber tips. And they come in a carry case. The poles have a one-year warranty, and because Cascade Mountain Tech wants to make sure you get many years of use from your poles, each section is replaceable in case it’s damaged or in case it wears out.

A Z-folding three-piece trekking pole constructed from kevlar-reinforced carbon fibre, MSR’s Ascent Poles are specced up to level that makes them suitable for mountainside exploration and snow and ice activities, as well as being comfortably at home on hillsides and lower trails. The quick-deploy connection means the poles can be assembled in a single second. MSR’s Dynalock system gives you 20cm to play with, in terms of quick and easy adjustment, with a very reliable and secure lock-off. There are two sizes to choose from – large (120-140cm) and small (100-120cm). Both pack down to a delightfully diminutive size, and neither add much weight to your kit bag. Complimented by an easily adjustable strap, the handle of the poles is impressively padded with EVA, and there’s a lower grip (also padded) on each pole too, ideal for hill work when you don’t want to stop and adjust the length. The poles have a carbide tip offering great grip in all conditions and the snow baskets feature a unique MSR televator offering extra stability and confidence. They also come with a summer basket.

The standout feature on the Cressida pole is the Aergon compact grips, made from 80% cork for its thermal and comfort qualities, and 20% latex for strength. These are expertly ergonomically designed and sized specifically for smaller hands, because the Cressida is manufactured with female hikers and trekkers primarily in mind (also makes a good pole for younger hikers). The three-piece telescopic shaft is constructed from high-strength aluminum, which makes them reliably robust (Leki’s aluminum shafts are guaranteed for life against breakage) and super stable. The poles are fully adjustable, with Leki’s highly reliable and easy to use Speed Lock 2 clamp system. The ‘Skin’ strap is light and breathable, and the replaceable short carbide flex tip offers precision pole placement and has inbuilt flex. The Cressida comes with trekking baskets.

The best trekking poles for value

Made with aluminium and weighing in at 275g per pole, these Decathlon Forclaz sticks are not the lightest hiking poles out there, but they have a whole lot of smart technical design features and, given that they’re half the price of some other models, they are exceptionally capable on the trails. First up, the five-piece structure assembles and collapses in a clever way: you push the top section down, which connects the lower pieces together (with pop-out buttons keeping them firmly in place) and then adjust the length of the overall pole, securing it with a latch on the top section. 

They are, to be honest, a bit more fiddly to break down, but it’s a knack you quickly master, and the result is an impressively compact, three-section Z-shape, kept manageable with a supplied Velcro strap. The clip that holds the assembled and height-adjusted pole in place is plastic, which does make us wonder whether it will last as long as those with metal components, but the tubes themselves are relatively wide (20mm at the thickest point), which makes them really robust. Other features include a wide, comfortable wrist strap, a shaped foam handgrip with a good lower extension section for tackling off-camber and steep trails, and a tough tungsten tip. Overall we’re extremely impressed with what you get for your dollar with these poles. Note: they are sold individually (although you could – and arguably should – use two) and the price above is per pole, not pair.

These brilliant budget trekking sticks are perfect for people perhaps trying poles out for the first time. The price tag is low, but the level of performance is actually very good. Made to a three-section folding design, they are constructed with Duralumin’ 7075 (fortified aluminium) they’re not as flexible, light or structurally strong as carbon poles, but they do seem robust enough for most hiking conditions (be careful on boulder fields and in deep snow, when breakage could occur). 

On less technical trails they will reduce the stress and strain on knees and ankles, like all good poles do, but they’re also gentle on your wrists, because they come complete with in-built shock absorbers (which can be turned on or off with a twist of the grip), which is ideal on unforgiving surfaces such as concrete, duckboards and sun-baked trails. One downside is that the sections seem to detach quite easily if the dip digs in, however, they do come with trekking baskets. The wrist strap is easy to adjust and well padded, and we were particularly impressed with the handgrips, which are designed to let your hands breath. The lower grip area (an element often overlooked on more expensive poles, but crucial when you’re walking off camber or up steep slopes) is excellent too.

How we test trekking poles

Our reviewers test trekking poles on trails in a range of environments and conditions, from walking and running on technical hills and peaks to ambling along coastal paths and through woodlands, on day hikes and longer treks. Features (including construction materials, design, collapsed size, usable length, weight, strap, grip, tip quality, and overall usability) are tested against claims made by the brand, and we assess factors such as value for money, durability and functionality.

For more details, see how Advnture tests products.

Choosing the best trekking poles

Now that you’re convinced of their usefulness, there’s a surprisingly diverse range of trekking poles to choose from, all offering different qualities. Before you invest in poles, the most important thing is to think about when and where you’re most likely to be using them, and consider the following factors: 

1. Size

Using the correct length pole is clearly crucial, and getting the height right involves the consideration of a few factors, including personal preference and the variability of the terrain you are traversing. On flat surfaces, the accepted wisdom is that the top of the straight placed pole should be at hand level when your arm is in front of you with your elbow bent at 90 degrees. However, when climbing steep slopes, it’s better to shorten the pole so you don’t overstretch, and the opposite is true for long descents: lengthen the pole to avoid bending too much. 

Pack size – the minimum length the poles can be reduced to when not in use – is also a very important consideration, especially if you’re likely to be travelling to the trailhead. Even while on the trail, there are likely to be stretches when you’d prefer to put your poles away for a while, and the ability to stash them easily in a daypack – or even in a hydration pack if you're running – is important.  

2. Design

Trekking poles can be rigid, telescopic or collapsible. If you’re only ever likely to use poles when walking out from your backdoor or a car park, basic rigid designs are fine. However, if you regularly take on technical terrain, an adjustable design is better, and this also means other people can use the equipment. Telescopic and collapsible poles are obviously much easier to carry around in backpacks. 

The majority of the best trekking poles are three-section models. Look closely at the locking system used to secure poles once they’ve been adjusted. Also, the inclusion of a lower grip area is a very useful design feature, so you can alter hand placement without changing the length of the pole while ascending and side hilling. If you want to use your poles in a variety of conditions, including on snow and sealed surfaces, check which basket and tip options they come with. Note – if you’re intending to use them in all seasons, ensure the loop is big enough to get your hand through when wearing your best hiking gloves, and make sure it’s easily adjustable with a glove on.

3. Materials

There are three main factors to consider when looking at the material used in the best hiking poles: weight, price and durability. Carbon poles are obviously very light, but they’re also typically expensive compared to their aluminium cousins. There are budget options out there, however, and if you’re doing lots of long-distance hikes, then saving grams is important and the investment is well justified. 

Carbon poles are strong, but can become brittle in certain conditions and when placed under stress at certain angles, and when they break it’s typically catastrophic and final. Aluminium poles are typically cheaper and more robust, and they can often be bent back into shape after a mishap. With the grip, often there’s a choice between foam (more durable, but water absorbing) or cork (more comfortable and waterproof, but prone to chipping).

4. Comfort

Try before you buy – not just to ensure you can get the right sized pole, but also to check that the grip and hand loop is comfortable. Pay particularly close attention to the ergonomic feel and material used in the grip. If you're buying poles to use while trail running, do you wear running gloves? If so, make sure you've got them on when you try your potential new poles for the first time.

5. Cost

The best hiking poles are an excellent addition to every explorer’s trail-kit bag, and the more you use them the more you will appreciate them. We'd go as far to say that they are a hiking essential. There are very cheap home-brand pole options out there, but you will get what you pay for. For durability, it’s worth making an investment.

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