The Best Trekking Poles, GearJunkie Tested

For the budget-minded among us, the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 ($44) is a reliably comfortable trekking pole that checks all of the appropriate boxes. With two sizes to choose from, the 100-120cm option weighs in at 19 oz., while the 115-135 cm version weighs 22 oz. Both sizes fold to a compact 15 inches for easy storage.

The EVA foam grips were comfortable while testing, and the adjustable wrist straps added an extra layer of security. The pole’s carbide tip offers great traction on most terrain you will encounter while the additional tip covers provide plenty of options for varying surfaces and weather conditions.

We tested these poles on a mixed surface hike this spring and came away feeling satisfied with the quality and adjustability. After a brisk uphill start, the foam grips felt good in the hands and the poles were stiff yet responsive to movement. Being able to fold and stow these poles quickly in our packs was quite nice when we opted for a rock scramble to better views.

The only downside to these poles is their weight. While this won’t be a deal-breaker to some, those of us who watch every ounce and gram we carry will notice the overbuilt nature of these poles. For those who may want the next best from budget option, spending an extra $100 gets you a good bit in the Black Diamond Pursuit: cork grips, a nicer flick lock, and almost half a pound lighter (which adds up in the hands). If longevity is your bag, you could go through three Trek-Zs for the same money, however.

The Trek-Z 2.0 poles are affordable and comfortable trekking poles with lots of preferred features. The ability to fold these poles to a mere 15 inches makes traveling with them a breeze. While these poles are ready for adventure, the aluminum construction comes with significant weight penalties. If you are an average user who spends their time on trail but would like a pole for the occasional off-route scramble mission, these poles offer great value in that respect.

Aside from one key downside, the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles ($150) are danged close to our favorite sticks for just about any backpacking venture you could drum up — and at a not-bad price. At $100 less than our top pick, it incorporates a lot of what we loved about the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon, but is much more wallet-friendly.

A silky smooth FlickLock+ system, bomb-proof aluminum construction, balanced design, and cushy cork grips combine to deliver a stable, cruisy hiking experience like none other. Throw in thoughtful touches like Bloom foam grip extensions, soft recycled wrist straps, and two size options with variable handle girths, and you have one heck of a premium pole.

Now for our grumble. It’s a nearly perfect pole, but the FlickLocks are on the same side of both poles, meaning one pole has them affixed towards your body if holding the grips correctly. In most cases, this isn’t an issue. But, we found they could sometimes snag on our pants’ pockets and pop open, collapsing mid-stride. This is a unique issue that we haven’t had with other poles, and though it rarely occurs, it gives us pause at times when bombing down steep hills.

That gripe aside, these give us a swifter ride than most poles we’ve clacked around with — and we’ve tested many poles. They seem to absorb each step’s energy better than most and pop forward into the next step without feeling unwieldy or overly heavy. The sturdy carbide tips also fend off serious impacts and have shown minimal signs of wear after abuse in the wild.

Compared to the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0, these poles look downright nice. Sure, it’s a $100 jump up for the budget pole, but that gets you a lot for that: the cork grips are nicer than the EVA foam that most poles in this price range use, the FlickLock+ adjusters are well-refined and field-tunable, and you get both trail and snow baskets.

Trot across the country or explore your local state park over the weekend with about as much comfort and performance as you could ask for — the Pursuit Trekking Poles should be on any backpacker’s shortlist.

At an incredible 4.9 ounces per pole, the latest iteration of the Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles ($195) is stripped bare to the necessities, but still manages elite performance on the trail. Thru-hikers, this is your trekking pole.

When first picking these poles up, they feel like they could snap in half — they’re that light. We were eager to utilize them under a heavy load, and regardless of the pressure and tweaking we applied, they performed great.

While most simple, twist-locking mechanisms can show weakness, we were able to tighten and loosen them with ease, and never experienced any slippage. Due to the smooth nature of the lockers, however, we’d recommend being careful not to overtighten them. You’ll also want to keep the mechanism clean, as it can gum up and stop working.

The EVA foam grip mimics the look of a classic cork grip, and on a hot day, they managed to wick moisture just as well. Like every feature on these poles, the straps are minimal, but proved comfortable and were easy to adjust with a quick pull of the tab.

Apart from its obvious utilitarian function, these poles look really cool as well. The carbon fiber shafts are brushed in matte black, and the simple, white lettering makes them look about as minimal as they feel in your hands.

While the LT5 has been the de facto UL pole for some years, anyone considering this option should also seriously consider the new Durston Iceline — a carbon stick with a real lever lock, thicker tubes, and $26 cheaper. It’s also, for those counting (and we measured in-house), technically 0.1 ounces lighter per pair. That is, however, without wrist straps, which aren’t yet available. Until then, we still rock with our LT5s.

Packing down to 23.5 inches, the LT5 poles are compact enough to be used for overseas travel (we recently made it to Iceland with a set — no issues), and you’ll probably think you forgot them at home when you pick up your luggage. Previous iterations of this pole have been staples on the trail for years, and we’d expect the futuristic LT5 to cover even more miles.

We recently tested the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles ($190) while training for the Leadville 100 this spring, and they easily made the grade to become our race poles. They are crazy lightweight, pack small enough for strapping to a vest, and have a fast deploy action, which sealed the deal.

Incredibly, for all the added joint supports and tether bits, these poles weigh the same as the Gossamer Gear LT5s at 9.8 ounces per pair. That’s likely thanks to the fact that these poles are fixed length — a compromise many are willing to make to keep their running poles light. The Distance Carbon Zs are available in five different lengths for both men and women, however, and we never wanted more or less than the 125s we tested.

The deployment on these poles is simple-as, and anyone familiar with avalanche probes will recognize the parallels. Just toss, slide the end of the handle section down, and your pole clacks into place until the pushbutton locks it into place. We couldn’t get these poles to skitter, and that includes leaning on them hard while slipping around on early spring ice in Colorado.

The wrist straps might even seem a bit primitive compared to some of the wild glove/pole interfaces that are now popping up in race poles, but we appreciate the familiarity and don’t have any trouble slipping and and out of them when we change grade. Stashing the poles on our vest straps or in our packs was easy, too, and the 13″ collapsed length is the shortest we’ve tested.

The rugged sidehillers among us wanted an extended grip to choke up on when in off-camber terrain (like those on the Black Diamond Pursuits), but the most you get here is the slightly raised collar where the pushbutton rests against — not the most comfortable to grip. Pro Tip: wrap your blister tape around the section below the grips, and it works as an impromptu grip extension.

If the wrist straps on the Distance Carbon Z Poles could be stripped, they’d be near-perfect. For mountain or ultra runners, these poles are our go-to suggestion.

The LEKI Makalu Lite Trekking Poles ($150) earn high marks for being comfortable, light, and surprisingly stable for their weight. For a mid-tier aluminum pole, they pack in a great amount of tech, like cork grips, an ergonomically designed handle, and solid lever locks.

When it comes to trekking poles, we think most folks are best served by paying around $150, and these met our expectations in our testing. The aluminum construction is well-proven and helps to avoid the price creep associated with carbon. The grips, too, are well done and are LEKI’s Aergon Air construction, which lightens up the swing weight at the end of the pole.

Cork provides all-day sweat relief, and foam grip extensions give you a place to choke up on the pole when really traversing some steep terrain. The new Aergon Air strap was soft on the skin and seemed to aid with wicking sweat away on hot days. They’re easy to adjust with a pull of the tab, and the lack of buckles around the hands was an added plus.

While we greatly appreciated the Makalu Lite in testing, there are a few reasons we think that the Black Diamond Pursuit poles are better: For one, they pack smaller (by ~3.5″, which can make a difference), and are also a smidge lighter by an ounce. The real difference, however, is in the lever locks. Black Diamond has really refined its FlickLock+ system, and the integrated tool for fine-tuning them seals the deal.

Since they’re the same price, it’s easy to decide which should be better for you. If you want a slightly more all-around pole with a bit more value (the Pursuits also come with snow baskets, which the Makalu Lites don’t), then go Black Diamond. However, if you want a more refined pole that incorporates some more ergonomics into the grip, the LEKIs are where its at.

These ultralight poles came out of nowhere, but they came correct: The Durston Iceline Trekking Poles ($169) take aim directly at the lightest trekking poles on the market and give the classic Gossamer Gear LT5s a strong run for their money. In many respects, these are better than our favorites, too, with a true lever lock adjustment and thicker tubing.

The race to the bottom typically means sacrifices, but these poles didn’t seem to get the memo. The real-deal metal lever lock is a much nicer alternative to the friction locks used in the LT5s, and tromping around on some 20-mile overnights recently, we couldn’t get these poles to loosen up. Topping these poles is a fairly standard EVA foam grip, which, while not as nice as cork, stays comfy in the long run.

In order to keep the tubing diameter thicker on the lower sections of these poles, Durston incorporated a quick-connect mechanism that joins the two major halves of the poles together. We initially thought this would be an entry point for slop, but we were pleased to find the surfaces finely machined and the friction fit snug. Kudos to Komperdell (who manufactures the poles for Durston).

Now, the great divider: these poles launched without wrist straps, which will be a deal-breaker for some. Considering the target audience, however, we’re not sold on that conclusion, and neither is Dan Durston, who says he prefers the ability to quickly release the poles over any weight transfer. We’ve actually snapped an LT5 when it caught in some gnarled roots while wearing the straps, so the issue is valid.

We like to think that this is actually the upshot to buying from small manufacturers: Durston was quick to heed the call for straps, and the next iteration will make them an option (at a ~10-12 g ding — we think we’ll live). Until these strapped versions hit the market, we’ve got these poles running in the second spot when it comes to an ultralight pole, but that could certainly change.

If you’re a thru-hiker (or just an ultralight enthusiast), the new Iceline Trekking Poles are a serious option to consider. We found they set up our trekking pole shelters with ease, were light in the hand on marathon days, and trusted them a bit more while navigating blocky scree fields.

Anyone looking for a reliable backcountry pole will appreciate these durable Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ($200). These poles exceeded expectations while exploring the Grand Tetons through variable terrain. The cork grips are comfortable and tacky, and we like the extended foam, which allows for easy hand position changes.

These are fairly popular poles, and for good reason: they’ve got all the bells and whistles we’re looking for in a premium option. The full carbon design keeps things light — though not as light as carbon can get — with the tradeoff being nicer trim and features. The FlickLock Pro adjusters, in particular, are an absolute upgrade over the FlickLock+ versions you get on the Pursuit poles. These are full aluminum, and clamp much tighter.

Black Diamond slates these poles as a true ‘4-season’ option, putting them smack dab between lighter trail options and burly ski/mountaineering poles like the Expedition 3. The ability to run 100 mm powder baskets on them certainly stretches their usefulness, and we also appreciated the tech tips that can be swapped to a rubber tip. These can be great for ambling on walking paths (or soft slickrock).

With a packed size of 25 inches, they don’t pack down enough for stashing in smaller packs. But for most users, we wouldn’t expect the size to be a problem. The next step up from a pole like this is a quick-deploy option like the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon, but at a significant expense. Though, they will pack down almost 10″ shorter.

The buckleless straps, utilizing a comfortable climbing webbing, proved very comfortable even after several days of continuous use. While the Alpine Carbon Cork Poles are a bit more expensive than other similar options, they can be worth the investment if you plan to use them regularly and are looking for a lightweight option that’s also quite durable.

Tall trekkers — and those who own a Zpacks Altaplex — look no further. Your saving grace is here, with a sprawling 62 inches of premium carbon fiber, cozy cork handles, and a sleek matte finish, cruise your trails with style and confidence, then pitch a perfect lofty palace at night with the Diorite Gear Carbon Fiber Poles ($190).

With many ultralight shelter models accommodating hikers over 6 feet, traditional trekking poles won’t extend the required distance to hit the tent’s peak. Tents like the Altaplex demand at least 56 inches from a pole, and tall hikers must either buy a separate carbon fiber staff or use a trekking pole jack to meet the requirements. Diorite’s poles provide the solution many a thru-hiker has sought out.

But the allure doesn’t stop at its height. With so much extra carbon reinforcing these poles, it stands out as one of the toughest all-carbon constructed poles we tested — on par with the Durston Icelines. These poles earned our respect after a week-long section hike of the Appalachian Trail through Georgia’s undulating rollercoaster.

If you do end up destroying any section of this pole, plenty of replacement parts are available. This saves you from having to scope out a new pair of sticks each time a small component fails mid-adventure — something we’ve begrudgingly done many times.

The cork grips extend down the shaft, giving you a comfy grip as you adjust your hands further down during uphill plods. While we gravitate to cork handles, the regular EVA foam handle option is significantly lighter, albeit not quite as cozy.

While these Carbon Fiber Poles aren’t the lightest on the market (or the cheapest), they are some of the tallest out there. We’d recommend snagging them if that added height will make a difference for you. If not, there are other options that cover the same ground, like the Zpacks Carbon Fiber Poles or REI Co-op Flash Carbons.

Scoping out a pair of budget poles but also need a lightweight, durable design? These could be the ones. For $80, it’s hard to beat the value and simple effectiveness of the REI Co-op’s Trailmade poles. You aren’t going to get any fancy locking mechanisms or bleeding-edge carbon fiber technology, but if you just need to get the job done without any bells and whistles, look no further.

For the price, the Trailmade delivers solid performance and reliability, with each pole tipping the scales at a relatively scant 8.5 ounces. They don’t pack down quite as small as others on the list (25 inches), but they aren’t the bulkiest, either.

The nylon wrist straps are quite soft, and didn’t rub us uncomfortably over long miles, and we found the ergonomic EVA foam grips to be cozy and breathable. The poles offer solid adjustability, and the locks are quick to use and strong.

We did find them a little annoying to adjust on the fly, as the locks will flap around freely when you unclasp them, and you have to line them up again before locking them back in place. This made it difficult to change the length while actively hiking, which we like to do between steep descents and climbs. This is what ultimately keeps these poles from placing higher in our recommendations.

Those looking at the Trailmade poles are likely looking for a budget or value-minded pole, and we think that the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 can’t be beaten at the price. From about half of the Trailmades you get a collapsible quick-deploy mechanism, but at a slight weight ding. Spending a bit more also gets you more, and the $150 Black Diamond Pursuit poles are a better value.

Overall, REI’s Trailmades are lightweight, dependable poles that will get you comfortably from point A to point B at an approachable price point. They don’t stand out in any one category, but are more general workhorses for taxing backpacking trips.

We trusted the Zpacks Carbon Fiber Poles ($100) for a recent 5,000-mile thru-hike of the CDT and AT, and only needed two pairs for the entire trip. We pitched our tent every night with these poles and dragged them through endless miles of brutal terrain. They kept on going.

At 7.2 ounces per pole (with foam handles), these aren’t the lightest on the market, but many trekkers strip ’em down further by removing the wrist strap and basket, bringing them to a competitively low weight. These poles pack down to 24.5 inches, which attaches fine to the outside of an ultralight pack. But there are definitely smaller options out there if this is a primary concern.

The lightweight clasp locks are adequately solid and can be hand-tightened, which is a nice touch for on-trail adjustability. The clasps are made of plastic, so they need to be babied a little more than other lock designs.

Compared to the rest of the market, these poles find themselves in a bit of an awkward spot. They’re certainly heavier than ultralight favorites like the Gossamer Gear LT5s or Durston Icelines, and are more similar to the Diorite Gear Carbon Fiber Poles. These are, however, a good bit cheaper than those options.

At $100 ($60 if you just buy one) the Zpacks Carbon Fiber poles are great for the ultralighter on a budget, or someone who needs a reliable pair of poles that barely register in your pack.

Trekking poles for under $30? Yes, you read that right. The Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles ($30) are a fan favorite and a budget lover’s dream.

At 10.4 ounces per pole, they’re certainly not the lightest option out there, but they aren’t excessively heavy either. On the trail, they get the job done. And for casual outings, these poles will help support your weight and keep you balanced, all without breaking the bank.

If you plan to regularly hike long distances and rough trails, we highly recommend investing in a higher-quality pair of poles like the Black Diamond Pursuits or LEKI Makalu Lite Corks. As with all bargain options on the market, these poles tend to wear out faster than other more thoughtfully designed options on the list.

At $30, why aren’t these our budget pick? Easy — collapsed size. The z-pole nature of the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0s makes them well worth the extra $14 you’ll scrounge up to get them, and otherwise, they are quite similar to the Cascade Mountain Tech poles. These poles do, however, have real cork grips.

While there are other budget options out there to consider, we still think there’s a good place for the Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles. If the fiddly nature of a fully collapsible pole doesn’t appeal to you, these are a great pivot to make.

The REI Co-op Flash Carbon ($169) manages to strike a difficult balance between light and strong. The collapsible three-section design keeps them light, and the metal lever locks keep them at the desired length, even when weighted through downhill trudging with heavy loads.

Hiking with one of these and a comparable aluminum pole, we were surprised by the difference in shock dampening. This is certainly one of the biggest reasons to go with a carbon pole, in our opinion, and these poles do it well. The foam handles are comfortable and moisture-absorbing, and the adjustable wrist strap allows you to maintain a custom fit.

The Flash Carbon poles collapse to a reasonable length, allowing for stowage in larger packs and cross-strapping to lighter loads. However, these poles share the same adjuster as the brand’s Trailmade poles, along with the same fiddliness and difficulty of adjusting on the fly.

At the price point, we still think there are better options out there for most folks. The LEKI Makalu Lite ($150) is a bit heavier, but it uses lever locks that we trust more and incorporates cork handles that’ll be nicer in the long run. The Durston Iceline poles are a bit more specialized, but for the same price, they’re just about the lightest thing going currently.

If you’ve got a co-op dividend burning a hole in your pocket, though, the Flash Carbon poles are still great poles for the money. Those who want a lightweight pole for all-day use will be well served by them.