Aluminium or carbon? Here’s a comparison table to help you choose the material for your walking poles, hiking poles or trail poles.
Aluminium or carbon poles?
The material your poles are made from matters. Not all materials perform equally well or suit every activity. The material affects pole weight, strength and vibration absorption, among other things. Choose your pole shaft material carefully to suit your needs and the demands of your activity.
The table below summarises the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of aluminium and carbon to help you choose between them.
When we talk about carbon poles, we mean either poles with a 100% carbon shaft or poles made from a composite of carbon fibre (at least 50%) and fibreglass. For aluminium poles, choose 7075 aluminium if possible. It is the lightest aluminium on the market and offers the best quality. It is a good choice for lightweight, strong trail poles.
| Aluminium | Carbon | |
| Lightness | - | + |
| Strength / durability | + | - |
| Vibration absorption | - | + |
| Resistance to cold and snow | + | - |
| Price: which is cheaper? | + | - |
In short, aluminium is generally better suited to hiking. It’s an excellent material that’s light yet strong. It may bend, but it rarely breaks. It stands up well to low temperatures and bad weather, so you can use aluminium poles in snow, provided they have winter baskets. Carbon is the preferred material for Nordic walking because it’s extremely light and absorbs ground vibrations very effectively. That matters for walkers who want to protect their joints as much as possible. The higher the carbon content, the stronger the poles.
