Why use poles for hiking and trekking?
On a steep descent, every step puts pressure on your knees; plant two poles in front of you and your arms take some of the load. On climbs, shorten them by a few centimetres to push off, then lengthen them for descents to keep your support in front of you. On scree or muddy ground, they give you two extra points of contact.
Four Cimalp poles compared: weight, packed size and adjustment
The range includes two telescopic and two folding poles, made from aluminium 7075 or carbon:
- CARBON100 2: carbon, telescopic, 215 g per pole, adjustable from 65 to 130 cm.
- DISTANCE CARBON 2: carbon, folds into 5 sections, 225 g, 36 cm when folded, adjustable from 115 to 135 cm.
- DISTANCE 2: aluminium 7075, folds into 5 sections, 275 g, adjustable from 115 to 135 cm.
- TREK3S 2: aluminium 7075, telescopic, 270 g, adjustable from 63 to 135 cm, carbide tips.
For the lowest weight, choose the CARBON100 2; for the smallest packed size, choose the DISTANCE CARBON 2. The TREK3S 2 adjusts to the shortest length, making it suitable for shorter users and for sharing between people.
Telescopic or folding poles: which should you pack?
Telescopic poles have sections that slide inside one another, allowing continuous adjustment without taking them apart. Folding poles fold into 5 sections: the DISTANCE CARBON 2 then fits in a rucksack’s side pocket. Both types are also called collapsible poles.
Folding poles have a shorter adjustment range: they cannot be shortened below 115 cm. If your required pole length is shorter, choose a telescopic model. The DISTANCE 2, DISTANCE CARBON 2 and TREK3S 2 lock with an Easy-lock lever. Our guide explains the other locking systems single-section, multi-section, fixed-length or telescopic poles.
Aluminium or carbon: a difference of 45 to 60 g per pole
The two carbon poles weigh 215 and 225 g; the two aluminium poles weigh 270 and 275 g. Carbon absorbs vibrations better on hard ground, which your wrists will notice at the end of a long day. The aluminium 7075 DISTANCE 2 and TREK3S 2 cost less. You can find the details in our guide aluminium or carbon poles.
Baskets, tip covers and spare parts
Baskets stop the tips sinking in: wider ones for snow, smaller ones for summer trails. Tip covers protect the tips and provide grip on tarmac. Every pair comes with snow baskets; the DISTANCE 2, DISTANCE CARBON 2 and CARBON100 2 also include a Nordic walking tip.
A bent section does not mean you have to replace the pair. This collection includes individual replacement lower sections for all four models, upper sections for the DISTANCE 2, CARBON100 2 and TREK3S 2, plus summer and winter baskets and tip covers.
