The Best Trekking Poles of 2026

The Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles ($170) are dang 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 premium 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, bombproof aluminum construction, balanced design, and cushy cork grips combine to deliver a stable, cruisy hiking experience like no 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 toward 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 from the budget pole, but it gets you a lot for that price bump: 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.

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 ounces, while the 115-135cm version weighs 22 ounces. 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, 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 satisfied with their 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.

If you want the best premium trekking poles, the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon Poles ($250) are our top recommendation. The company calls them the “Cadillac” of poles, and they fit the description with all the bells and whistles.

Editorial Director Sean McCoy has tested these poles for over 2 years and hiked iconic trails — including the Tour du Mont Blanc and Colorado’s Four Pass Loop — using them. They still look as good as new, except for some dirt on the natural cork handles.

Notably, these are the most comfortable handles of any of the dozens of poles we’ve tested. The cork is non-staining when wet and pleasant in the hand. Better, the tops of these poles have a perfect design for descending steep terrain. They allow the user to press downward on the pole with their palm and control the pole placement with their fingertips. It works incredibly well and makes descents much more pleasant on really technical terrain.

At 8 ounces per pole, trekkers will hardly notice the Black Series FX Carbon poles when stowed away in their pack. While far from the lightest trekking poles, they hit a wonderful compromise of weight, comfort, and durability.

The poles use LEKI’s SpeedLock 2+, which the company claims is the world’s strongest external pole-locking system. McCoy found it to secure the poles extremely well and allow easy adjustment between 43 and 51 inches. Collapsed, they fold to just 16 inches.

The Black Series has a light but comfortable strap, which is nice on ascents or flats when you might drop your pole during inattentive moments. The Black Series FX doesn’t come cheap, though. At $250, they’re among the most expensive trekking poles on the market.

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 picked up, these poles felt 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 lockers’ smooth nature, 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, it 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. Senior Editor Nick Belcaster recently tore one of these straps while off-trail deep in the Brooks Range of Alaska, which shows the need to be mindful with these lighter sticks.

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 technically 0.1 ounces lighter per pair, for those counting (and we measured in-house). 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 ($200) 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, 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.

Landing somewhere in between a ski pole and walking stick (we’ve used them for both), the Black Diamond Expedition 3 ($140) is a four-season trekking pole that we’ve carried on everything from splitboard traverses to deep backcountry approaches to alpine rock, and they’ve held up excellently.

These sticks excel where you need a tough pole, and we’ve owned the same set of Expedition 3s for nearly five years now. In that time, they’ve certainly accumulated a number of scratches and had the foam grips chewed a fair bit, but they’re every bit as functional as they started. An all-aluminum thick tube design and the choice to go with simple locking mechanisms that don’t wear out are to thank here.

The extended foam grips open up different hand positions (such as sidehilling on steep snow) and are topped with a tough plastic head with an exaggerated hook end for flipping up riser bars on skis and snowshoes. Some among us lean on our trekking poles frequently when setting up shelters, and the Expedition 3s work well in this regard as well, with no slip from the FlickLock lever mechanisms or bending in strong winds. 

The Expedition 3s come with Black Diamond’s 100 mm powder baskets as standard, but they will also host smaller trail baskets. The pole straps are fairly basic, but we did appreciate that Black Diamond left the securing pin exposed. This way, we can strip the straps entirely when we don’t need them (such as backcountry skiing).

As aluminum poles that will often be used during wet activities, it’s important to remember to separate the shafts of the Expedition 3s when they’re being stored. Damp aluminum likes to oxidize, and the powdery white dust will begin to jam up your poles if you aren’t diligent enough.

These poles are offered in two size ranges: 85-125 cm and 100-140 cm. We find that around 5’10” tall is where folks switch to the larger set. If you’re looking for a solid pole to use while mountaineering (and might sneak in a little skiing), the Expedition 3s are a great choice.

Read Review: Carbon & Kevlar: MSR Trekking Poles Survive Alaskan Test

The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles ($190) survived the stress test we subjected them to by ski touring all over Alaska, and they just keep kicking. These collapsible carbon poles are just about the shortest folding poles we could find (only the smallest Black Diamond Carbon Distance Zs get smaller), and they do so without being fragile.

Collapsing down to 14.25″, these poles get small enough to stash inside your pack and quickly deploy when you’re ready for a little added traction. The carbon pole design is reinforced with Kevlar to produce a stronger-than-usual stick with added durability against nicks and chipping. Tester Seiji Ishii noticed this strength immediately: “[they had] a secure and confident feeling when heavily loading the pole during risky maneuvers, like crossing Alaskan creeks on skis or navigating around boulders.”

The ‘DynaLock’ adjustment section is a short sleeve that allows these otherwise fixed-length poles to move up to 20 cm, which is perfect for dialing in different lengths for the uphill versus the downhill. A simple metal push button secures the section in place, and the length adjustment is clamped firmly with a metal flick lock. This mechanism is smarter than most and builds in an adjustment dial for getting the clamping pressure just right.

Rounding out these poles are EVA grips with an extension down the shaft for support while sidehilling and two different types of baskets. The snow baskets, in particular, impressed us, as they host a small lip for flicking up risers on ski bindings or snowshoes. These small features make the difference in rugged conditions, and we greatly appreciate them.

The MSR DynaLocks make a compelling alternative pole to the Black Diamond Expedition 3s. They are solid four-season poles that excel at transitioning from snowshoeing and mountaineering to sunny summer hikes. The metal adjusting mechs are notably tougher for cold-weather use, and the collapsed size means they’ll fit inside alpine packs, if need be. You’ll obviously pay for the privilege, so weigh your needs wisely.

The Black Diamond Pursuit Carbon Z Poles ($220) are the upgraded versions of our top pick, getting the full collapsible treatment that the brand’s Pursuit poles receive, along with a new and sturdy carbon shaft. For only $50 more, you can have some seriously nice trekking poles.

The 15.7″ collapsed length is the big deal here, and that’s only slightly longer than our favorite collapsible poles, the MSR DynaLocks at 14.25″. The Pursuit Carbon Zs fold down in a similar way, with a plastic-covered tether connecting the three segments of the pole. A single lock pin on the handle snaps into place once you’ve fully extended the pole, and you only get one set length here (with options from 110 to 130 centimeters). In use, these operate simply, lock firmly, and feel secure when going down the trail.

The updated carbon shafts help keep these poles lighter than the standard Pursuits as well (only 2.3 ounces per pair, but in the hand, this stuff adds up). The shafts aren’t willowly in the hand, either, and can be bumped around on the trail without worry. The trail baskets are minimal little things that help to keep the swing weight down, and also keep things compact when the poles are all bundled together. The poles also come with snow baskets for use during the shoulder seasons.

While the ‘Z-Pole’ rapid reployment mechanism is well proven by this point, it still isn’t quite as robust as a traditional telescoping and lever-lock design. We’ve seen poles with this mechanism that have worn through the polyurethane outer cover on the Z mech, and while it’s still functional, they don’t seem much longer for trusted use.

Even still, it’s a lot of miles between here and there, and so far, the Pursuit Carbon Zs have been impressing us. If you can swing the extra $50 (and will really use the collapsible function), the jump up to these poles from our top pick is a simple one to make.

If the second best is good enough for you, look no further than the LEKI Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles ($230). The pole’s carbon construction and Aergon Air grips ensure a lightweight build without compromising on material quality, and these ranked just below the LEKI Black Series FX Carbon in all of our testing.

We first tested these poles on a winter hike in Tennessee along the Appalachian Trail. With deep snow covering a layer of ice, we leaned heavily on our trekking poles to maintain traction. 

During our testing, temperatures hovered below freezing, and we discovered that the Makalu’s grips felt right at home in our gloved hands. The dense foam-wrapped grip is crucially durable and shaped for comfort in multiple hand positions. Likewise, LEKI’s Lock Security Strap Skin 4.0 feels light yet secure across your wrist and is adjusted with a simple click mechanism. 

Folding-style trekking poles are not always intuitive and require you to pay closer attention while extending. These poles use LEKI’s ELD (External Locking Device), and after a few tries, it’s quicker to set up than most folding poles. Simply let the sections fall, then guide the sections together and pull the middle shaft into place until you hear it click. Press the metal switch to unlock the sections and fold them back together. 

At 18 ounces a pair, the Makalu FX Carbons would not be considered ultralight. However, due to the Aergon Air grips, these poles feel like they want to spring forward with every step. Speaking of the carbon poles, they gave great support while climbing and descending the icy trails around Roan Mountain and held our weight without wobbling or feeling fragile. Unfortunately, the standard basket the poles ship with feels unremarkable in the snow — at this price point, we would like to see a snow basket and rubber walking tip included.

It’s clear that the Makalu FX Carbons are carefully built and thoughtfully designed. No material you touch feels cheap or out of place, and your hands will thank you for the Aergon Air grips after a long day on the trail. While these poles come close to eclipsing the Black Series FX Carbon, they fall short due to their weight (2 ounces heavier per pair) and the lack of cork grips.

Anyone looking for a reliable backcountry pole will appreciate these durable Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ($230). 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 four-season option, putting them smack dab between lighter trail options and burly ski/mountaineering poles like the Expedition 3. The ability to run 100mm 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.

Those looking for a reliable and price-conscious trekking pole will appreciate the LEKI Khumbu Lite Trekking Poles ($120), with their three-piece adjustable design, standout cork and rubber grip, and impressive durability backed by LEKI’s lifetime shaft breakage guarantee.

The real star of the show here? Those sweet, ergonomic grips — angled at a forward 8 degrees of pure wrist-relieving bliss. Made from a cozy cork-and-plastic combo, they’re just the right amount of narrow, making them a dream for hikers with smaller hands (looking at you, ladies!).

While putting these poles to the test on a chilly trek through the winter forests of the Appalachian Trail in Tennessee, we couldn’t stop raving about how perfectly they fit in our hands, even with gloves on.

These grips lean forward at 8 degrees, giving your wrists relief for those all-day missions. The lightweight aluminum poles offer strong durability with the added benefit of weighing only 8.6 ounces each. And thanks to the Speed Lock Plus system, adjusting the height is faster than deciding to take “just one more trail” before heading back.

Compared to the Black Diamond Pursuits, which are other value-heavy trekkers we’ve tested, these poles act and feel like a much pricer pair of sticks. At $30 less and 3 ounces lighter than the Pursuits, we’re not sure you could do much better for your money.

For those long days on the trail where every creature comfort should be recognized and exploited, the Khumbu Lite trekking poles answer the call. These poles might not have your back, but they’ve certainly got your hands.

These ultralight poles came out of nowhere, but they came correct: The Durston Iceline Trekking Poles ($189) 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 they are now available for an extra $10 (at a ~10-12g ding — we think we’ll live).

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.

The LEKI Makalu Lite Trekking Poles ($160) earn high marks for being comfortable, light, and surprisingly stable for their weight. These are the non-collapsible and non-carbon versions of the Makalu FX Carbons we’ve also reviewed, and for $80 less, you get a very similar trekking pole.

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 Khumbu Lite poles are a better value option. For one, they pack smaller (by ~1.2 inches, which can make a difference), and are also a smidge lighter by 2 ounces. You’ll save $30 with the Khumbu Lite and have essentially the same poles.

The Black Diamond Pursuit poles are a better direct comparison to the Makalu Lites, and 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 it’s at.

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.