7 Best Trekking Poles of 2023: Hiking-Tested & Approved

The Gossamer Gear LT5 carbon fiber trekking poles are incredibly light and comfortable. They’re easy to adjust with two simple twist-locks, and the foam handles are comfortable to hold on long hikes.

The LT5s are pretty pricey, but the excellent strength-to-weight ratio makes them worth the cost for anyone covering long distances with a light load. On top of that, Gossamer Gear offers replacements sections – top, middle, and bottom – so you can easily (and affordably) replace broken or worn out parts instead of replacing the whole set of poles.

We’ve taken ours a few thousand miles on some pretty gnarly trails, and they’ve still got plenty of distance left in them. Check out our full review here.

The Black Diamond Pursuit trekking poles are some of the lightest all-aluminum, cork-handled trekking poles we’ve ever tested. This means you’re getting the best of all worlds – the comfort of cork, the durability of aluminum, and not much added weight over carbon fiber poles.

We’ve always been big fans of trekking poles with cork handles, because this porous material breathes better than foam and wicks moisture away to help prevent blisters. But cork is usually heavier than the foam used for other handles which can leave the poles feeling top-heavy. We’re happy to report that this isn’t the case with the Pursuits, and we were very impressed by the balanced feel the moment we touched carbide tip to trail.

We really couldn’t decide which poles we like more, so the Pursuits are tied for first with the Gossamer Gear LT5s above. The choice for you will come down to what you value more – the weight savings of the LT5s or the more durable build of the Pursuits.

The Montem Ultra Strong trekking poles are a solid budget buy. They’re durable, compact, easy to use, and much more affordable than the high-end poles on this list. Equipped with a flick-lock lever system, they are collapsible down to two feet, which is pretty good for stowing when not in use. The hand grips are soft and comfortable, but we do tend to prefer cork grips over foam. If you’re new to trekking poles or on a tight budget, the Montem Ultra Strong poles are a great buy.For those looking to shave ounces, Montem also offers Ultralight Carbon Trekking Poles for a surprisingly affordable price.

The REI Flash Carbon trekking poles are a great option for those looking to trim a few ounces without breaking the bank. These poles have a simple and secure flick-lock system and comfortable foam hand grips. They’re made from a combination of carbon fiber and aluminum which makes them decently light while maintaining durability. The Flash Carbon poles also come in a lighter compact version for those who don’t need their poles to be longer than 120 cm.If you’re looking for a budget option and don’t mind carrying a few more ounces, the REI Traverse poles are a solid choice as well.

The Fizan Compact 3s cost a fraction of the price of other poles in their weight category. And amazingly, they achieve this weight with aluminum construction instead of carbon fiber. This is advantageous since aluminum is more forgiving than carbon fiber when your poles take the full force of your weight for stability or when they get caught between rocks.

These poles are practically identical to our top pick – the Gossamer Gear LT5s – when it comes to functionality, so why don’t the C3s sit at the top of our list?

To start, there aren’t catches at the tops of the pole segments, so it’s surprisingly easy to collapse the Compact 3s too much and get them stuck. On top of that, any moisture left on the poles while they’re fully collapsed can cause them to permanently become stuck closed. This was the fate of both our tester pairs of Compact 3s after about a year and a half of use, so make sure to dry them thoroughly to avoid this pitfall.

That said – as long as you’re careful to avoid that issue – the combination of price and weight on the Compact 3s truly can’t be beat. Check out our full review of the Fizan Compact 3s here.

At only nine ounces, the Distance Carbon Z-Poles are the lightest trekking poles on our list. The folding Z-pole design allows them to break down to a small size for easy storage, so they’re a great choice for hikers who will only use their poles occasionally. The one downside with these poles is that they come in four different fixed lengths (100-130 cm.), which could be an issue depending on your specific needs. Hikers who use trekking poles to support their shelter should measure carefully to make sure these poles will be the correct length to serve their purposes.

If you’re particularly hard on gear or often find yourself hiking in places off the beaten path, the LEKI Makalu Lite might be just what you need. These sturdy aluminum poles are some of the most durable we’ve ever tested, and their quality construction is evident from cork grip to carbide tip.

Despite the name, the Makalu Lites aren’t particularly lightweight, but we still think they’re reasonable for how solid they are. They also have a longer collapsed length than most other trekking poles we’ve tested. These traits mean they’re not the best choice for hikers who tend to stow their poles in their backpack for flat sections of trail. Rather, the Makalus are made for hikers who want the added support and stability at all times.

While the Makalus aren’t our first choice for longer hikes (despite the fact that we tested them over a few hundred miles on the Arizona Trail), they’ve still got a lot of great things going for them. Their cork handles are very comfortable, you don’t need tools to tighten the locks in the field when they inevitably loosen up over time, and their durability is second to none.

The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork poles (also available in women’s sizes) are tough 4-season poles that’re incredibly reliable in almost any condition. The easy flick-lock system is secure and makes it simple to adjust the length. Though not the lightest option on the market, these poles are very tough and their grips are quite comfortable. For burly all-weather terrain, these are the poles we’d choose. The Alpines also come in a folding version that’s much more compact and lightweight.