The 4 Best Trekking Poles for 2019

Trekking poles take pressure off your knees, aid balance, and make it possible to pitch some ultralight tents. Try these four pairs on for size.

Author:: Patrice La Vigne
Publish date:: Apr 2, 2019

The best poles can cost more than your pack—so pay for a pair you can use year-round. The three-section, telescoping Carbon Forces served us as well on summer hikes as they did on winter adventures.Read The Full Review / Buy The Gabel Carbon Force F.L.K. Now

If a pair of three-section carbon poles can survive an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, they’ve earned our trust. Locking devices are the most common failure points on poles, but LEKI’s Core Locking Device internalizes the mechanism.Read The Full Review / Buy The LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Black Series CLD Now

For trails with tricky footing, our testers appreciated the biting grip of these telescoping poles. “I used them on about a hundred crossings of New Mexico’s Gila River on the Continental Divide Trail, and the grooved tungsten-carbide tips stuck to the slick underwater rocks at every angle, every time,” one tester notes.Read The Full Review / Buy The Komperdell C3 Carbon Pro Now

The all-carbon FKs are the lightest poles on the market but there’s nothing flimsy about their construction. The fixed-length, tapered shaft starts at 20mm diameter up top—at least 4mm wider than most poles, a size advantage that boosts sturdiness.Read The Full Review / Buy The Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles Now

Gabel Carbon Force F.L.K.

The best poles can cost more than your pack—so pay for a pair you can use year-round. The three-section, telescoping Carbon Forces served us as well on summer hikes as they did on winter adventures.

Read The Full Review / Buy The Gabel Carbon Force F.L.K. Now

Know your poles

There are three types of trekking poles. Here’s how they differ.

Fixed Length: The shaft is one piece. The lack of moving parts means a sturdier, lighter, and more durable product. Drawbacks: not adjustable, not packable.

Telescoping: These two- or three-piece poles collapse into themselves for storage. They have the greatest range of adjustability. Downside: heavier.

Folding: These poles divide into two or three parts, so are packable but also lightweight. Caveat: They’re more susceptible to damage at the joints.