Why You Need Trekking Poles
Trekking poles reduce joint stress on the descent, take the sting out of steep climbs, and after extended use, you get so accustomed to hiking with poles that it can almost feel like you have a second set of limbs, acting as a balancing aid on tricky terrain. The best trekking poles can help you move faster and more smoothly on or off the trail, and as more and more hikers opt for a lighter base weight setup, trekking poles have taken the place of structural tent poles for a tarp-tent shelter setup, as opposed to the classic freestanding or semi-freestanding tent options.
How To Choose The Best Trekking Poles F0r Your Needs?
Choosing the best trekking poles for your needs depends on what type of terrain you’ll be crossing through. Hiking on an established, well-maintained trail calls for different poles than if you’re planning a journey through off-trail terrain like talus or other loose rock and debris. A carbon shaft is more expensive but lighter weight, and while they’re strong with a vertical load, carbon poles have a tendency to bend or break when shock-loaded from the side.
While aluminum poles are heavier, they are less expensive and are often more durable. The lightest weight poles are ideal for past-packing on established trails, or for endurance runs where every gram matters, but won’t be ideal for more rugged off-trail travel.
Your basket attachments on the end of your poles are also important, and can be switched out depending on tread. Wider baskets are ideal for staying more on top of snow, but will be frustrating on rocky or rooty ground.
While most models of trekking poles accomplish the same thing, most hikers will opt for an adjustable, collapsible set of poles with a simple locking mechanism that you can adjust up or down depending on terrain.
Aluminum Vs. Carbon Trekking Poles
Carbon poles have been a selling point (and reason for companies to brag about) over the past few years, and they have a lot of things going for them. When well-made, they are lighter and stronger than the most aluminum poles. But when you look at the weight and durability (durability is different than strength) when compared to the price point, there’s much to be said about using good old-fashioned aluminum poles.
Carbon poles are made of some of the lightest material available for trekking poles, and the material can actually reduce vibration and jarring on the trail. And while strong, carbon is more fragile than aluminum if it gets a sharp load from the side like the edge of a rock. We’ve broken a number of UL carbon poles in talus. And oftentimes you’re only saving a few ounces vs. aluminum if you compare and shop carefully.
Aluminum poles are made with super tough materials, making them even more durable than carbon. They also weigh just a few ounces more than comparable carbon poles, and you can often find them for a fraction of the price. When overloaded, aluminum poles are more prone to bending than snapping.
Overall, carbon poles are great for saving weight, and they’re our preferred material. But if you’re on a budget, a solid pair of aluminum poles are okay too.
Flip Lock Vs. Twist Lock Length Adjusters
Yet again, there are pros and cons to both. A flip lock can be easier to use, requires less maintenance, and feels more secure, but it is also more complicated mechanism, which means it has the potential for breakage and failure. We feel that on the whole, flip locks are less prone to pole slippage and jamming. Many of the best trekking poles use flip locks.
If they do go wonky, everything is accessible on the outside of the pole where you can see and manipulate it. One of the best things about flip locks is how fast they are to adjust on the go. Flip locks can also be more secure, as it’s one motion to lock the length down on the pole, which removes the guesswork of twisting.
A twist-lock can be lighter and more simple of a mechanism, but they require a bit more finesse to tighten correctly and without experience it’s hard to tell how tight to make them to prevent slipping, but not so tight that they are hard to loosen.
We also find that twist-locks are more prone to jamming. As such, you’ll also have to be sure to clean and maintain the twist locks, as dirt and debris that can clog them and prevent them from tightening securely. Finally if a twist-lock does jam all the parts are inside the pole so not accessible. This makes freeing up a jam harder vs. a flip-lock. All that being said, twist-locks have been around for decades and do work. You can get some great values in poles with twist-locks.
Cork vs Foam Handle Grip
When shopping for the best trekking poles, you may need to decide between cork and foam handle grips. Cork is considered more choice by the general hiking populace, but foam works great too. Both have upsides and downsides.
Cork grips feel better and grippier in the hand. Cork grips don’t absorb moisture and your hands might feel sweatier. Cork grip is slightly heavier, likely to add as much as half an ounce per pole. Cork grip is less durable in the long term. You don’t need to baby it, but it will accumulate micro abrasions and small gouges over time.
EVA Foam grips have a good hand feel, but less so than cork. They do wick and absorb moisture off your hand. This is more pleasant in hot dry weather, and less pleasant in wet/rainy weather. Foam is slightly lighter weight than cork, often saving as much as half an ounce per pole. EVA foam is more durable and long lasting, and more resistant to small scrapes and gouges.