Walking poles are essential for those who want to enjoy a lifetime of healthy tramping. They reduce the stress on knees and lessen the chance of injury, especially from falls, by providing stability on uneven ground.
Three things to know about hiking poles
1 One pole or two? Two poles is best – they help with balance, stride and reduce the load on both legs.
2 Grip: The handle should be ergonomically shaped and made from a soft and grippy material that is comfortable when wet – foam or cork are common. Extended grips allow a change of hand position – on uphills for example – without adjusting the pole’s length.
3 Straps: Straps allow you to use poles without engaging a muscle-tiring grip.
Komperdell Carbon Zero Compact $179.99/pole
A carbon pole with an extended grip zone for use on steep terrain. The lower section is titanium and it has a padded strap, interchangeable baskets for summer and winter, and Powerlock 3.0 clamps.
Length 90–120cm
Weight 201g/pole
Silva Trekking Poles Aluminium Z-fold $199.99/pair
This aluminium pole features extra-long cork and foam handles for easy grip adjustment. It has soft wrist straps and concave carbide tips for hard surfaces; rubber tips and snow baskets included.
Length 115–135cm
Weight 560g/pair
Mountain King Trail Blaze $229.90/pair
A 4-section, fixed-length pole made for trail runners and ultra-light hikers. It has a carbide tip, wrist strap, Airflow grip, trekking basket and a mesh storage bag.
Length 110cm, 115cm, 120cm, 125cm, 130cm
Weight from 122g
Masters Trecime Fix Carbon $359.99/pair
A lightweight foldable pole in five sections designed for fast-paced activities like trail running. It has a short grip and ultralight webbing strap, a carbide tip, screwed baskets and push/pull system for quick deployment.
Length 35–130cm
Weight 190g
Black Diamond Pursuit Carbon Z $379.99/pair
A lightweight, fixed-length carbon pole. It has an ergonomic cork grip with a 5-degree tilt to reduce fatigue, recycled ‘Bloom’ grip extensions with airmesh padded straps, and 4-season flex tips with trekking and snow baskets.
Length 110cm, 115cm, 120cm, 125cm, 130cm
Weight from 382g/pair
Black Diamond Trail $199.99/pair
A 3-piece adjustable pole with an extended EVA foam grip, a partially recycled Variwidth plush strap, dual FlickLocks for adjustability to suit the terrain, and 4-season flex tips with trekking and snow baskets included.
Length 100–140cm
Weight 480g/pair.
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