How to choose your hiking poles?

In this post, we share all the advice you need to choose your hiking poles wisely, so you can get the most out of your mountain outings.

To make the most of your alpine or mountain outings safely, the use of hiking poles is strongly recommended. They give the hiker greater balance and stability, and therefore safety, while enabling a better posture, less fatigue, greater endurance and therefore higher performance. But all of this is only possible if the poles chosen are suited to both the hiking and the hiker using them.

What material should you choose for your poles? What grip should you go for? How do you choose the locking or storage system? In the following sections, we guide you through choosing your next hiking poles.

The sections of hiking poles

Unlike nordic walking, when hiking it is better to use adjustable multi-section poles. Indeed, while nordic walking is most often practised on flat, undemanding terrain, when hiking, the gradients and terrain types can change throughout the same outing. That is why you will not constantly need your poles and will regularly need to adjust their height. There are two main storage systems for hiking poles, each divided into two categories.

• Telescopic poles: they are usually made up of two or three sections that slide into one another. When folded, the sections are fully nested inside each other; to deploy the poles, simply slide them out to the desired length and then twist or clip them together. They are always adjustable, but the locking system can be of two types:

• Twist-lock telescopic poles: the hiker must twist the sections together once the desired length is reached, and simply untwist them to fold them back. This is the oldest, most common and most affordable system. However, the length can suddenly slip during use, which can be very surprising and even dangerous. If the hiker tightens the poles too hard to prevent this, they can become very difficult to untwist, which also causes problems. In short, the twist-lock system is better suited to occasional Sunday hikers who stick to easy terrain or gentle walks.

• Clip-lock telescopic poles: the hiker slides the sections together and clips them at the desired length. The lock is thus secured quickly, effectively and safely. This is a more modern and more reliable system, which is preferable to its predecessor without hesitation. As a result, it is slightly more expensive but highly recommended for hikers who want a telescopic storage system, who go out regularly and who put heavy pressure on their poles.

• Folding poles or sectional poles: generally made up of a minimum of three sections, they do not slide into one another but detach from each other so they can be packed away using a Z-fold system and then slot into one another once deployed. They are connected by a reinforced cord that keeps them together when separated. This system is much faster than that of telescopic poles. Furthermore, sectional poles are also easier to fold and deploy. They are therefore more manoeuvrable, often more lightweight, more resistant and less bulky once folded (especially if they have more than three sections). Note that there are two types, and the difference is crucial.

• Non-adjustable folding poles: some folding poles are not size-adjustable, which suits mainly hikes on flat, easy terrain without significant elevation change. We won't hide the fact that it is a bit of a shame to invest in such poles for this type of hike.

• Adjustable folding poles: they combine all the advantages of retractable poles without the drawbacks. They are sturdy, lightweight, compact, manoeuvrable and easy to use.

The composition of the upper

For hiking poles, the choice of alloy comes down mainly to two materials: carbon and aluminium. Both options are excellent — let's take a quick look at the characteristics that set them apart.

• Aluminium hiking poles: the most common and most affordable choice. They are sturdy, durable, lightweight and versatile, as they also lend themselves very well to ski touring or snowshoeing.

• Carbon hiking poles: made from an alloy of fibreglass and carbon at varying percentages, they are ultra-light and offer an advantage that aluminium poles do not: they absorb vibrations, which protects the joints. They are, however, slightly more fragile and more expensive.

Wrist straps

When hiking, simple wrist straps that slip around the wrist are sufficient, as the hiker does not need to release their poles as in nordic walking, for example. There are standard straps made from a simple adjustable webbing, and padded straps for extra comfort. More ergonomic, they are preferable for long hikes as they reduce the risk of irritation or even blisters.

Grips

For hiking poles, you will have the choice between four types of grips:

• Plastic grips: their only advantage is that they are affordable. Plastic causes sweating, so you will not get a good grip, and it is a rigid material that lacks comfort. However, they are lightweight and can work for short, occasional hikes.

• Rubber grips: slightly more comfortable than plastic grips, they are suited to longer hikes. Bear in mind that while the purchase price is low, they are not durable and will deteriorate quickly if exposed to sunlight or low temperatures.

• Foam grips: ultra-light, comfortable, they absorb moisture well but tend to degrade over time.

• Cork grips: slightly heavier than foam grips, they remain lightweight, are more durable (as befits a noble material) and offer a good moisture-wicking system, keeping humidity at bay. They also have the advantage of absorbing vibrations.

Tips

As the link between your poles and the ground, choosing the right tips is very important but also relatively straightforward. Your choice will most likely come down to classic steel tips or tungsten carbide tips. The former are less resistant than the latter and will tend to wear out much faster. That is why, wherever possible, we recommend choosing tungsten tips. More durable, they will provide better grip on the ground for longer compared to their steel counterparts, which more than justifies their higher price.

Tip guards and baskets

You can always carry with you and attach a removable tip guard to your tips depending on the terrain you are on. On asphalt, for example, they reduce the noise and impact between the tip and the tarmac, while also protecting the tip in the process. The baskets are also interchangeable — so if you decide to go out on snowy ground, you will need to swap your "summer baskets" for wider ones, known as "winter baskets".