The Finest Trekking Poles of 2025

We’ve been placing the perfect climbing poles to the check for almost a decade and have narrowed in poles which are comfy, mild, sturdy, and packable. Our high selections have supported us on hikes world wide.

Components like strength-to-weight, packability, seasonal software, and grip fashion mix to create distinctive choices for the ever-evolving specializations within the outdoor. From day hikes within the mountains of Colorado to journeys throughout Europe, we’ve put these poles by way of the wringer.

From premium choices just like the LEKI Black Collection FX Carbon to thrifty-hiker-approved Trekology Trek-Z 2.0, we’ve damaged this listing into classes that will help you discover the perfect trekking poles for the adventures you’re embarking on in 2025. 

Editor’s Observe: We up to date our Trekking Pole information on March 20, 2025, so as to add three new worthy LEKI poles. The Khumbu Lites provide up spectacular worth, the Legacy Lites are a strong choice should you’re seeking to bump up from our Price range decide, and the Makalu FX Carbons are near our favourite total in the event that they solely had cork grips.

The Finest Trekking Poles of 2025

Different Trekking Poles To Get Down the Path With

The six trekking poles above are our favorites for just about something we love to do outdoor, whether or not that’s a fast day hike to rucking deep into the backcountry. That mentioned, we’ve examined loads of different winners in our day, and you need to contemplate the alternates under earlier than deciding which pole is best for you.

Trekking Poles Comparability Chart

How We Examined the Finest Trekking Poles

We satisfaction ourselves on a testing course of that exposes flaws and highlights strengths whereas observing a variety of apparatus choices. Good gear ought to final a very long time, and to do this, it must exhibit sturdiness. When evaluating the perfect trekking poles, we check the options that generally break down, together with the locking mechanisms, grips, and straps, to make sure that solely essentially the most dependable poles make it on our listing. 

Our Testing Course of and Testing Grounds

We field-tested these poles in a variety of environments and climate over various kinds of terrain. As avid customers, we all know the options that may elevate one pole above the remaining. To seek out the perfect, we analyzed what makes every pole distinctive and examined them in distinctive environments doing the actions these poles are extra probably for use in.

We’ve been fairly far and large doing it, too. The testing group has collectively crossed america in a north-to-south style at the very least six instances, and we’ve taken some additional afield journeys as nicely. From weeks-long traverses in Iceland to nosing into the Himalayas, having secure footing and easing our knees was a continuing requirement.

Lastly, as soon as we’ve fashioned an opinion, we cycle these poles out to totally different members of the testing group in order that our protection is well-balanced.

Weight from pole to pole usually doesn’t range a lot, however it’s shocking how a number of ounces can construct up over a whole day. That’s why we weigh every pole in-house to confirm it for ourselves. We additionally escape the ruler for collapsed and prolonged lengths, and even the micrometer to measure pole thickness.

The convenience at which every of those poles might be serviced at dwelling was additionally examined, and we in contrast notes on tightening or cleansing totally different adjusters, in addition to placing on new baskets or changing carbide suggestions.

Our Skilled Testers

Chris Carter, one of many lead authors of this information, has thru-hiked the Triple Crown of lengthy trails in america: the Pacific Crest Path, the Continental Divide Path, and the Appalachian Path. He is aware of the worth of a dependable trekking pole for absorbing influence on the physique, serving to with stability over difficult terrain, and pitching a shelter at evening. He’s fairly explicit concerning the poles he depends upon within the backcountry.

Jackson Sims-Myers and Samuel Martin additionally each contribute to the testing group, and are each thru-hikers as nicely. That brings the path mile cred for this information to nicely north of 20,000 and climbing. Sims-Myers is a multi-sport information positioned in southern Utah, whereas Martin is a business photographer who covers the Japanese Seaboard from Charlotte, North Carolina. Each have bent a trekking pole or two of their days.

Purchaser’s Information: Tips on how to Select a Trekking Pole

Weight & Packed Measurement

The packed-down size isn’t of important significance to most hikers and backpackers. However, for individuals who plan to journey with their poles, it’s finest to search for a pole that packs down sufficiently small to slot in your baggage.

The LEKI Black Collection FX is an ideal instance of utmost packability. Its collapsible z-pole design separates the segments utterly, permitting it to pack all the way down to a mere 16 inches, simply becoming into most daypacks alongside different provides.

For weight, you may’t beat the Gossamer Gear LT5. At 4.9 ounces every, you’ll hardly discover these modern poles, and you’ll preserve them helpful for just-in-case situations.

And whereas some poles will solely collapse into themselves, others, just like the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0, have impartial segments that fold up when collapsed, making them smaller than most collapsible poles. These poles do use extra part joints than different poles, which must be a consideration for long-term use. In our testing, nevertheless, we’ve but to see fold-up poles expire prematurely.

Pole Size

Pole size is without doubt one of the most vital elements for a great trekking pole match. To estimate the perfect size, get up straight (ideally carrying the climbing footwear you’ll hike in) and bend your arm to a 90-degree angle. Measure from the ground to your elbow to calculate your size.

Normally, folks 5’1″ and beneath will select a 100 cm pole. These from 5’1″ as much as 5’7″ will use a 110 cm pole. Hikers starting from 5’8″ to five’11” will want a 120 cm pole. And people taller than 6′ will go together with the 130 cm choice.

A pole with a variety of adjustability will work for nearly everybody. When you’ve measured your measurement, you may discover fixed-length choices.

Fastened Size vs. Adjustable

There are viable causes to think about every choice. Adjustable poles will help you rapidly change their size to fine-tune them on the path to your personalised wants. If you happen to’re exhausted, you may modify them to switch extra weight to your higher physique.

Adjustable poles help you lengthen or retract steep ascents or descents. The draw back is an elevated chance of failure or slippage on the locking factors, particularly with twist locks.

Fastened-length poles provide much less fine-tuning however can deal with extra weight. Usually, fixed-length poles are perfect for path working and different fast-paced endeavors the place changes will solely sluggish you down.

Some fixed-length poles, just like the trail-running-specific Black Diamond Distance Carbon Poles, don’t fold up. Others are a set size when deployed however break down for packing.

Ladies’s-Particular Trekking Poles

Usually, ladies’s-specific trekking poles have a smaller grip diameter (which affords elevated consolation for smaller palms) and a shorter most size.

One other bonus of girls’s-specific trekking poles is that the minimal size is shorter, which will increase packability. As a result of their smaller measurement, the ladies’s choices additionally shed a little bit of weight.

In actuality, it’s much less concerning the gender of the given person and extra concerning the measurement. Anybody in search of a smaller grip and a shorter pole ought to contemplate shopping for a ladies’s-specific trekking pole.

Grips

Trekking pole grips are available in three major supplies: cork, foam, and rubber. Superb grips will wick moisture nicely, be comfy in your pores and skin, and work as shock absorbers. Cork and foam are the most typical supplies used for trekking pole grips, and for many, the choice merely comes all the way down to feeling.

• Cork is exceptionally mild, wicks moisture nicely, and can be very environmentally pleasant. Cork grips are the perfect at absorbing shock, and in addition type to your hand over time. The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork affords an ergonomic cork grip.
• Foam grips are additionally very mild, however quite than wicking moisture, they have an inclination to soak up it. The tradeoff could be for grip, as EVA foam is kind of cheesy. Greater high quality foam, like on the LEKI Makalu Lite, performs nicely throughout all classes. Between foam and cork, the load distinction is negligible.
• Rubber grips are not often utilized in fashionable trekking poles, and are usually utilized strictly for snowsports.

Suggestions

Most producers of trekking poles provide the business commonplace – carbide suggestions. They’re extremely sturdy and provide grip and pinpoint precision over varied terrain, performing equally as nicely over rock, ice, and softer, variable surfaces.

Nonetheless, carbide suggestions can inflict some harm on the atmosphere, so some want rubber suggestions when traversing delicate landscapes. They will also be noisy over rocky terrain. Gossamer Gear consists of some very helpful rubber boots with their ultralight LT5 poles, that are simple to put and take away.

Any tip will put on down after extended use and must be changed when the metallic wears as much as or close to the plastic.

Rubber tip protectors include or can be found for many trekking poles. They’re not solely helpful if you end up on cabinets of rock or pavement, however can lengthen the lifetime of your suggestions in storage (and preserve them from snagging clothes in your pack).

Baskets

Trekking poles typically include “mud baskets.” They not solely stop splashing and provides assist in mud, however also can assist when touring over mushy grime or sand. They’re particularly helpful for thru-hikers who will encounter snow on high-elevation passes.

If you happen to’re touring over snowy terrain with out baskets, you’ll discover out the snow depth fairly rapidly, and except you may lengthen the poles to match that depth, they’ll be rendered ineffective.

Lately, nearly all poles out there include standard-size mud baskets, and lots of even include some additional powder baskets for all-season use. If you wish to make the most of your poles for winter sports activities, examine to see if they arrive with powder baskets, and remember to examine compatibility should you get them organized from a third-party producer.

Do You Want Trekking Poles?

Benefits of Trekking Poles

• Distribute a number of the work and weight distribution to your higher physique. Though utilizing your arms can improve your total power use (see cons under), trekking poles are an efficient and worthwhile leg-saver, particularly on longer or extra strenuous outings.
• Save your knees and joints on descents. Research present that utilizing poles considerably reduces the influence in your knees whereas climbing downhill. When extra weight will get factored into the equation, trekking poles might be important for long-term well being.
• Enhance your steadiness on uneven terrain. That’s very true over river crossings the place slippery rocks can wreck your day.
• Enable you keep a constant gait. Trekking poles can result in a quicker, extra environment friendly tempo.
• Add a multipurpose instrument to your package. Many choices can double as ski poles with the addition of powder baskets. Many ultralight backpacking tents require trekking poles as structural assist to avoid wasting weight. Poles also can assist arrange shad buildings in areas missing protection on sweltering days.

Cons of Trekking Poles

• Your total power output is elevated. Whereas it might appear counterintuitive, we’ve discovered the advantages of physiological preservation, steadiness, and security outweigh the consequences of additional output.
• Further cargo. If you happen to select to not use your poles, they turn out to be one other piece of substances to hold or be strapped to your backpacking backpack. That is the place packability turns into important.

Tips on how to Correctly Use Trekking Poles

If you happen to’re shopping for trekking poles for the primary time, or have merely by no means considered one of the best ways to make use of them, it may be useful to grasp essentially the most environment friendly manner for them to enrich your stride.

Size: For setup, you’ll need your arms to be at a 90-degree angle when the information are weighted on the bottom earlier than you. Adjustable poles provide the good thing about micro-adjustments, whereas fastened poles don’t. That is particularly essential to think about which pole fashion you need to buy. If you’re climbing with adjustable poles, it’s a good suggestion to regulate the size of the poles as you climb or descend a hill, preserving that 90-degree angle as fixed as doable.

Wrist straps: The wrist straps ought to comfortably wrap round your wrists (not so tight that they’re squeezing, however not so free that they’ll slip off your wrists if dropped). Along with your palms vertical on the grips, the highest of the strap ought to relaxation the place your wrist hinges should you carry your thumb from that place.

Stride: As an additional set of legs, essentially the most environment friendly manner to make use of trekking poles is to increase the other pole to hit the bottom simply earlier than your reverse foot (i.e., the left pole ought to lengthen as you carry your proper foot to step). This enables the pole to soak up a few of every step’s influence and takes a number of the weight off your legs. On very steep descents, many individuals want shifting their hand to the highest portion of the grip or rising the pole’s size and inserting each poles without delay for steadiness.

Placement: Inserting poles as you stroll on mellow terrain is easy (see paragraph above). Over rock or talus, nevertheless, it will probably turn out to be a bit extra difficult. It’s by no means good to have the pole wedged in between or simply behind a rock as you step, as it might stick within the floor and break/bend beneath the drive. In any other case, you need to place them in a safe place that helps preserve you balanced.

On the path, it’s frequent to see a variety of trekking pole methods. Some folks sling them alongside and place them in random increments, whereas others actually lean into the poles and switch weight with every step.

Whereas there are numerous methods to have them bear weight when shifting by way of technical terrain, the above approach (alternating reverse pole from leg) has confirmed to be the best, most effective approach for strolling alongside flat, reasonable, and regular uphill terrain.

Worth & Worth

Trekking poles are nicely price what you may pay for them, however that being mentioned, there’s a sure worth you’ll pay for entry to nicer choices. Sometimes, this can imply buying and selling {dollars} for options and luxury, but additionally in dropping weight. Take into account how usually you’ll be utilizing your trekking poles, in addition to the place you’ll be going. The wants of an extremely runner are actually totally different than a day hiker.

Price range

For the common person, balancing high quality and worth can make sure you get the trekking poles you want with out breaking the financial institution. Aluminum is the usual right here, together with two- or three-piece designs that collapse down. You usually received’t see essentially the most adjustable lengths right here, however as long as they suit you, you need to be superb.

Sometimes working from between $30 and $80, funds choices just like the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 ($44) steadiness wants nicely, and are even a z-pole design that compresses down sufficiently small to slot in your pack. The marginally increased weight of 8 ounces north of a pound is frequent, and whereas these poles are heavy, there are lighter choices.

Mid-Tier

From $100 to $150 is the place you’ll get much more on your cash, and we typically consider that the majority people are finest served on the higher finish of this vary. Beneath $150 is the cutoff for carbon fiber poles (with the Durston Icelines representing the underside greenback — an incredible worth at $169), and also you’ll additionally get extra breathable cork handles and smaller collapsed lengths.

The Black Diamond Pursuits are an incredible worth for the value, and whereas they’re nonetheless aluminum, they weigh lower than the LEKI Makalu Lite. The adjustment mechanism is without doubt one of the solely shifting elements on a trekking pole, and it’s price investing in smooth-operating examples with lever locks. The choice right here is twist locks, which aren’t as strong in our expertise.

Premium

Paying north of $150 should have a great cause, and these poles are most frequently specialised carbon fiber jobs which are both wickedly mild or sport all the perfect options. These embody all-aluminum adjusters just like the FlickLock Execs on the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Corks that simply work completely, or collapsible methods that enable the LEKI Black Collection FX Carbon poles to pack all the way down to 16″.

The race to the underside can be the place the massive bucks are, and our favourite UL climbing pole (Gossamer Gear LT5) and ultra-running pole (Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z) are each $190 or extra, however are additionally lower than 5 ounces per pole. Over a thousand miles or two, weight provides up.

Incessantly Requested Questions

Trekking poles aren’t required, however they’ll actually be useful! For lengthy treks with a heavy pack, they assist distribute your weight and reduce the influence on descents. They’re additionally nice for stabilization on rocky treks, climbing alongside an uncovered path, or when river crossings may get a bit techy.

You might use a single pole or a climbing workers, however, basically, we suggest a pair of climbing poles. They supply a extra balanced, ergonomic gait and elevated stability.

Packable choices help you stow a pole away when each don’t appear vital, or should you want one hand free for snapping photographs.

The trekking pole grip ought to relaxation comfortably in your palm when your arms are bent at a 90-degree angle.

Normally, folks 5’1″ and beneath will select a 100cm pole. These as much as 5’7″ will use a 110-115cm pole. Hikers starting from 5’8″ to five’11” want a 120cm pole. And people taller than 6′ will go together with the 130cm choice.

The brief reply is sure, however it relies upon. Some hikers want to make use of them on a regular basis; others not often use them and may even take away them from the pole totally to chop extra weight, particularly if they have an inclination to hike on easy-going trails.

Using straps comes down to private choice, however there are some actual advantages to using this characteristic. Straps improve stability and permit extra energy switch into the poles on steeper gradients. It’s additionally a lot more durable to drop your poles off the facet of a mountain or uncovered terrain if they’re connected to your physique.

Telescoping poles provide a extra intensive vary of usable lengths than all of the others. Whereas they take a bit longer to arrange than folding poles, these poles are extra sturdy and customizable to the terrain you’re climbing or working on.

Folding poles are sometimes lighter and far more compact of their collapsed place; nevertheless, they’ve a considerably smaller vary of adjustability. However for runners and fast-packers, their fast setup or breakdown on the transfer is unmatched.

Some firms provide a mixture of the types, like our greatest total trekking pole of 2025. These poles mix elements from each types, mixing the speedy setup, compact storage, and a few adjustability — the first compromise is the smaller vary of adjustment this design kind affords.

Fastened poles should not collapsible, however they’re the lightest on the market. When deciding to buy a pair, you’ll must ensure you discover the dimensions that works for you. Try our Comparability Chart for a breakdown of the particular measurement ranges, worth factors, and weight per pair for our favourite poles of the yr.