Trekking Poles: Why to Use and How to Choose!

 

At the beginning of every personal outdoor journey there is an enormous amount of gear people encounter for the first time. Can you think back to a time when you saw someone hiking with a trekking pole and thought to yourself "that looks silly, it's not really necessary, nobody really needs that to go hiking!" Maybe now you're a person who can’t imagine heading into the backcountry without trekking poles, or maybe you're still on the fence about whether or not trekking poles make sense for you. Read on for some information sure to benefit both camps!

Why Carry a Trekking Pole or Two

Let’s start with a little bit of clarity about what trekking poles do NOT do even when used properly while hiking: they do not save energy. Studies consistently show that trekking pole users will in fact burn more calories than if they had not been using poles. If trekking poles are new to you then I have probably not done much to sell you on the idea of trekking poles so far.

The benefit derives from involving your upper body more intimately in both propelling yourself forward as well as reducing shock and enhancing stability. This can reduce fatigue in your lower body as well as mitigate long term wear and tear, not to mention helping prevent an acute injury from a sudden slip and fall. A healthier, happier, less painful hiking life is a pretty good sales pitch. I think technique is best discussed via video, and there are no lack of those on the internet, so I’ll not address that here. 

But wait, there's more!

Trekking poles are the primary support structure for most ultralight style shelters on the market, taking an item that would otherwise be useless while you are in camp and putting it to work keeping you protected from the elements. Trekking poles are really a multiplier of weight savings in this instance, as they are not only often lighter than traditional tent poles, the shelters supported by them are generally lighter, and you have a dual use item. I can’t say I have ever seen someone using their normal tent poles during the day while they are hiking. If you have, be sure to let me know.

There may be some out there who have tried trekking poles and found they just couldn’t quite get the hang of it for whatever reason. We’re not all the same ergonomically or mentally, and if you’ve made a good faith effort at something and it’s not for you, doing what makes you uncomfortable outside won’t bring you any benefit. And guess what? That’s me, sort of… and I STILL bring a trekking pole with me on backpacking trips!

Years ago I was an avid two pole user, and then tore my rotator cuff and labrum (not hiking related). I had a very successful rehab, but a few things never felt quite the same, including throwing a baseball, serving a tennis ball, and using two trekking poles. Somehow I was never quite able to recapture the magic I felt before, until I discovered the power of...

Wizard Sticking

 

Wizard Sticking is my name for trying to make using one trekking pole seem cool. These days I usually have a single pole in my hand about half the time, and on my pack about half the time. Even if I use a trekking pole less frequently over the years, I would never go on a hike without one. The reasons include enhanced stability on stream crossings, snow fields, semi technical terrain like scree, and help locating the actual ground on a good old fashioned Pacific Northwest heather scramble. At this point in my hiking life I am so used to the tripod of balance it creates that I even keep a pole in my hand hopping from point to point in giant talus fields. Last but not least, even if not quite as effective as two poles, it does decrease the strain on my knees during steep downhills, and I still get to enjoy the benefits of dual use for the pole when I make camp at night.

But Which Trekking Poles?

There are a lot of poles on the market these days, and it can be very confusing to wade into comparing them. I’ll start by laying out the basic components, which will help clarify the points of comparison in construction:

Weight

Shaft material and thickness

Grip material

Locking mechanism

Number of sections

Auxiliary components (straps, tips, snowbaskets)

Maximum height

WEIGHT: It's best considered as a deciding factor by on trail thru-hikers who use their poles every single step of the way, or by someone like me who will have their pole stashed on their pack a significant amount of the day. The lightest of the light trekking poles will do fine in most normal hiking circumstances, but I would not take them on a high route or go pounding them into a chunky glacial moraine climb. 

SHAFT MATERIAL: Strides have been made in carbon fiber construction over the years to the point where carbon fiber trekking poles will be as durable as aluminum poles but are even lighter. This weight savings generally comes with a premium price tag, and there are comparable weight aluminum poles on the market these days for less. A key potential difference between the two materials is how the materials fail: when carbon fiber fails, it snaps, while aluminum will usually bend and remain usable to some extent. Carbon fiber also has a harder time coping with very cold weather. Those engaged in extreme cold weather pursuits or expedition type endeavors may choose aluminum in recognition of these factors, but for the vast majority of us, our hiking conditions don’t really merit these considerations anymore. 

GRIP MATERIAL: Cork vs. foam... I know some folks who love the feeling of cork grip and swear by it, but I happen to fall into the camp of it making little difference. I would chalk this up entirely to personal preference. 

LOCKING MECHANISM: This can generally be broken down into twist lock versus flip lock. Twist lock mechanisms are more susceptible to dust and grime and can be slightly more fiddly to deal with while setting up a trekking pole shelter, however I don’t immediately discount them as an option versus a flip lock construction unless you hike in the southwest or another very dusty environment. Flip lock construction is generally both more durable and easier to repair in the field.

NUMBER OF SECTIONS: This is primarily a consideration for those who are traveling or bikepacking and would like to be able to break the pole down into a very small size. Being able to pack poles completely inside a bag is a huge plus when checking it, putting it on a bus, etc. Generally, the more sections, the smaller a pole can get. As a corollary, it has more places to fail, but construction techniques with these kinds of poles has become sturdier over the years. 

AUXILIARY COMPONENTS: Most poles come with a variety of rubber feet, snow baskets, and other doodads you are likely to never use. Snow baskets are probably the most helpful of these for early season travel. The rubber feet can come in handy when you need to pack a bag in close quarters and don’t want the tip to poke a hole in other fragile gear. The two most important auxiliary pieces of a pole are the straps and tips, and when evaluating them the exact same criterion applies: are they removable and replaceable? And what is the ease or difficulty with which this can be done?

MAXIMUM HEIGHT: There are poles with a smaller range of adjustability, and if you are very tall, short, or have a trekking pole supported shelter that needs and very long pole and you do not wish to carry a pole jack, these are considerations. Most poles adjust to fit a wide variety of users, but be sure to pay attention to this when purchasing!

A Few Suggested Poles

THE LIGHTEST OF THE LIGHT:

Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles: Incredibly light, packs tiny, and has snow basket compatibility. Gossamer Gear has spent many years updating and perfecting this twist lock design, and it is perfect for the on-trail hiker moving fast and counting every gram. Not suggested for more rugged pursuits due to its spindly shaft circumference and twist locks.

 

Nearly as light and tiny packing but slightly more durable is the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ. This mouthful of a name refers to the folding nature of the pole when stashed, and that it has a flip locking mechanism. When fully extended the FLZ has a 15cm range of adjustment, which is ample, but be sure you are purchasing the size that is right for you! If you are a small person and have a tall pitching shelter, this pole may not be able to accommodate both needs.

 

The Ruta Locura Carbon Yana Trekking Poles may be the lightest pole on the market with a twist lock minimalist affair. While it shaves some weight compared to the already featherweight options listed above, it packs significantly larger at a 28" collapsed length. 

BUILT TO LAST:

If you told me my life depended on a trekking pole surviving a trip, then I would choose the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. Premium construction with a rugged build, the added weight here provides a lot of security for the off-trail traveler and winter backpacking aficionado.

BUDGET OPTIONS:

The Mountainsmith Andesite delivers ultralight performance with a much lower price tag. The drawback here compared to other ultralight offerings is the pack size as it has a collapsed length of 32". These poles feature twist lock construction.

Black Diamond Trail Cork: An aluminum pole with the durability and weight of the Alpine Carbon Cork at a more budget friendly price point, while not the lightest on the market, will serve as long as you can imagine hiking!

 

 

Hopefully this helped convince you not only to add a trekking pole to your kit if you aren’t already using onebut also helped you discern some of the ins and outs of what makes each model unique in construction and features!

 

Based in Portland, Oregon, Scott Nechemias has hiked over 10,000 miles in the backcountry, often accompanied by his wife Jordan and their fur monsters, Cheese and Utah. He has a particular affinity for off-trail travel, the high desert, and the places in the world less traveled by people. You can find more of his trips on Instagram.