Need hiking, Nordic walking, or trail poles, but don't know where to start to find the right pair? Here is a practical guide to help you choose the right poles for your upcoming outings.
Aluminium or carbon shaft? Telescopic or folding poles? With so many Nordic walking, trail, and hiking poles on the market, making the right choice can be challenging.
To make the right choice, it's essential to understand the different options, features, and characteristics available. To guide your thinking, we've put together a handy checklist of key questions and factors to help you pick your poles.
How will you use your poles?
Before buying your poles, you first need to consider how you'll use them. Here are the very first questions to answer:
- Walking poles for which activity? Sure, it's the basics, but it's essential to answer. Hiking poles are different from Nordic walking poles or trail poles. A specific pole for each sport. The good news is, depending on your needs, your level, and the terrain you tackle, you can sometimes choose poles suitable for two different activities.
To help you out, we've prepared detailed guides for each activity. Make the right choice for your hiking, trail or Nordic walking poles with our expert advice.
- What is my level? A beginner heading out occasionally on easy trails doesn't have the same requirements as an experienced trekker logging weekly miles and multi-day routes. Your skill level and frequency of use dictate many factors: materials, accessories, and features that impact the final price. This brings us to budget—not "how much am I willing to spend?", but "how much should I invest to get poles that meet all my needs?".
- Who will use my poles? This question might sound unusual, but it's very relevant. If you choose retractable, telescopic, or adjustable folding poles, you can easily lend them out, as their height can be adjusted to fit the user. If you don't head out regularly year-round but still want quality poles, knowing they can be shared might make your decision easier when investing a little more.
- What terrain will I be on, and on what occasions? Answering this question will primarily help you decide on the shaft material and folding/locking system. Be as forward-thinking as possible. Will you be out in the rain? Do you plan to use your poles in the snow? Are you planning multi-day treks where you'll need to carry your poles over long distances without necessarily using them? These are all key points to clarify before choosing new Nordic walking, hiking, or trail poles.
Once you've answered these initial questions, you can get down to specifics: shaft material, size, and locking mechanisms. Let's take a quick look at these key features.
Aluminium or carbon poles: which material to choose?
To choose the right pole shaft material, several factors need to be taken into account. Here are the key points to check to help you make your choice. If that's not enough, our detailed article will help you choose between aluminium and carbon poles.
- Your activity: as mentioned earlier, each sport has its specific pole. The ideal shaft composition depends directly on how you use them.
- For hiking, aluminium is often preferred: stronger than carbon, more resilient, and more durable. You can also confidently use aluminium poles in the snow, for example on ski tours or snowshoe hikes. While aluminium is slightly heavier than carbon, it remains a lightweight material.
- For Nordic walking, carbon is recommended. Even lighter than aluminium, it excels at absorbing vibrations, which is vital for this sport. The higher the carbon percentage in the shaft, the better.
- In trail running, aluminium and carbon are both excellent options. Once again, it all comes down to your level and priorities. If you want maximum lightness, choose carbon trail poles. After all, trail running is a race: the less weight you carry, the lighter and faster you'll be, and the less fatigue you'll build up. If you prefer sturdier poles that handle impacts, cold temperatures, or heavy loads better, go for aluminium.
- Your level, terrain, and conditions: as with all mountain gear, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on multiple factors unique to each user. In short, keep two key distinctions in mind: aluminium is more robust, carbon is lighter. If you tackle steep, rugged terrain in all weather, carry a heavier load, or lean hard on your poles, opt for aluminium. If you focus on long-distance outings with moderate terrain and elevation gain, and need maximum joint protection and minimal weight, carbon is your best choice.
Telescopic, fixed, or folding poles: which to choose?
Single-section, multi-section, folding, telescopic, adjustable or fixed: options abound and choosing isn't always easy. Let's break it down together so you can easily pick the best option and pack system for your outings. To find out more, check our page on single-section vs multi-section, fixed, telescopic or folding poles.
- Single-section or multi-section? Walking poles come either in a single piece or with multiple sections.
- Single-section poles: Nordic walking can't be done without poles—they're used continuously from start to finish. There's no real need to stow them in a pack (so no need to fold or collapse them). That's ideal, because Nordic walking poles should be single-section. Why? Single-section poles deliver the direct, rigid forward propulsion required and dampen vibrations better than multi-section poles. With a single solid shaft and fixed length, they are also tougher and less prone to mechanical failure.
- Multi-section poles: for hiking and trail running, folding or telescopic poles made of multiple interlocking or sliding sections are preferred. Why? Because you might need to stow your poles in your pack on technical sections, flats, or gentle descents (especially in trail running)—which is only possible with multi-section poles. Plus, when hiking, you'll likely need to adjust pole length on the go, such as on traverses, steep climbs, or descents. That's why telescopic or adjustable folding poles are essential.
- Folding or telescopic? The packing system of multi-section poles is a crucial choice. It impacts handling, overall weight, and packed size.
- Telescopic poles: the most common choice for hiking. Their length is always adjustable, essential for keeping your poles at the right height throughout your hike. They can also be used for trail running, though keep in mind they are often slightly heavier than folding models. There are two types of locking mechanisms for telescopic poles: twist-lock or lever-lock. Lever-lock systems offer faster, easier adjustment and greater reliability, though at a slightly higher price point. Twist-lock systems are more budget-friendly, but less reliable and far less convenient.
- Folding poles: this storage design is especially popular in trail running, but also in hiking. However, folding poles can be slightly more fragile than telescopic models, which may be a deal-breaker for some hikers. Extremely quick and easy to fold and deploy, they save valuable time, especially during a race. They are also generally lighter and more compact than telescopic poles. The more sections they have, the smaller the packed size. Folding poles may or may not be length-adjustable. If you need to adjust their length, make sure the model supports it.
Which grips to choose?
Once you've chosen the material and pack system best suited to your needs, you can move on to choosing the grip. While you can get used to almost any grip, one that doesn't fit your hand shape or lacks comfort can cause long-term discomfort. A minor irritation at the start of an outing can quickly become a real problem. That's why choosing the right grip is far from a minor detail.
Whenever possible, we recommend avoiding plastic or rubber grips, which are stiff and promote hand sweating. While wearing gloves can help, they can quickly overheat your hands. More ergonomic and comfortable, cork and foam grips manage moisture effectively, provide superior grip, and are much more durable.
Which wrist straps to choose?
Choosing straps is straightforward. For hiking, a standard loop strap is sufficient; choose a padded one for extra comfort. For Nordic walking, a glove-style mesh strap (gauntlet) is essential, fitting around your wrist and thumb like a fingerless glove. Detachable straps are even better, letting you quickly unclip to grab a water bottle. In trail running, you can use either standard loop straps or gauntlets. Standard straps let you shift your hand position up onto the grip head or lower down the shaft. Gauntlet straps allow a more relaxed grip. The choice comes down to personal preference.
Which tips to choose?
The tip is one of the most critical parts of your poles, serving as the sole contact point with the ground. It provides traction and directly influences stability. While standard tips are steel, high-performance tips use tungsten carbide, a material that is far harder and much more durable. While initial cost is higher, if you hike regularly, tungsten tips quickly pay for themselves.
You can also cover your tips with interchangeable rubber pads tailored to specific terrain or activities. In Nordic walking, specific angled pads made of rubber or carbide are used. To dampen noise on tarmac and protect your tips from wear, simply fit a rubber walking pad.
Baskets are also interchangeable depending on the activity and terrain. If you're hiking in warmer seasons, use small summer baskets. For snowshoeing or ski touring in the snow, switch to wider winter baskets to keep your poles from sinking into deep snow.
Which size to choose?
That's it, you're certain: you finally know which pole to choose, the one made for you! You've reviewed and studied every possible option to finally decide which pole you'll buy. Now it's time for the final step: choosing your pole size! Nothing could be easier. Simply multiply your height in centimetres by 0.68 to get an idea of the ideal height for your future poles. Then, once you have the pole in hand, make sure it's the right fit. Wear the same shoes you'll use when walking, hold one of the poles while standing straight, and keep it perpendicular to the ground. In this position, if the pole is the right size, your elbow and forearm should form a 90° right angle.
