Best Walking and Trekking Poles 2024

Whether you’re navigating rough tracks or easy paths, finding the right trekking poles could significantly improve your day on the trail. They can take the pressure off knees, ankles, and hips (especially on the downhill) and provide extra support (ideal if you're carrying a heavy load). They can even improve your walking technique and can be a key tool for fast flowing river crossings. They’re also a useful item to keep in your kit cupboard for backpacking, fast-hiking, nordic walking, and mountain running adventures, whether you're tackling some of the best walking holidays in Europe or routes closer to home.  So, lace up your boots, grab your poles and let's go. 

Why Use Trekking Poles for Hiking and Hill Walking?

Trekking poles are great for walkers and hikers of all levels. Firstly, they offer additional support and balance, especially on uneven terrain. This can reduce the risk of falls and injuries, and potentially make challenging trails more accessible.

Secondly, trekking poles help distribute the physical load across the body, particularly relieving stress from the legs, joints, and lower back. This can be helpful when descending steep terrain and can help you to cover longer distances with less fatigue. What’s more, the use of poles can engage the upper body muscles too, transforming simple hikes into a full body workout.

Trekking Pole Construction

The best trekking poles are made from materials like aluminium or carbon fibre, making them lightweight yet sturdy. Aluminium poles are known for their durability and cost-effectiveness, making them a popular choice. While carbon fibre poles are lighter weight but tend to be more expensive.

Both materials stand up well to regular use in tough terrain but super lightweight poles are potentially easier to break. Sometimes trekking poles are built with shock absorbers to minimise impact, but the jury is out as to whether these offer any real benefit. Your choice will depend on your how much you’re willing to spend and whether you’re serious about counting the grams.

Trekking Pole Grips

Comfortable grips are typically made from materials such as cork, foam, or rubber. Cork grips are favoured for their ability to conform to the shape of a hand, providing a custom fit and excellent moisture management. EVA foam grips are the modern alternative and offer a soft and comfortable hold, particularly in cold weather, while rubber grips are durable and provide a secure grip in wet conditions. An extended grip is a handy feature to have, allowing you to slide your hand into the right position on uneven terrain without needing to keep adjusting pole length. This saves time, faff and keeps you in your walking flow.

Trekking Pole Adjusters

Most trekking poles are adjustable in length with locking mechanisms. This can be useful if you don’t expect to use the poles all the time and would like to be able to attach them to your backpack when not in use. Telescopic poles have two or three parts that slide into each other and lock into place with flick locks or a twist lock mechanism. There are mixed reports on which style is better (twist locks can slip but flip locks can be bulky).

An alternative style is the three-piece z poles design. These fit together like a tent pole with an internal cord and can often work well for those moving fast and light. They will usually have one or two additional twist or flip locks to extend the length as well.

The Best Trekking Poles 2024

Leki Makalu Trekking Poles, £115

Best trekking poles for durability and reliability

Leki’s Makalu trekking poles are equipped with the latest generation of Aergon Air grip. This grip is specifically designed for trekking with a hollow core technology that allows for a lightweight construction while providing large, supportive surfaces that sit nicely in the hand.

The rubberised grip head on the Aergon Air provides maximum control when going downhill, and the inclined head angle aids in optimal pole placement, which helps to reduce fatigue in the arms and hands.

In terms of construction, the Leki Makalu trekking poles are top-notch. The aluminium tube design is stable and sturdy. The continuously adjustable Vario construction allows the Makalu trekking poles to be used at lengths between 110-145 cm, which is perfect for a range of heights and quickly switching between ascent and descent, where the foam grip extension also comes in handy. The locking system, Speed Lock plus, is supremely reliable and ensures that the poles stay at the desired length throughout your hike.

The Leki Makalu trekking poles weigh in at a fairly portly 598g but the three-section design allows for a small folded pack size at a compact 71cm, making these trekking poles reasonably easy to stow away in your backpack but not as light or compact as some.

The Leki Makalu trekking poles come equipped with Trekking 2.0 baskets and Flex Tips, which provide excellent stability and grip on a variety of terrain. 

Overall, a sturdy and comfortable walking pole that won’t let you down.

Buy Leki Makalu Poles: £80.71 on Amazon

Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles, £110

Best Trekking Poles for 4-Season Use

These poles are designed for year-round use, making them a versatile option for any hiker or backpacker. The aluminium shafts provide excellent durability while keeping the weight to a minimum. They weigh in at 486 grams per pair, which is impressive for a 4-season pole.

Although trekking poles with cork grips tend to run a little more expensive than poles with foam grips, cork tends to conform to your hand better, wicks moisture away, and can offer a more secure grip. The premium 100% natural cork grip of the Trail Cork poles is soft to the touch, ergonomic, and provides an excellent feeling in the hand. The EVA foam grip extension is also a nice touch, allowing you to move your hand down the pole when ascending. 

The Fusion comfort strap provides excellent support, distributing the weight of the pole evenly across your wrist and hand. The strap is adjustable, so you can easily find the perfect fit for your hand size.

The Trail Cork Trekking poles adjust with Black Diamond’s super sturdy FlickLock locking mechanism, extending the poles between 100-140cm. When collapsed, they measure a very compact 62cm, making them easy to pack and transport.

Another great feature is the interchangeable carbide Tech Tips. These tips provide excellent traction on rocky trails, and they're easily swapped out for the Rubber Tech Tips (sold separately) if you're hiking on smoother surfaces. The 4 season flex tips with both trekking and snow baskets included makes these poles versatile for any season.

If you're in the market for a pair of cork-handled trekking poles that are comfortable, durable, and versatile, the Black Diamond Trail Cork Trek poles are well worth considering.

Buy Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles: £90 at Snow and Rock

Decathlon Forclaz MT500 Walking Poles, £32

Best Trekking Poles on a Budget

These trekking poles ar sold in singles but buy a pair and you will be in for the usual Decathlon bargain, with the grand total for two coming in at a shade under £32. What’s more, if one breaks, you don’t have to buy another full set.

These poles are basic, but if you’re a casual hiker, possibly trying out trekking poles for the first time, or you’re on a budget, then the Forclaz MT500 Hiking Poles may be for you.

The foam grip is ergonomically shaped but the dense foam isn’t the best for sweaty hands. The long 3D design means you can adjust your grip depending on the terrain, moving your hand down the pole on ascents.

The locking system is sturdy enough and allows you to quickly and easily adjust the poles to your desired height, from 105-130cm. The 3 telescopic sections collapse down to a length of just 56cm, making these some of the most compact trekking poles out there. Weight is also impressive at just 480g per pair, reducing fatigue while on the move and when stowed in your pack.

Durability is a prime consideration when it comes to trekking poles, and despite being cheap the Forclaz MT500s are built to last. Made from aluminium, these poles are strong and sturdy enough to handle tough terrain. The MT500 trekking poles are supplied with a small-diameter summer basket but other baskets are available separately.

All in all, the Forclaz MT500 trekking poles are an excellent choice for those on a budget.

Buy Decathlon Forclaz MT500 Trekking Pole: £15.99 on Decathlon

TrailBuddy trekking poles, £35

Best Budget 4-Season Trekking Poles

With nearly 60,000 Amazon reviews, these trekking poles have been put through their paces, so don’t write these off for not being from a big-name brand.

These super affordable trekking poles are built to last, made with strong aluminium, and decently put-together locking mechanisms that hold strong on downhill sections.

TrailBuddy claim these are adjustable from 62-137cm, which makes them a great buy for all the family. Coming with both mud and wider snow baskets, the TrailBuddy poles are suitable for summer and winter use and the threaded rubber pole tips keep the included accessories securely attached.

The moisture-wicking cork handles will mould to the shape of your hand for a secure and comfortable grip and the included bag is perfect for storing them at their packed 62cm length. At 550g they are on the heavier side, but with such a reasonable price point these cheaper poles are a great option for first timers.

Buy Trailbuddy Trekking Poles: £35 on Amazon

AlpKit Carbonlong Backpacker Twins XL Trekking Poles, £59

 Best Extra Long Trekking Poles

 Extending to a whopping 150cm, we are impressed with the utility of these extra-long trekking poles from Alpkit. These carbon fibre poles have a strong alloy lower, striking a good balance between weight and toughness. They come in at 430g per pair and at just under £60 they are a great middle-range option.

Of course, the extra length is perfect for the taller hiker, but it also comes in useful for rigging up a tarp that’s high enough to sit underneath comfortably or even long enough to sleep under. They are built in three sections with sturdy flip locks and will shrink down to 67cm for storage.

Perfect for long distance trekking and thru-hiking across three seasons, these carbon poles come with grippy rubber tips and trekking baskets. The handle is made of a shaped EVA foam which is light, strong and fast drying. They are available with or without an extended foam handle, which can be useful for sudden gradient changes so that you don’t have to stop and adjust pole length so frequently.

Buy AlpKit Carbonlong Backpacker Twins: £58.99 from AlpKit

Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles, £80

Best Aluminium Trekking Poles

The Trail Back trekking poles from Black Diamond are a no-fuss, dependable set of adjustable poles, ideal if you’re looking to make a one-time purchase. They come with a hallmark of quality that we’d expect from BD and the price tag is pretty reasonable for a set of aluminium poles that should last a lifetime.

They are built with durable aluminium in a three-section design connected with Black Diamond’s reliable FlickLock technology – no sliding or sticking here. They weigh in at a reasonable 484g and have four-season flex tips which are compatible with snow baskets (sold separately).

The handles are made with a formed EVA foam for a comfortable hold with a grippy top and soft-next-to-skin, adjustable wrist straps. The foam extends down the handle so you can easily switch up your grip.

Buy Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles: £74 at Blacks

Leki Cressida FX Carbon AS Lady, £210

Best Trekking Poles for Women

This premium set of women’s carbon fiber poles from Leki has all the bells and whistles with solid yet lightweight construction. To set them apart from a unisex pair of trekking poles, they have a shorter handle that is designed to fit more easily into smaller hands and extend only to 120cm, which saves on weight if you’re unlikely to ever use poles above this length.

Leki’s Cressida FX Carbon AS poles are built with carbon fibre with aluminium reinforcements on the lower part of each shaft. They are z folding poles that split into three pieces connected by an internal cord. Once collapsed they measure just 40cm, making them super packable and easy to stash. This AS version (anti-shock) have an in-built suspension system that is designed to further reduce impact forces on the body. They are also available without this extra feature at a marginally cheaper price and lower weight.

The cork grips are soft and comfortable and although they weigh in just over 500g they have an excellent swing weight for easy strides on all terrain.

Buy Leki Cressida FX Carbon AS Lady Poles: £199.45 at Alpine Trek

MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles, £170

Best Trekking Poles for Winter Use

If you’re looking for a serious, technical set of poles that will withstand the rigours of winter walking, the MSR DynaLock Ascent Backcountry Poles are more than up to a challenge.

At 500g, these durable poles are suitable for trekking in any season, but they have a few extra features that help them excel in cold conditions. Constructed with a Kevlar reinforced carbon shaft, they offer remarkably solid support for minimal weight. They have carbide steel tips that cope well with rock and ice and come with both winter and summer baskets for multi-season use.

They are available in two sizes and collapse down into three pieces with two extra extensions, going down to just 36.5cm (small), or 44.5cm (large) for easy storage on or inside a rucksack. The z-style design with lock-in extension makes them quick to deploy and their DynaLock mechanism ensures zero slip. With a comfy, moulded foam handle and soft feel strap, they work equally well with bare hands or bulky gloves.

Buy MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles: £143.95 on Absolute Snow

Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking/Running Poles, £180

Best Trekking Poles for Moving Fast and Light

If weight is your number one priority, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ are top of our list. At just 340g per pair (in the medium size), these 100% carbon z poles are extremely light and strong. Perfect for fast moving mountain adventures, trail running, or long distance backpacking where monitoring extra grams is crucial to your enjoyment.

The lightweight EVA foam handle is breathable, moisture wicking, and has a ribbed grip for better purchase. It’s the ideal material for those who might be moving quickly and need better moisture management for hot hands.

The lightest trekking poles on our list collapse down into three pieces and can be easily stashed at just 37cm (in the medium size). They have plenty of adjustment potential with a lever lock that allows for a 20cm variety in lengths, interchangeable tips (both carbide and rubber tips are included) and removeable baskets (these trekking poles are also snow basket compatible).

Buy Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles: £180 at Ellis Brigham  

Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles, £200

Best Carbon Fibre Trekking Poles

Leki poles are renowned for their quality and their Makalu FX Carbon poles are no exception, expertly balancing weight, hand grip comfort, packability and durability. 

The SpeedLock 2 system on the Makalu FX Carbon poles makes adjusting the length easy and intuitive, with an adjustable dial for varying the strength of the holding force. These five piece, collapsible poles fold down to just 38cm, making them just as compact as some of the ultralight options on this page. Weighing in at 468g for the pair, the Makalu FX Carbon poles strike a great strength to weight ratio.

The all-carbon construction provides excellent support over variable terrain and Aergon Air handle grips well. It has a bulbous rubber top which helps your control when descending steep terrain.

The Leki Makalu Carbon FX suitable for anything from country walking to trekking in the Himalayas or even ski touring in the Alps. While they are on the more expensive end of the trekking pole market, their attention to detail and quality build justifies their price tag.

Buy Leki Makalu FX Carbon Trekking Poles: £200 at Ellis-Brigham.co.uk