The Best Trekking and Hiking Poles of 2024: Tested

Keep it simple and take 'em everywhere—that should be the unofficial motto of the REI Co-op Traverse Trekking Poles. Our testers loved the fuss-free design with just enough key features to make them reliable year-round companions, including two baskets for trail and snow.

Two sizes give you options based on your height; for ultimate flexibility, the shaft can be lengthened up to 10 inches at two lever locks, allowing users to adapt to changing terrain. (On the uphill, you might want a shorter pole, while the downhill may require a longer reach.) This came in handy when our testers approached a steep section of the Chilkoot Trail on the Alaska/British Columbia border. Our testers were able to shorten their poles for the more aggressive approach without compromising stability, giving them both better leverage to continue hiking in the slippery duff. The lever locks stayed tight over 8 miles on a fall trek through New Hampshire, too, rendering readjustments unnecessary.

Nice touches: Cork grips help keep your hands comfy over long distances, while the natural wicking material also helps keep sweaty palms from slipping or blistering. The cushioned straps come in handy on hot hikes and long hauls, or if you tend to lose poles on steep sections. (One tester was guilty of this.) Don't worry if you tend to beat up your gear: The tough-and-light aluminum poles survived a quarter-mile drop down a steep cliff with minimal scratching and zero dents, even after bouncing off boulders. "I didn't give a second thought to bringing them, because the hike was so much easier with that boost of upper body assistance," crowed one tester, who'd never been a trekking pole user before. "That's how gear should be." Buy here.

Budget-friendly but durable and comfortable options need to be more prevalent in the world of hiking aids, and we were thrilled that the REI Co-op Trailmade Trekking Poles checked all the boxes. These adjustable poles are still on the lighter side and provide plenty of flexibility when it comes to height, at a significantly lower cost than other poles on our list.

A strong aluminum shaft provides stability throughout your hike, while the two flip levers hold your adjusted height firm, even when you dig in. Comfortable rubber handholds allow you to grip without the slip, discourage blisters and make sure your wrists sit in a healthy neutral position, which came in handy with both of our testers. One self-proclaimed "beefy" fellow said, "I felt like these were sturdy enough to hold me. I'm a big guy and I didn't want a pair of trekking poles breaking down on me, and I was worried that it might be too much on my wrists, putting my weight down on my hands." He said he didn't have a problem on a 4-mile loop with 2 miles of downhill, and his arms felt great at the end. Our other tester, who has upper-extremity mobility issues, sang the Trailmade's praises for their ability to keep her arms comfortable and her movements powerful on steeper hikes. Buy here.

Cut out the excess but don't skimp on the comfort, you say? The Khumbu Lite and Januu trekking poles from Leki have you covered. Coming in at just over one pound and easily collapsible down to the height of most daypacks, these poles are easy to toss into your pack or strap to the outside. The aid they provide on long trail days is worth the minimal additional weight compared to bringing no poles at all—trust us.

The Khumbu and the Januu (which has smaller dimensions) offer an ergonomic handle made with both sweat-absorbent cork and grippy rubber that won't cramp your hands an hour into your hike. In fact, the poles even aided one Maine-based tester in keeping up with his search-and-rescue crew. "The grips and silky-soft wrist straps worked great with my limited wrist mobility and kept me comfortable on a couple-mile hike in to help out some trekkers," he said. Thanks to an 8° angle, which helps to keep your wrists in a neutral position by transferring the weight and stability on your arm's long bones, he kept on hiking until the lost party was located—and then did it all over again on the way out.

Adjusting the height of the poles boosted our tester's comfort as well (the Khumbu extends to 53 inches, 4 inches longer than the Januu). "I could keep my wrist at the right angle for good leverage without impacting the balance boost these trekking poles gave me," he said. "That and the pointed carbide flex tips, which were great for grabbing on rock and dirt, were true lifesavers on the descent." Buy Khumbu Lite. Buy Januu.

Trekking poles might not be the first item you think of when it comes to trail running, but they've kept more than one athlete from throwing in the towel on tough sections. Runners and fastpackers alike know the value of incorporating your upper body strength to propel you up, down or through that last mile of trail—and nowhere does weight matter more than when you're vying for a personal record. Weighing mere ounces, the collapsible Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles answer the call for light, fast and incredibly helpful.

While these are among the most expensive poles on our list, that price comes with a valid argument: These poles fold smaller, weigh half as much as aluminum poles and are just as strong as any other trekking pole we tested. In fact, in manufacturer tests, Black Diamond states the updated carbon fiber materials are 30% stronger than previous versions of this design. Our testers appreciated the nonslip, ribbed EVA foam handles that helped keep the sweat off their palms, and the straps didn't chafe one tester's wrists as they sped over the hills of New England. Need grip on ice, rock and packed ground alike? Switch between interchangeable carbide or rubber Tech Tips to keep you from slipping on any surface.

Slide these poles into place by pulling on the closest shaft to the handle, then quickly release them with a push of the button, pulling the three sections loose and collapsing into a Z again. Is it easy enough to do midjog? "Sure is—I pulled them out of my pack, set them up and packed them away without breaking stride," said our fastpacking tester. Buy here.

Weight is key when you're on the long haul. Black Diamond took that key and ran with the Distance Carbon Z poles, upgrading this newest model to be even lighter without sacrificing strength. Designed as a fixed-length trail-running pole, the pair weighs roughly the same as a roll of quarters, yet is strong enough to hold up a tent in a windstorm. What more could a thru-hiker ask for than the lightest pole—and a plenty tough one, too?

While these pared-down poles aren't adjustable, they are collapsable for easy carrying, and there are three lengths available to fit a range of heights. The fixed-length design takes away all the extra weight to make these some of the lightest poles on the market—no levers, extra shaft or big baskets. (They can be paired with Z-design snow baskets, though.) Our testers chose these poles as the best thru-hiking option, trading stashability for minimal weight and high durability. The strength of the carbon-fiber construction combined with the comfortable, ergonomic design of the handles combine to create the kind of pole you want with you 100 miles into a trek.

Testers couldn't stop raving about the extra-lightweight assist on long treks. "I never thought to bring trekking poles because of the weight, but I'd heard they could be helpful," said our ultramarathoner and thru-hiking tester after tackling 100-plus miles of the Colorado Trail. "One time out with these trekking poles and I was sold. I moved more efficiently with the poles than I had without." Buy here.

We should all be so lucky to rock a stylish single trekking assistant like the REI Co-op Walker Power Lock Staff. This crankin' cane is as adjustable as the Trailmade (with two sliding locks) and as strong as the Khumbu Lite, but our testers liked the beefier grip even more than the Traverse poles: The Walker comes with an extended handle for additional support. If you like the stability of a traditional cane handle or like the width offered by the extended top, the Walker could make the difference between an OK stroll and a great hike. The 6-inch-tall cork grip still offers the traditional handhold of any other trekking pole, but with the ability to place more of your weight and balance through your arm and onto the trekking pole. It gave our testers the supportive boost they needed to keep their confidence on rocky trails and paved paths—and we're all for that. Buy here.

Shock-absorbing trekking poles that soften the blow on your hike: They do exist. Testers and REI Member reviewers are thrilled with the Black Diamond Pursuit poles' progressive impact absorption (housed in the handle) that kept them comfortable and controlled on rocky, muddy, slick and rough terrain. Molded cork grips were effortlessly comfortable on the trail, while testers also loved that the extended grip (although minimal) was made from algae-based foam rather than the standard polyurethane. Two available grip sizes allow for the perfect fit and more comfortable hand positions, reducing strain (and complaints) on the trek. Adjust your height on the fly by opening the super-smooth soft-touch FlickLock+ and pressing on the pole tips to collapse, with the peace of mind that your adjustments will stay firm while you trek. Our testers loved them, but found the price a tough component for casual users. Buy here.