The Best Trekking & Hiking Poles For 2024

Hikers and backpackers can benefit greatly from using trekking poles. These poles help with stability and balance on uneven terrain and reduce stress on the knees and hips, especially when descending.

Most hikers and backpackers prefer length-adjustable trekking poles with clamp-style lever locks over twist-locks due to their dependability and simplicity of repair.

Below we explain the criteria we used to choose the poles we recommend for trekking and the main factors to think about if you’re still confused about what to buy. It is a helpful primer on the advantages and disadvantages of various trekking pole options.

If you tend to be rough on your equipment, it may be worth the extra money to invest in a name brand such as Leki or Black Diamond rather than a cheaper, lower quality option.

Best Trekking Poles For Hiking 2024

The Best Trekking Poles for Hiking in 2024 are:

1. Black Diamond Distance Z

A sub-300g weight makes the Black Diamond Distance Z the lightest pole we examined. Black Diamond’s own folding tent-pole design allows it to be compacted to a mere 43cm when not in use.

The carbon-fiber construction and foam-grip handles make this pole ideal for hikers and trail runners who want to be able to quickly stow it away when not in use. For a carbon pole, the pole’s strength is impressive, but it lacks flexibility because it is not adjustable and comes with only one type of basket and tip.

However, poles of varying lengths are available to cater to a wide range of users’ needs and preferences. The poles’ hefty price tag is understandable given their

2. LEKI Khumbu Lite

When compared to its competitors, this lightweight aluminum pole with cork grips is the most comfortable option. Leki is able to do this because it is crafted from high-quality cork that is shaped so that it fits snugly in the palm of your hand.

It also features rubber inlays for durability and smooth cork for comfort. As one of the heaviest models we tested at over 500g per pair, the LEKI Khumbu Lite falls a little short.

While this isn’t a dealbreaker for what a pole is, it is noticeably heavier than its carbon fibre counterparts and thus might not be the preferred pole of day trekkers looking for something light and packable.

The fact that the Leki have added some extra weight to the pole is. The LEKI Khumbu Lite is a good pole that features cutting-edge anti-shock technology in the shaft and the market’s finest cork handles for maximum comfort.

Designed for avid hikers who don’t mind shelling out a little extra for a top-tier pole.

3. LEKI Micro Flash Pole

This Leki pole, the most expensive of those tested, retails for between $150 and $200 and is the lightest, the most ergonomically designed, and the easiest to transport of the bunch.

The Leki Micro Flash has a carbon fiber shaft, making it incredibly lightweight; when broken down, the pole is only 38 centimeters long, so it won’t take up much room in your pack.

The Micro Flash was surprisingly sturdy for its size and weight, though it was slightly less sturdy than aluminum poles or carbon poles with a telescoping design. The comfort rating was high because the foam handles are more pleasant to hold than cork.

This sleek carbon pole weighs next to nothing when collapsed and can be opened to almost half its length. Superior Foam

4. Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork

Black Diamond’s Alpine Carbon Cork trekking pole, which is made of high-quality carbon fiber and has comfortable cork grips, is a good option for most hikers.

Despite being neither the lightest nor the most packable pole of the 10 tested, the Alpine Carbon Cork proved to be the most versatile. Its strength is comparable to that of an aluminum pole, but with the much-desired benefit of being lighter, making it ideal for both short day hikes and longer treks of 200km+.

The pole’s durability and ability to handle rough terrain are both the result of its thicker carbon shaft, which adds some weight but makes the pole more useful in a variety of situations. Even though

5. Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Poles

The Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork continues Black Diamond’s tradition of producing high-quality, reliable trekking poles. It is the heaviest pole we tested at over 560g due to its solid build and rugged, durable feel as an aluminium pole.

Black Diamond’s unique ‘Z’ style tent-pole folding mechanism makes the pole, even when fully extended, one of the shortest at just over 40cm. This is fantastic for portability, as it means the poles can be easily stowed away in any standard daypack.

The pole is adaptable and includes snow baskets, making it suitable for use in a wide variety of environments.

The cork handles are an attractive extra that set Black Diamond apart from the competition and make their products more comfortable to use. The Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork is a sturdy, relatively heavy pole that collapses down to almost nothing.

Hikers looking for lightweight, compact trekking poles will appreciate the cork grips and compact design of these poles.

6. REI Co-op Flash Carbon

The Komperdell-built REI Co-op Flash Carbon pole is a reasonably priced carbon pole ideal for beginners. Its low weight of 425g is a result of the use of ultrathin carbon in the shaft and of aluminum in the sole locking mechanisms that permit fine tuning.

We think the thin carbon’s lightweight construction contributes to its lack of durability. This reduces the grip’s comfort, and compared to the industry standard of cork, it’s not even close to being as good as the best foam grips on the market.

In spite of this, the pole is adaptable in that its length can be changed quickly and easily, and its light weight makes

7. Leki Cross Trail 3TA Trekking Poles

Similar to their Micro Vario COR-TEC TA carbon pole, this aluminum pole from Leki features a 3-piece design, a tent-pole breakaway mechanism, and Leki’s high-quality cork grips with rubber inlays.

Aluminum makes this pole over 100g heavier than Leki’s carbon offering, making it one of the heaviest (567g) we tested. Aluminum construction is very sturdy and should withstand storage and use conditions that are less than ideal.

This Leki Cross Trail 3TA pole, like all others in the brand’s lineup, offers exceptional comfort at a price that’s competitive with other tent pole designs.

8. REI Co-op Traverse

Inexpensive and packed with features, the REI Traverse pole is a great aluminum pole. This 3-section telescoping pole from Komperdell features the same reliable lever locks found on the company’s more expensive models.

The durable aluminum shaft makes these poles ideal for day hikes as well as multi-day treks, and the cork grips are more comfortable than the rubber ones typically found on poles of this price range.

The pole is not the most compact when collapsed (67 cm), but it should still fit in your checked luggage. Because of their sturdy tungsten carbide tips and interchangeable baskets, the Traverse Power can tackle any job.

9. Hiker Hunger Carbon Fibre

Another carbon pole in the $50-$100 price range, this one’s cork uppers and foam lowers provide reasonable comfort.

Since the carbon fiber is so thin and light, it is easily damaged and doesn’t hold up well in comparison to other carbon poles in terms of durability. The locking mechanisms leave a lot to be desired, and it comes with a limited selection of baskets and tips like the Foxelli pole.

The Hiker Hunger Carbon Fibre Pole is a cheap carbon pole with cork/foam grips that is not very sturdy and does not perform very well.

Conclusion

There are now a plethora of trekking pole models available, with wide variations in price, quality, and intended use.

Many casual hikers don’t bother with trekking poles because it’s so difficult to find poles that are both functional and affordable. Ten years ago, only the most dedicated hikers would bring trekking poles along for the journey.

Over time, the average hiker has come to appreciate the poles’ contributions to their comfort, balance, and stability, as well as the protection they provide for their joints.