Hiking Poles & Trekking Poles

Which poles for which trip

These picks come from the reviewers who test poles side by side, matched to the models we stock.

• Fast day walks and trail running: the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is the lightweight or running pick at OutdoorGearLab, GearJunkie and Switchback Travel. It is 264 g a pair (110 cm) and folds to 37 cm, but its length is fixed, so you buy your size. The Distance Carbon FLZ adds about 15 cm of adjustment for 308 g a pair; CleverHiker and Treeline Review both pick it.

• Multi-day walks with a heavy pack: the aluminium Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ scored 5/5 at Outdoors Magic, and UKClimbing rates it for heavy packs on rough ground. It folds to 37 cm and weighs 508 g a pair (125 cm). The carbon Pursuit Carbon Z is lighter at 382 g a pair (110 cm), with a cork grip; UKClimbing rates it for trekkers and hillwalkers.

• A tight budget: telescopic aluminium poles such as the Black Diamond Trail (480 g a pair, FlickLock) and Komperdell Trailhunter Zero (424 g a pair, twist lock).

• Travel and packing small: folding poles. The Distance Carbon FLZ packs to 34 cm (110 cm size), and Komperdell's folding FX Lite and FXP.4 poles pack to 38–43 cm.

• Snow and winter: Treeline Review advises aluminium for snow and sub-zero trips, because carbon can get brittle in the cold. UKClimbing rated the Komperdell Carbon FXP.4 Expedition Vario winter-worthy in 2020. The Pursuit Carbon Z and Trail Vista FLZ come with snow baskets.

What you get for the extra money

• Weight: REI puts most aluminium pairs at 510–620 g and carbon pairs at 340–510 g. In our range, the aluminium Black Diamond Trail is 480 g a pair and the carbon Distance Carbon Z 264 g (110 cm). REI says lower swing weight means less fatigue over a long day.

• Packed size: this comes from the design, not the material. Our folding poles pack to 34–45 cm in most sizes; telescopic poles pack to 57–70 cm.

• Durability: aluminium can bend under heavy load but rarely snaps, says REI; carbon is more likely to break if it is bent sideways or knocked against rock. SectionHiker and Trail Hiking Australia both add that wall thickness matters as much as the material.

• Feel: REI and OutdoorGearLab both find carbon better at damping vibration on hard rock.

• Locks: Switchback Travel, Treeline Review and SectionHiker all prefer lever locks to twist locks, which Switchback says can loosen or let in grit. Black Diamond's FlickLock and Komperdell's Powerlock 3.0 are both lever locks.

How to choose hiking poles

• Telescopic or folding: telescopic poles slide down for the pack, to about 57–70 cm. Folding poles pack to 34–45 cm in most sizes.

• Adjustable or fixed: adjustable poles shorten for climbs and lengthen for descents. Fixed-length poles like the Distance Carbon Z save weight, so you choose your length when you order.

• Carbon or aluminium: carbon is lighter; aluminium takes knocks better. Some Komperdell poles mix carbon and aluminium sections.

• Komperdell Comp models: Komperdell's Comp (Compact) poles adjust over a shorter range: the telescopic Comps pack to 57 cm and adjust from 90 to 120 cm, against 65–67 cm and 105–140 cm on the standard models. On the folding FX Lite poles the Comp adjusts from 105 to 125 cm against 115–135 cm, and packs about the same.

• Grips: cork or foam. Treeline Review finds cork more comfortable for everyday use; foam is lighter.

• Length: with the tip on the ground and your hand on the grip, your elbow should sit at about a right angle.

Hiking poles for Australian tracks

Trail Hiking Australia finds adjustable telescopic poles the most common choice among Australian walkers. It also warns that folding poles cope less well with side loads in thick scrub, and that a snapped internal cord cannot be fixed on the track, which matters in remote country such as the Western Arthurs. Fine dust from fire trails and dry tracks gets into locks, so take the poles apart and wipe the sections now and then. Rubber tip protectors are kinder to rock slabs and boardwalk, and the Appalachian Mountain Club recommends them to limit damage to soft tracks. For a winter trip, Komperdell's vario baskets swap to snow baskets.

Why buy from Oz Backcountry

Free shipping Australia-wide over $150 (T&Cs apply), sent from our Helensvale warehouse on the Gold Coast.

Written by the Oz Backcountry team from published reviews, research and the brands' own specifications. Updated November 2026.