But for 95 percent of users, and for those who want one pole to do it all, no matter the season, we recommend these poles. Additionally, if you'll be traveling and need poles that can fit into your luggage, packed size is an important consideration. As for Lekis poles, we tested the Micro Vario Carbon, as well as a range of the companys expensive, trail-runner Z-collapsing models. Montem is a small company that makes almost nothing but poles. Instead of flick locks, those poles havea twist mechanism to adjust their height. In the lightweight category, the Black Diamond Distance Z which weighs a tad more than folding carbon fiber poles and is much more affordable, allowing users on a budget to access the ultra-lightweight trekking pole market. They feature the same design as the Distance Carbon Z, and the aluminum shaft construction adds only two ounces per pair compared to the carbon version. Despite all the arguments against the need for a highly collapsible portable pair of poles, maybe theres a particular scenario youre dealing with. The REI Co-op Traverse, another 3-section telescoping aluminum pole, also stands out for its construction quality. If you need poles for a more specialized use, you'll have to do a little more research, which is where this review comes in. Poles made from carbon can absorb more shock from impact with the ground than poles made from aluminum, and this distinction is noticeable when using trekking poles on firm bedrock surfaces like the sandstone slabs in the desert and high alpine granite basins. After we completed our field tests, we rated each pole on a scale from 1-10 across a range of metrics, including comfort, weight, locking and adjustability, packed size, durability, and versatility. On the other hand, if you'll be using your poles on scrambles, you'll have to stash them in your backpack during technical sections. We jammed them into packs, strapped them to the outside of our bags, and carried them in hand across all sorts of demanding terrain. Theyre for ultralight hiking, a backpacking subculture that values cutting unnecessary ounces (some would say to an extreme degree, shaving down toothbrush handles and whatnot) on the trail. There are so many trekking poles on the market that it's daunting to find the perfect pair. Youll feel good. The Leki Micro Vario Carbon, which is foldable, packs down to 15.5 inches (both the men's and women's) and depending on the size you choose, the Distance Z, Distance Carbon Z, and Distance Carbon FLZ (both men's and women's) packs down to as low as 13 inches. Perhaps you believe a pole is just a poleand thats fine (and mostly true). We realize some hikers have some extreme portability needs for which these highly collapsible poles are ideal, but for most hikers we think our picks are perfectly portable during travel. The Trekology Trek-Z are foldable three-section poles with some length adjustment for a price that can't be beaten. But the poles that were the simplest in every way, from their setup to their overall stripped-down look, the poles that every tester agreed were extraordinarily comfortable, not just by virtue of being so light but by having a great, slightly squishy grip, the poles that everyone eventually fought over, were the Gossamer Gear LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles. They pack down incredibly small, adjust and collapse easily, and weigh barely more than much more expensive poles with carbon construction. The Dynalock packs down smaller than other foldable poles on the market, making it a useful tool for pack size-conscious missions. This allows modest length adjustments once the pole is unfolded. But also, sometimes, great? Others, like the Shepherds Crook, are steamed and slowly bent to take on a distinctive crook shape. Read on to learn the results of our tests and the performance breakdown in each metric. See you on the trails! It's a good idea to know how to improvise repairs for all of your critical equipment. The lightweight FK Carbon's are at home in the hands of runners and fast hikers, but don't expect them to fold down and pack small, or to stand up to rugged terrain. Even after many attempts at tightening, we detected a small rattle to the poles, a minor bummer. The lever locks and adjustability on the women's Leki Cressida Cor-Tec are user-friendly and easy to adjust. Still, following are the reasons why we ultimately dismissed some of the models we tested. We stand by those choices. The sacrifices in comfort and adjustability won't be a big deal for weight-shaving enthusiasts. These poles also ranked among our top picks for their clever, easy-to-use adjustment mechanism, as well as their simple, two-part designthe upper section is aluminum, and the lower section is a carbon composite, giving each stick a nice, slightly top-heavy weight overall. The locking mechanism and length-adjusting lever on the MSR Dynalock are both sleek and effective. These poles are costly and may be too heavy for gram-counting lightweight enthusiasts. All of them were well-reviewed elsewhere and worked pretty well for us in general. If you dont use a pole, what good is it? They often suffered from appearing overly technical, and they turned a lot of casual users off with their complicated folding systems and radical handle design. We are currently experiencing delays on engraved orders and apologize for the inconvenience. Other features that can increase comfort are an extended "secondary" grip for choking down on the pole in steep terrain, a thick and soft wrist strap, and carbon fiber shafts that absorb shock when the pole hits the ground. We scored each model in six different metrics. The good news is that, overall, none of our top picks showed any significant failure in the cold. Its also getting a cool grungy trail patina, making it appear more natural than it really is. We also interviewed several of the testers about their experience with the poles as well as their observations of patient behavior and response to selecting a pair from the group. This change allows them to collapse from 51 inches when fully extended down to 23.5 inches. Speedlock 2 mechanism is quick, easy, and secure. So one February weekend after our original testing, we took three of our top picks into the southern Sierras, at the edge of Sequoia National Forest, and tramped around in the snow and ice for a while, up and down the side of a mountain. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Were vetting thousands of fantastic deals to find you the best discounts on Wirecutter picks. But generally these were lighter and stiffer when everything worked. In this spirit, usability was by far our main concern and the metric we returned to most often in deciding the best set of poles overall. We found one upside to carbon fiber, too, in that it tended to be quieter on the trail. But for the average day hike, mountain run, or casual backpacking trip, these poles are durable, simple, and affordable. The Gossamer Gear pole uses a twist lock mechanism, which adds to that poles overall simplicity. The Alpine FLZ is another highly versatile pole, only losing points for its heavier weight, which makes it less useful on alpine climbs. This bicycle-glove-like design looks a bit dorky, but the stares youll get (we swear) are worth it because the glove strap forces the pole into exactly the correct crook of your hand. These are great poles for mountain runners and other gram-shaving enthusiasts. We prefer the versatility of foldable poles that fit cleanly inside a backpack for technical sections of trail. But if you're only using them during runs, day hikes, or short overnight trips, durability isn't a major concern, and a lighter pole is noticeably more pleasant to use than a heavier one. Often, lighter poles can feel cheap or flimsy, but that's not the case here. Basically, after several days, weeks, months, and eventually years of using some of these poles, are they still great? We like Lekis rubber tips because they worked on most of the sticks we tested. We hiked, ran, trekked, and climbed from the hottest deserts to the tallest peaks and lots of trails in between, all to determine which trekking poles are the best option for your next hiking adventure. Thats it. We also consider how easily adjustments can be made to wrist strap lengths and locking mechanism tightness. After our extensive testing period, we have a good idea of which poles are the most trustworthy. How can we improve GearLab? The tip section screws into the grip section. The Makalu Lite impressed us in regards to durability. Strap or no strap: Extremely passionate backpackers have been engaging in a rather intense debate about this, but heres our two cents: Get a strap, have a strap, use the strap. We also used them to approach climbing objectives and for off-trail journeys. The company has excellent customer service and is clearly dedicated to getting things right. The poles in our review span a relatively wide range of prices, designs, and intended uses. They actually work against you going uphill, but some people seem to swear by them. Most of our wooden walking sticks for hiking have handles shaped directly from the wood blank. Often, when you call the company, its founder is the guy picking up the phone. Weve also seen stories of other ultrarunners and thru-hikers who have used their Gossamer poles over tens of thousands of miles without an issue. If you spend time hiking on soft rock like the sandstone of the American Southwest, we recommend rubber tips because they won't scratch and permanently alter the appearance of the rock. Even if you already have a pair of poles and are happy with them, we recommend trying some tips, both to improve grip and to lengthen the life of your poles. To us, a removable strap is just one more part to lose, one more unnecessary thing to fuss with. The grips are comfortable, the basket attachments add versatility, and the poles are durable. While alpine climbing is her first love, Mary logs tons of miles with trekking poles while day-hiking, peak-bagging, backpacking, and romping around in the backcountry. They also very slightly reduce impact and act as an additional cushion, and they cut down on the noise of the pole striking the ground, if youre into maximum noise reduction. Along those same lines: We really believe the three-piece telescoping mechanism is more prone to come a bit loose on the trail, requiring further adjustment. More than that, what if I started using them even on more casual walks around Los Angeles? The Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Quick Lock poles are also a great deal. Gossamer Gears LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles are the updated version of the original LT4 poles we tested, which are now discontinued. We took them into the field, using them on backpacking missions, heavy-duty treks, day hikes, and overnight trips all over the world. In the past few years, these poles have exploded onto the market, and with good reason. Maybe youre out splitboarding in the backcountry, and you need to put your poles in a pack for the descent. Many testers found the entire tentpole (or Z-pole) style of folding trekking poles overly complicated, while othersinterviewed experts includedbrought up the increased likelihood of the poles breaking with so many joints. I also leaned heavily on my dad, Gary Bradley, for research, expertise, and testing support. The trade-off is that theyre a bit heavier, but unless youre an ultralight hiker we bet you wont notice. Before I was editing, I was backpacking. These are the poles we found ourselves reaching for most spring, fall, and summer days. So, whether youre looking to improve cardiovascular health, muscle strength or just want to spend some more time outdoors, theres a walking stick to suit those needs! As far as sizing a pole correctly goes, you can find a lot of information out there, and a lot of these companies will send detailed instructions on how to make your poles the right length for you. Using all those variables for consideration, we had various testers (doctors, patients, nurses) in a physical-therapy office fill out ratings forms with room for comment. And fundamentally, we think that more parts often mean more potential problems. Similarly, giving the best hiking sticks as a gift to someone who wants to begin regular exercise has proven to be a popular choice. Theyre simple to set up and use, comfortable, and able to take a beating. Sometimesand only really downhill. Our top choice comes with a pair, and so does our upgrade pick, but the othersdont. Our test team is led by mountain guide, climber, hiker, and skier Jeff Dobronyi and avid alpine climber, hiker, and backpacker Mary Witlacil. Either way, price is important, which is why we highlight products that complement stellar performance with a great price. Read review: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z. Also, if you do decide to use your strap, make sure youre using it the right way so that the strap helps support your wrists. The outstanding aspect of the Leki Instructor Lite is the grip strap and handle, which the company calls the Trigger Shark. Despite all this, I spent several hours on several hikes swapping between pole sets, collapsing and adjusting, collapsing and adjusting, knowing in my heart of hearts that were I not researching these poles for review, I would not have been engaged in such mid-hike foolishness. Aside from the Alpine FLZ Z-Poles, our recommendation for a packable set, Black Diamonds poleswe tested the Alpine Ergo Cork and the Carbon Corkare equipped with the standard three-piece telescoping adjustment system that most poles seem to have and that weve already said were not terribly in love with. It is important to state that during our testing, not a single pole failed catastrophically from normal use, and only a few failed during heavy-duty use. A broken trekking pole turns a long trek with a heavy pack into a nightmare. Carbon fiber poles can break when bent or smacked against rocks but are strong when loaded properly along the axis of the pole (from the top-down). The impressively durable Alpine Carbon Cork. They are still an incredibly comfortable pole with an excellent swing weight. They have a remarkably light swing weight, feeling ounces lighter than their weight on the scale, and are ideal for backpacking and long-distance thru-hiking. If you want something specific or do not see what you need, please contact us at [emailprotected]. It looks a bit more like cross-country skiing without skislonger poles, larger arm motion, and a lot of work for your shoulders and tricepsand is known to increase heart rate, blood flow, and oxygen consumption. The Black Diamond Distance Z are simple, lightweight, and high-performance poles at a lower price than their carbon fiber counterparts. Mary has logged thousands of miles carrying heavy loads all over the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the deserts of Utah, Arizona, and California. Theyre made of aluminuma malleable, sturdy material that is not as brittle as carbon fiberso you can scratch them, ding them, and generally bang them around without worrying theyll break, yet theyre lightweight enough for most people. Boy, were we wrong! If theres a military veteran in your family, having a medallion inserted into the grip of the wooden walking stick showing the branch of service will send a message. At the same time, they retain the same compact size and minimal yet comfortable grip design as the carbon version. We do this for two main reasons. The resulting finish highlights the natural beauty of the wood. Brazos uses hickory, oak, bamboo, sassafras, cedar, pine and more when making a wood walking stick. And the biggest challenge of all, when youre messing around with poles, comes when your hands are halfway frozen, shaky, and no good for delicately screwing and flicking lock systems. In our tests, it soaked up palm sweat better than cork, and it has begun to age and warp into my specific grip with time. Also, the Alpine FLZ Z-Poles currently cost a lot less than similar competing models (mainly those from Leki). The LT5 poles have two adjustment points and collapse from 51 inches when fully extended down to 23.5 inches. Poles like the Distance Z save weight by avoiding any adjustment mechanisms, but they are not ideal if you happen to be between sizes or want to lend your poles to a friend. Here is a good technique for repairing a broken trekking pole in the field, using items you might have in your kit, like tent stakes and tape. Subscribe now for unlimited access. Walking with poles more generally, interviewed experts agreed, improves stability, stops falls, and may save lives. If you are looking for a well-built carbon-fiber option, the Micro Vario Carbon (both men's and women's) are another great option owing to their thick carbon shafts. If you need a pole to support heavy loads in remote areas and one that absolutely must not break, then weight is less critical. Very quickly, a favorite emerged, in part because it looked like not much more than what it was. The MSR Dynalock's grip features subtle contours that are very comfortable for every hand size. Also, most of Lekis poles ranked among the most expensive models we saw in our research and seemed to be made for a very specific user (the extreme trail runner who also cross-country skis). Notethat youll probably have to check your trekking poles in your luggage, regardless of size, due to TSA carry-on restrictions;keep that in mind if youre planning on flying with them. These walking sticks have design elements and options ranging from rubber tips, brass spikes, compasses, and various straps and cases. Unlike our other picks, this model is a tent-style pole. Our wooden walking and hiking sticks can be customized with walking stick accessories and laser engraving. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. Whats strange is that despite studies that show trekking poles reduce force impact and distribute energy evenly across the lower body, many reviews begin with the idea that poles are optional or not the most necessary piece of hiking gear. Thats simply not true. This is especially essential when flying with poles. Descending at dusk, dropping thousands of feet via stairstep switchbackswell, Id like to say it brought me to my knees, but I didnt even want to think about my (poor, tired, swelling) knees. In the Rocky Mountains, where approaches and hikes are marked by climbing up and down thousands of feet over rocky terrain, trekking poles are a must. A bonus. Our test team features thru-hikers, mountain runners, alpine climbers, and expedition trekkers. I interviewed Dr. Timothy S. Church, former researcher at the Cooper Institute, co-author of a Nordic-walking study, and chief medical officer of ACAP Health Consulting, as well as Carol Ewing Garber, president of the American College of Sports Medicine and a professor of movement sciences at Columbia University. It does not cover failure due to the durability of its carbon fiber, and carbon fiber can break more easily than aluminum. Nerds! I thought. An assortment of baskets, from super lightweight and small on the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z (left), to the super wide powder baskets on the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork (right). Lots of serious hikers swear by lengthening poles slightly while on a long downhill, and shortening them slightly for uphill. If you are Nordic walking: Consider the Leki Instructor Lite, which come with grips and handles especially well suited to that activity. They pack down small and have a light feel that our testers appreciated after hours on the trail. Make your walking stick uniquely yours with a laser engraving of your name, phone number, or your favorite quote or Scripture verse. You probably dont need a highly packable set of aluminum trekking poles (more on that in the How we picked section), but if you read on and are convinced you do, the Black Diamond Alpine FLZ Z-Poles are the best option, as theyre comfortable, easy to adjust, and less expensive than similar models. The grip is simple yet elegant, and the length adjustment mechanism is strong and reliable. All trademarks property of their respective owners Generally, the locking mechanism is the agreed-upon easiest and best method for adjustment, but Id argue that ease of adjustment has a serious downside: More joints where you might adjust a pole mean more places for the pole to fail on the trail. A downside: Stiffer is one way of saying extremely brittle. We didnt have a problem with any of our carbon fiber poles, but plenty of other people have reported that a bad nick can quickly turn into a crumbling seam, causing an entire section of pole to fail. We are big fans of the metal lever locks on the Alpine Carbon Cork, finding them to be the best locks in our review. They also accept snow baskets for glacier travel or high alpine traverses in the early summer. At 9.0 ounces per pair, the Ultimate Direction FK Ultra Poles are the lightest in our lineup. For further assistance, please contact us at [emailprotected]. Ultimately, in our experience the easiest-to-use adjustment mechanisms were minimalist. Rubber tips are good for stowing and for use around the house or town, or in sensitive natural areas; some poles have angled rubber walking tips sold separately for asphalt or urban walking. Do you have a bunch of different ways to hold the stick? Among the dozens of poles we researched, and the 10 models we field-tested, the LT5 poles were the favorites across the board because of the overall simplicity of their design.
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