5 Tips To Help You Choose The Best Hiking Poles

Have you been stumbling on rocky trails and wondering whether or not you need to invest in a pair of hiking poles? 

If so, you might find it difficult to choose among the multitude of models, shapes and sizes.

Luckily, here are 5 tips to help you choose the best hiking poles for your adventures! 

#1 - Choose the right material!

Since they’re supposed to be carried by hand on rough terrain for hours on end, hiking poles need to be light and durable. 

There are mainly two materials that are used:

• Aluminium

  The heaviest of the three, and also the least durable (in a way). Aluminium poles are much cheaper and also more flexible than carbon fiber. This means that when put under excessive pressure, like during a fall, an aluminium pole is more likely to bend. If this happens, you can simply try to straighten the shaft. 

If the damage is too severe, and is close to one of the locking points, you can also try to break the ruined part off, reattach the rest so that you can keep using the pole!

This technique only works with certain types of locking mechanisms, which we will look at later.

• Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is much lighter and more durable than aluminium, but also comes at a much higher price. Because it is such a strong material, carbon fiber lacks in flexibility and, if put under too much pressure, will shatter like a bamboo stick instead of bending. 

Because it shatters instead of bending, a carbon fiber pole is completely useless when broken, unlike an aluminium pole that can still be salvaged.

#2 - Don’t get too tempted by ultralight poles!

Should you choose an ultralight hiking pole for your trips? 

There are pros and cons to both.

If you’re dead set on reducing the weight of your backpack as much as possible, then I would recommend ultralight poles. 

However, I personally find that the difference in weight between a high quality aluminium pole and an ultralight carbon pole is not enough to push me towards the latter. 

The reason I prefer aluminium poles is that they are much more flexible under pressure. This makes them better suited to challenging terrains despite the fact that carbon fiber is a more durable material, and, from personal experience of working in an outdoor store, I’ve had many more returns of shattered carbon poles than bent aluminium.

#3 - Pick the right design!

The design of your hiking poles will determine how compact and light they will be.

Most trekking poles are either telescopic or tri-folding:

• Telescopic

Telescopic poles are the most common, and can be made shorter or longer because the sections of the shaft slide into each other and stay in place because of the locking mechanisms.

These models have the largest range of lengths but are not as compact or light as tri-folding poles.

• Tri-Folding

Folding poles are made of three parts connected to each other by a tensed cable, with the top one being telescopic to adjust the length. Releasing the tension on the cable via a button allows the pole to be separated in three parts that can be folded next to each other.

These poles are much more compact and light, but the cable is a weak spot. If broken, the three parts of the pole won’t stay attached anymore!

#4 -  Choose the right locking mechanism!

Choosing the right locking mechanisms is essential for your balance and safety, as they’ll make sure your hiking poles won’t collapse under your weight!

Hiking poles come with a variety of locking mechanisms:

• External Lever Lock

This is the most common, simple, and the one I recommend the most.

You’ll find this in most telescopic shafts, and the way it works is that a clamp is responsible for holding the various sections of the shaft attached to each other.

The tension on the clamp is released by flipping a lever, and can be adjusted by turning a screw.

• Twist-Lock

Instead of an external clamp, the parts of the shaft are held in place by twisting them. This turns a screw on the inside that opens an expander and holds the shafts in place. 

I personally don’t like this system, as it is slow to adjust and can jam and fail easily!

• Button Lock

A button lock is the type of locking mechanism you’ll find on tri-folding poles. You simply pull the shaft and everything locks in place. You can then adjust the length with an external lever lock or release the tension on the cable by pressing the button. 

#5 - Make sure your hiking poles are comfortable and ergonomic!

If you’re going to be carrying your hiking poles over long distances, you have to make sure the handles are comfortable and ergonomic. 

This mainly boils down to what they are made of:

• Rubber

Rubber handles are found mainly on cheaper models. It’s an outdated material, even though it offers the best grip.

Unfortunately, the grip comes with a sticky feeling and creates a lot of friction with the skin, which can easily lead to blisters. This is worsened even more by heat, making them a terrible choice for warm climates.

For this reason, rubber handles are best used in winter with gloves.

• Foam

It’s much less grippy than the other materials but also much softer, meaning it will adapt well to the shape of your hand. However, foam will quickly absorb water when wet, and heats up very quickly in warm climates.

This makes it ideal for mild and dry weather.  

• Cork

Cork handles are my favourite choice, even though they are often considered outdated. They offer a great grip, adapt well to the shape of the hand, and repel moisture without swelling up.

Cork handles absorb shocks much more effectively than other materials, making them ideal for all weather conditions and terrains!

So, now that we’ve looked at all the various combinations and characteristics, which hiking poles should you choose?

That really depends on the kind of hikes you’re more likely to go on.

• If, for example, you’re an ultralight backpacker, then a pair of tri-folding carbon poles with foam or cork handles would be the best choice.

• Something like telescopic aluminium poles with a twist lock and rubber handles would be best for someone on a tight budget.

Or maybe you’re like me and just want something that can take on any type of terrain?

In that case the best model I can recommend is the one I use myself, the Black Diamond Trail Cork Hiking Poles.

They are awesome telescopic poles with an aluminium shaft and cork handles, with an external lever lock that is extremely secure and easy to adjust.

Plus, the tips are interchangeable between carbide for soft terrains and rubber for hard surfaces. Because the tips are attached via a screw, they are easily replaced and won’t be lost on the road!

Hiking poles are accessories that are made to offer support to hikers on their adventures and, just like all of your gear, they need to be tailored to your personal preference and style!

I’ll see you on the trail and until next time this is Luca, signing off.

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