The 10 Best Trekking Poles In 2023

Are you looking to up your hiking and backpacking game in the next year? If you are, then you NEED to read this blog post. This post names the top ten best trekking poles in the market! I have been hiking for years, and trekking poles have helped me get through my hike so many times. They help with balance, support, and they are fantastic to use as a weapon in case of an emergency. So if you need to make your hiking life more comfortable, then check out all the outstanding poles I have named below!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, I may receive a small commission (for which I am very grateful for) at no extra cost to you. 

Trekking Poles Review

My Pick For The Best Hiking Poles

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles – Pair – Women’s

I picked these poles as the best because they are light, durable, and comfortable. I have had these poles for years, and they still look pretty great! You can read more about it below.

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The 10 Best Trekking Poles

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles – Pair – Women’s

The Alpine Carbon Cork poles are my top pick for best Trekking Poles of the year. I have had these poles for over three years, and let me tell you that they are incredibly durable. They got me through countless trails from trekking the W in Patagonia to hiking around Washington state. These bad boys are durable!

The handles are comfortable, and the straps even have a label for the right hand and the left hand.

They are not the smallest compactable poles on this list, but they compact small enough to fit in most backpacks. Their weight is also not the lightest, but they are one of the most durable poles in this list. To me, durability is a little more important than weight. Especially when the difference isn’t so significant. This is coming from someone that is one of the clumsiest person in the world.

What I love about these poles is that you can use it on easy day hikes or extremely grueling backpacking trips. If you are looking for reliable poles that you can take anywhere, then these poles are for you. They are more on the expensive side, so if you don’t see yourself doing any hard backpacking trips, then I would probably get something cheaper.

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Leki Micro Vario Carbon Trekking Poles – Pair – Women’s

The Lexi Micro Vario Carbon are lightweight and very easy to pack. The poles can collapse to an impressive 15 inches, making it the smallest packed sized poles on this list! It can easily fit inside any backpack.

I also love the design and colors. I am all about outdoor products having that feminine touch. The Leki Micro also is known to be one of the most comfortable trekking poles. With its Aergon Thermo long foam grip that fits amazingly well in your hands, you will fall in love with these poles.

When I first saw the Leki Micro, I was baffled on how to put this pole together. At first glance, this pole looks extremely complicated to put together. All you need is some practice on getting this pole to snap into place. In my opinion, it is easier to adjust then the Black Diamond Alpine, which has multiple adjusting levers. I also like that the Leki Micro only has one adjustable height lever.

This trekking pole is pretty impressive, but there is one negative. It is one of the most expensive poles in this review. Therefore this pole is not for everyone. It is an excellent pole for someone that is doing more technical climbs and needs a pole to put away and put together easily. You can, of course, use it on hikes and backpacking as well making this pole extremely versatile.

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Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles – Women’s – Pair

The Black Diamond Trail Ergo is a great pole to buy if you will only use it for backpacking and hiking. Since it isn’t as compactable as the other poles on this list, it isn’t as versatile as the other trekking poles. But, if you will only use it backpacking and hiking, I don’t think how compact a pole is really matters.

Something that stands out with these trekking poles is just how comfortable they are. The ergonomic grip and a 15-degree corrective angle make this poles one of the most comfortable poles in this review.

The Ergo is a pretty durable trekking pole and can be used in many strenuous hikes. What is impressive is that the Aluminum construction doesn’t affect the weight as much as I thought it would. It is a little bit on the heavier side, but it is only a few ounces heavier than the Black Diamond Alpine Poles. To me, the weight difference isn’t that large.

These trekking poles are listed at a pretty reasonable price, and if you want something super durable that will last you for years, these poles are an excellent investment.

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REI Co-op Flash Carbon Trekking Poles – Pair – Women’s

The REI Flash Carbons are great trekking poles for someone that wants super lightweight poles. You might want lightweight poles if you do trail running or if you want to keep the weight down while backpacking.

One of the main negatives of the pole design is the foam grip. The grip feels flimsy like it can come loose easily, and they lack the lower grip extension. These poles are also not as durable as other ones I have listed on this review. So I would hesitate to bring them on super grueling treks.

Overall the price is pretty reasonable, and the weight is stellar. It just sucks that the construction of the grip isn’t as stellar.

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REI Co-op Traverse Trekking Poles – Pair

The REI Power Lock Trekking Poles are pretty average poles. They don’t excel at any one given thing. But, they are pretty well priced, and REI has some of the best return policies I know, so these poles are great to try if you are on a budget.

But I will warn you that the locking mechanisms are known to be of poor quality and sometimes don’t work. Also, these poles aren’t that durable. Something that bothers some people is how difficult it is to adjust the straps. I rarely adjust straps, so that doesn’t affect me as much, but it might bother you.

In my opinion, not having a reliable locking mechanism is a deal-breaker for me. I would instead put in an extra bit more of money into the REI Flash Carbon poles than have to be frustrated on the trail. But like I said REI has some of the best return policies so you can try it out and see for yourself.

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Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles – Pair

The Distance Carbon Z are the number one ultralight trekking poles on this list. On average, these poles weigh around 10 ounces! I say on average because these trekking poles do not adjust so you have to buy them according to your height.

These poles are perfect for people that want to pack ultralight, people that trek long distances, and trail runners. Due to these poles being lightweight, I don’t think they are meant for rough or difficult terrain. Or even for clumsy people like me 😛

Since these trekking poles are pretty expensive, I recommend it only for people that want to pack ultralight. These poles are not as versatile as the other ones listed in this review, and since they have no baskets for winter, they can only be used in three seasons.

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Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles – Pair

These hiking sticks are the best lightweight hiking poles on this list. The LT5 is known to be one of the lightest trekking poles in the backpacking community. At less than 11 ounces in weight, these poles are perfect for your long backpacking adventure!

Even though they are lightweight, these poles are surprisingly pretty durable and sturdy to use on long grueling trails.

The main drawback of these trekking poles is the price. It is one of the most expensive trekking poles on this list. But if you are an extreme backpacker looking to shed some weight, these poles are made especially for you!

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Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles – Pair

The Montem trekking poles are the best budget trekking poles in this list. If you are on a budget and looking for some excellent poles, then the Montem Ultra Strong are for you! These poles are versatile, inexpensive, and perfect for people that just started out hiking!

The Montem Ultra Strong does have some durability issues like the locking mechanism, for example. It is not on the same level as any of the Black Diamond locking devices. Also, even though the grips look like they are cork. They are not. They are foam, which isn’t as comfortable as cork grips.

Honestly, if you are on a budget and you just started out hiking, and you are not sure you will be doing this hobby long term, then I would consider these poles. But just note that these trekking poles might not last you for a long time.

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Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles – Pair

If you are looking for super burly, super durable trekking poles, then you have found one of the best poles, my friend. These poles are pretty inexpensive and can be used all year round! They will last you for years!

What I love about these poles is that you can use them on easy hikes or on more difficult treks or even when snowshoeing. So if you are on a budget, then these poles are a perfect choice.

But keep in mind that the grips are made out of rubber. Rubber grips are not for everyone, so make sure to test them out before committing. Other then that, these poles are a great addition to your closet, especially if you are a beginner hiker!

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Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Adjustable Trekking Poles

The Cascade Mountain Carbon Fiber Quick Lock is an excellent trekking pole for beginner hikers who don’t want to spend too much on a new trekking pole. They are similar to the Montum Ultra Strong but the Cascades are a bit cheaper.

Honestly, I only recommend this pole if you don’t want to spend a ton of money on a trekking pole. The durability is in question, so this pole will not last you for years. But if you just started out hiking and you are not sure that this hobby is for you yet, then this pole is perfect for you!

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Types Of Walking Poles

Telescoping Poles

These are the most common trekking poles in the market. They tend to be durable, reliable, and mostly packable. These are my favorite types of trekking poles just because I am incredibly clumsy, and so I need something durable. These types of poles are not as light and compact as the folding trekking poles. Since I don’t trail run or do long-distance backpacking trips, I am ok with adding a little bit of extra weight for durability.

Folding Poles

These poles are the new cool thing to have, but keep in mind that they are not as durable as the telescoping poles. They are lightweight and super compact. These are mainly for ultralight backpackers and trail runners.

Fixed Poles

Fixed poles are poles that are not adjustable whatsoever. I didn’t list any because I don’t recommend buying them. Storage is difficult.

Price

The cheapest poles on this list are around $40 and the most expensive being around $200. You don’t need a costly trekking pole to be comfortable hiking around. The ones around $200 are usually for more advanced backpackers that want to travel light.

At the same time, a $40 pole won’t last you for years. However, if you are unsure, you will stick to this hiking hobby, then the $40 poles might be right for you. If you know you will keep on hiking for years, and you are a beginner, I recommend something in the mid-range. Probably around $75-$150.

Weight

If you are an everyday hiker and backpacker like me, then weight shouldn’t be too much of a worry for you. But if you are an ultralight backpacker weight might be very important to you. Carrying a heavy pole can become a pain in the ass if you have been trekking for days and days. So your best option is lightweight trekking poles.

Just keep in mind that the lighter a trekking pole is, the less durable it is.

Materials – Shaft

Trekking poles are usually made either out of aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon fiber poles tend to be lighter and more expensive. Aluminum is heavier but more durable. Also, I want to note that carbon fiber does tend to break. Making it difficult to repair. While aluminum poles don’t break, they tend to bend or dent. Making aluminum easier to repair.

Choosing a correct pole depends on your preferences. Which is more important to you? Durability or weight?

Materials – Pole Grip

Cork, foam, and rubber are usually the materials used for pole grips. My personal favorite is the cork, as it wicks sweat well. Foam is the next best and can wick sweat as well but isn’t as great as the cork. The last type of material is rubber. These are mainly used in budget trekking poles and are not great for sweaty hands.

Locking Mechanisms

There are two types of locking mechanisms. A twist-lock and a lever lock. Lever locks tend to be more reliable, so most trekking poles on this list have those types of locks. The only one with a twist lock on this list is the LT5 trekking pole. I highly recommend always using a pole with a lever lock.

Ergonomic Handle VS. Standard Handle

An ergonomic handle is a handle that has a forward angle of about 15 degrees. It is said that it provides more comfort for most people. In all honesty, it depends on the person. If you are curious about it, try it out, but make sure it feels comfortable to you. The Black Diamond Trail Ergo are known to have the best ergonomic handle.

Wrist Straps

Wrist straps can help put more pressure on the poles. To correctly use them, insert your hand from below and loop them to where one section is in the back of your hand, and two sections are on the palm of your hand.

Compact

I do regular hiking and backpacking, so a compact pole isn’t really my priority. But it might be necessary for people that travel a lot or are into ultralight backpacking. The best trekking poles are the folding trekking poles that can easily be stored anywhere.

Baskets

A lot of the trekking poles come with baskets to use for snowshoeing. This is a great option to have if you ever want to go hiking in the winter. Please note that not all trekking poles have these options, so make sure to confirm if baskets can be added.

Adjustments

Poles should be adjusted per your height. For best use of your poles, your arms should form a 90-degree angle when the tips are flat on the ground.

Gender-Specific

The main difference between the unisex trekking poles and the women trekking poles is the grip size and pole sizes. The grip is usually narrower for women since most women have smaller hands, and the pole length is shorter as well.

I have a unisex trekking pole that was gifted to me, and I have never felt uncomfortable. But, if I had to buy a new trekking pole, I would probably buy a women’s specific one because since I am 5’2″, I don’t need all that extra material.

Durability

Durability can correlate with weight. Usually, the less the trekking pole weighs, the less the strength is. To me, durability is more important than the weight, but not everyone does short hikes and backpacking like me.

Carbon fiber trekking poles are usually lighter, but they are not as durable as the aluminum trekking poles. Aluminum can last for years longer then carbon fiber trekking poles.

Final Thoughts On The Best Trekking Poles For Women

Thanks for reading about the best trekking poles in the market. I hope this helped you make a wise decision. Now check out some of my other buying guides:

• Best Backpacking Backpack For Women
• Best Day Packs for Women
• Best Sleeping Bags For Women

Pin For Later: Hiking Poles Review