If you are a fan of survival shows, you must know that all wildlife experts and survivors emphasize on always carrying handy tools and gadgets in your backpack. Rope, knives, parachute, lighter, and best trekking poles are those thingies which can make or break it for you.
In the wild, the terrain is by no means predictable. You never know when you’d be compelled to climb a steep mountain (sometimes even against your will) or to move downhill without any prior notice (Nah, you won’t ever get that in the woods).
Imagine yourself in a jungle (during your next vacation, of course), you see a beautiful waterfall form a distance and want to go there ASAP. What’d you do if it’s uphill/downhill? Don’t tell me, you just thought about hitchhiking (hands down, that’s insane). So, what’s the choice? Simple, trekking!
You better get ready for some difficult treks, runs, and swims out there; that’s the beauty of wanderlust! In such situations, having foldable, lightweight, and dependable trekking poles in your backpack will save your life. You only have to pull hiking poles out of your bag, tie your shoelaces, and HIKE!
These poles will bear your body weight, let you maintain a good posture, and avoid the chances of falls and slips. Especially when you move down the hill, your feet start moving faster (all thanks to the buzz you feel) and the chances of boo-boos rise. For avoiding injuries and even severe fractures during hiking, best trekking poles must be in your gear.
I am sure now you are aware of trekking poles’ importance and are eager to know about some good poles. We have said Amen to your wish and gathered the best trekking poles here to save your time, energy, and enhance your gear knowledge.
Read on to know about the best hiking poles, their essential features, and some factors you must consider before buying trekking poles.
Our Top 5 Best Trekking Poles Picks
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A Brief Buying Checklist for Best Trekking Poles
Knocking at the best trekking poles in your first purchase isn’t that easy. The gear market is stuffed with cheap, wobbly, and fragile hiking poles which look good, but when it comes to performance, they are crap.
To ensure that you get value for your money and are always safe during exhausting treks, educate yourself about the dos and don’ts of these poles. You cannot simply pick a pair of poles and hit your destination only to know later that those poles broke after a minor collision. Hurried purchases are mostly a waste of money and time.
Therefore, give yourself some time before picking up a pair. Read these crucial factors before buying poles for yourself or your loved one, and make a smart decision.
Here’re some prime factors to be considered:
Strength
How can some weak and shaky poles assist you in the rough-tough terrains? The wobbly poles are not only useless but can even expose you to dangerous falls and accidents.
Before spending a single buck on best trekking poles, learn about their strength. How much weight they can support, how many hits their shafts can survive, and how long can they work without getting any dents are few of the essential questions you should ask the seller.
Weight
Less is more; this philosophy is dear to the heart of every outdoor enthusiast. While going out on adventures, you should cut down on maximum additional weight. When you avoid carrying extra clothes to make your journey more comfortable, why would you take heavy trekking poles? Heavy poles are nothing but a nuisance. Therefore, buy lightweight and ergonomic sticks. No need to buy those old-school heavy poles when you can easily get sturdy yet lightweight shafts from the brands I’ve discussed below.
Height adjustment
We all aren’t of the same height, are we? If we have different heights, our poles must have the same. Today, the traditional standard height poles are entirely out of the question. This is the era of comfort and convenience.
Your new trekking poles must offer height alteration option. This modification feature will let you maintain your posture and walk comfortably depending upon the terrain under your feet.
As you might already know, you require longer poles while doing uphill and shorter ones while moving down the hill. The poles with height adjustment features work commendably on all terrain and save your precious bucks as well. Everyone from your family can use one pair of poles, no need to buy separate hiking poles for everyone.
Lock type
There’re mainly two types of locks in trekking poles; twist locks and lever locks.
The twist locks ask you to rotate your pole at the joints unless you get your desired height. On the other hand, the lever locks work like flicks and don’t require any twisting. You open the lock, move it up or down, and close the clasp.
Frankly speaking, twist locks are much of an annoyance. If you leave them in the same position, they might get stuck and consume your energy when you try to move them.
So, if you are someone who needs quick alterations and gets frustrated while dealing with slow things, lever locks should be your priority.
Fortunately, most new poles are manufactured with lever locks so that the users are facilitated in every possible way.
Grip
When you put your weight on something, and it doesn’t support you, the disappointment is terrible. To prevent this disappointment, trekking poles with a cork grip and rubber straps are made. The place from where you hold your trekking poles should be resilient, and by no means slippery.
During continuous treks and walks, your palms would start sweating and holding the poles straight can become challenging in such situations. Therefore, make sure that the poles have cork or soft rubber grips. These grips do not slip when your hands are sweaty and offer a secure grip. Wrist straps provide additional surety that you won’t fall while trekking.
Manufacturing material
The best trekking poles are made from either carbon fiber or aluminum. The carbon poles are superior in terms of sturdiness, but they are a bit heavier when compared to aluminum poles. But they are expensive. So, if you want lightweight and inexpensive poles, go for the aluminum trekking sticks.
And if you don’t trust things easily concerning yourself, the robust and heavy carbon poles should be your go-to gizmos.
So, now that you know about all must-haves of best trekking poles let’s delve deeper into trekking pole reviews and go through some top-notch trekking sticks.
5 Best Trekking Poles Review 2020
1. Montem Ultra Strong Trekking, Walking, and Hiking Poles
Highlights
- 23-54 inches length
- 6 ounces weight
- EVA foam handles
- Durable tungsten carbide tips
- Nylon straps
- Lever locks
Enthusiast travelers always admire Montem gears and trusted by frequent trekkers. The Montem ultra strong trekking poles are adjustable and lightweight.
You can alter their height from 24†to 53†as per your preference and enjoy their robustness for the years to come.
No need to frazzle about the dents and dangerous outdoor situations, you’d get lifetime replacement offer from Montem and one year warranty so that you get the best value for your money.
These poles are trustworthy. You can lean on them all you want, and they’d never ditch you. The Montem poles can bear the weight of up to 350lbs and work brilliantly on all terrains.
These extremely robust poles are made from lightweight aluminum, and they won’t add to your gear weight as they’re only 9.6 ounces. You can pack these poles and roam around freely without feeling any burden.
Montem hiking poles are compact and portable, which is a big plus point for trekkers. Their comfortable EVA foam grip will ensure you never lose your grip from them and will also prevent dangerous collisions.
NY Times has ranked these poles as number 1 for all challenging treks and unpredictable grounds. You can trust Montem; it’d never let you down.
You can comfortably maintain your knees, joints, and hip posture with these poles and come back from tours without achy muscles and bruised legs.
These Montem trekking poles will let you do a full-body workout while trekking by engaging your upper and lower body.
Pros & Cons
Pros
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- Lightweight
- Sturdy
- Portable
- Supports 350lbs weight
- Quick height adjustment
- Comfortable handling
- Available in 11 colors
Cons
- Not much resilient
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2. Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles
Highlights
- 4 sizes available
- Z-pole technology
- 12oz weight
- Made from aluminum
- Cork handles and nylon straps
- Rubber tips and baskets
Black diamond always comes up with unique and ergonomic tools for trekkers and mountaineers. These trekking poles have Z-pole technology which enables you to fold these sticks in three sections. When you are walking on a plain ground, simply fold these poles and tug them in your backpack.
The distance Z poles are available in four sizes i.e., 100, 110, 120 and 130cm and you can pick a pair according to your height.
They are made from aluminum which is both solid and lightweight. No matter how much of a passionate trekker you are, these poles will help you in all those challenging treks.
Their comfortable handgrip is there to make climbing easier for you. When you have to pull yourself up and depend on your poles, this comfy and robust grip will give you the confidence to move quickly.
The wrist straps are crafted from a breathable material which won’t leave rashes on your hands after extended trekking sessions.
The 12oz weight will never limit your movement and become bothersome to pack. The standard backpacks can comfortably accommodate these poles, no need to buy a separate bag for them, unlike those old poles.
Although these black diamond distance Z poles are light and thin, they still provide exceptional stability and let the user trek effortlessly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
- Comfortable to use
- Breathable handgrips and strap
- Light and portable
- Can fit in backpacks due to three-sectioned folding
- Stable non-slip grip
Cons
- Expensive
- Length cannot be altered
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3. Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
Highlights
- Length ranges from 74-140cm
- Flick locks for height alterations
- 18oz weight
- Come with mud and snow baskets
Here comes another beauty from the back diamond. The trail ego poles have cork grip handles so that you don’t have to fight slippery surface when your hands are moist.
Their handles provide 15 degrees angle for grip position, which helps your back and doesn’t compel you to lean (that eventually leaves an adverse impact on your spine). The trail ego poles have an ergonomic and easy-to-use design.
These hiking poles have adjustable flick locks which let you quickly alter the height when you feel the need and keep on trekking, forget about stopping midway and hassling with those twist locks.
Trail ego poles’ height ranges from 74-140cm which you can conveniently change with the flip lock levers.
You’d get two baskets (the lower tip of a trekking pole is called basket which is different for each terrain) trekking and snow to walk peacefully everywhere. Whether you’re in Alaska or Himalayas, the black diamond ego trail poles will be your saviors universally.
There’d be no wear and tear in these trekking sticks because of continuous usage, all thanks to their durable material and ergonomic design.
These black diamond poles weigh 18 ounces and work brilliantly in unpredictable places.
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
- 15 degrees angle for comfortable holding
- Extremely stable and durable
- Quick height adjustment with lever locks
- Cork grip handles
- Ergonomic design
- Interchangeable tips
- Padded straps
Cons
- Doesn’t support much weight
- Some complaints of problematic lever locks
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4. Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Adjustable Trekking Poles
Highlights
- 26-54 inches length
- 7.6 ounces weight
- Flick locks
- Cork handles
- Nylon soft straps
If you are someone who never compromises on quality, these cascade carbon fiber poles are made especially for you. The shaft is made from carbon fiber, and the handgrip is made up of durable cork grip.
Irrespective of the terrain underneath your feet, the cascade trekking poles will work incredibly well. They take up your whole weight and enable you to maintain a straight posture.
When your treks are long, your muscles wear and tear a lot. However, by having these resilient cascade poles, you can ensure your safety and avoid numerous distasteful events.
Their quick lever locks set up briskly so that you never have to wait while adjusting their length. You can modify the poles’ length in seconds with these fast and secure lever locks.
The tungsten tips work amazingly on all grounds and never shake when you move up/down quickly. These tips are long-lasting and offer a brilliant anchor to the poles.
The cascade carbon fiber poles have adjustable wrist straps so that you can tie them around your wrists and do not worry about them sliding off.
Their height ranges from 26†to 54†which is perfect to meet the needs of all trekkers. You can share these poles with your family members and save your hard-earned money. They will prove to be a one-time investment in your outdoor gear and will serve you for years.
The carbon shaft in cascade poles is lightweight yet durable. These poles weigh only 7.6 ounces which indicates they are portable.
Even if these poles are quite expensive, you’d get great value for your money and feel that every penny spent on the cascade poles was worth it.
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
- Inexpensive
- Robust cork grip
- Lightweight
- Made from 100% carbon fiber
- 4 types of baskets included
- Durable carry bag
Cons
- No significant cons found
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5. TrailBuddy Trekking Poles
Highlights
- 5-54 inches length
- Made from aircraft-grade aluminum
- 4oz weight
- Tungsten carbide tips
Trail buddy is one of those names which are known for their quality gadgets. Their customers are always satisfied with the quality and admire their customer support service as well.
These poles have a height ranging from 24.5 to 54 inches and can be easily altered with the flick locks. These robust flick locks work quickly and don’t wiggle unless you open them.
The trail buddy poles are only 4 ounces heavy and never leave any burden on your luggage. Their negligible size makes them handy tools for wanderers.
These hiking sticks are manufactured from Aircraft grade aluminum which already indicates their robustness and resistance capacity. With the trail buddy poles, you’d never have to care about their safety and upkeep.
Trail buddy particularly emphasizes on providing handy accessories so that you don’t have to search for them. With these sticks, you’d get four types of baskets i.e., mud, snow, connectors, and tips. The poles will come in a long-lasting carry bag which will further add to your comfort and help you in packing the luggage neatly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
- Very portable
- Light and easy-to-carry
- 4 types of baskets
- Resilient carrying bag
- Extended handgrips made from
Cons
- None found yet
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Choosing The Best Trekking Poles
And finally, the comprehensive trekking pole reviews came to an end! Being a wanderer and energetic trekker isn’t a cakewalk (I am sure you know that already), your body faces several troubles and a time comes when your energy level drops to zero.
If you give up in such times, that’d be a shame for your inner passion. To ensure that your hectic excursions are always safe and fun, useful accessories like best trekking poles come to the rescue. Once you get your hands on a good pair of hiking sticks, you’d feel the difference in your upper and lower body immediately. These poles work like your second pair of legs and share the burden of your legs.
Pay attention to things like the material the pole has been manufactured from, its durability and price, its weight, design, folding and locking mechanism, adjustment, grips, and shock absorption, among other valuable considerations. By examining these different elements, you will be able to identify a trekking pole that is best for you and your specific needs.
Work smart not hard should be your motto in all fields of life. So, buy any of the above-listed best trekking poles and make your upcoming treks safe, relaxed, and pleasurable for yourself. Cheers!
Comparison Table For The Best Trekking Poles
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