Jeff goes through multiple pairs a year and seems to have poles in his hands every day, whether he's out for an alpine climb, an overnight hike, or a training run. Their silky straps are pleasant to use and didn't cause chafing or pressure points. One of the best budget poles on the market is TheFitLife hiking pole. 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. Those that swear by them, however, point out some important tangible benefits. 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). Trekking pole baskets largely boil down to a summer and winter option. The first consideration is whether you want two poles or one. The REI Flash Carbon is the lightest women's specific pole at 13.2 ounces, but the lightweight and fixed-length Black Diamond poles could also be ideal for women because these come in short sizes as well. Most poles feature a telescoping design where different sections of pole shafts slide inside each other to collapse or extend to the desired length. How do I know what length of pole I need? Trekking poles come in three distinct designs: telescoping, folding, and … Best value trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork and REI Co-op Flash Carbon Best budget trekking poles: Montem Ultra Strong Top high-end picks: Gossamer Gear LT5 and Leki Micro Vario Carbon The Montem Ultra Strong are our favorite budget trekking poles. Trekking poles transfer some of your body weight from your legs to your arms. The most packable poles on the market today are those featuring a foldable design, also known as Z-style poles. They are much easier to adjust on the fly when tension is off. The women's Leki Micro Vario Carbon is the most comfortable pole for women we've found. Assemble the pole with the pull-lock mechanism and then adjust the overall length with the flick-lock handle segment.I like segmented poles because they can be packed down into very small packages. To test the poles in our review, we spent several months shouldering heavy loads over mountains and through deserts. Often, lighter poles can feel cheap or flimsy, but that's not the case here. They tend to be great all-around trekking poles, although they aren’t typically as durable as telescoping poles. In order to make distinctions between products, we often investigate the small details that might make a difference. They are adjustable from 74 to 140 centimeters and come with interchangeable carbide tech tips, low-profile trekking baskets, and powder baskets. We do this for two main reasons. Learn more. Trekking poles can break, and when they do, you might be miles or days away from the nearest gear shop. At the same time, it retains the same compact size and minimal yet comfortable grip design. We used our poles extensively to amass all the information you need to ensure you get the ideal pair for your next adventure. When it comes to grips, it can also be beneficial to find poles with grip extensions. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z trekking poles are crafted entirely of carbon. $34.99 - $36.99 #2. These trekking poles are some of the lightest on the market, but they’re also extremely sturdy and reliable. Not all poles give you the option to switch baskets out, but if you want to use them throughout all four seasons, the ability to swap summer baskets out for winter (or “powder”) baskets is essential. Many also claim that carbide tips inflict more damage to trails than necessary. 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