Folding trail poles: two five-section styles
At the foot of a climb of several hundred metres, a runner takes out their poles without stopping; at the top, they fold them away to pick up the pace on the descent. Both pairs in the collection fold into five sections and adjust from 115 to 135 cm with the Easy-lock clamp. The DISTANCE CARBON is made of carbon; the DISTANCE is made of 7075 aluminium. They deploy quickly when the slope demands it and fold away as soon as it eases. Choose between them by weight: 450 g per carbon pair or 550 g per aluminium pair. They’re suitable for trail running, hiking, Nordic walking and snowshoeing.
Carbon or aluminium: what’s the difference in a trail pole?
- DISTANCE CARBON: carbon, 225 g per pole, 36 cm folded, dual EVA foam grip
- DISTANCE: 7075 aluminium, 275 g per pole, lower EVA foam grip
- Both: five sections, adjustable from 115 to 135 cm, Easy-lock clamp, tips included
The DISTANCE CARBON weighs 225 g per pole, making the pair 100 g lighter than the aluminium version. Its carbon construction absorbs vibrations on contact with the ground. The dual EVA foam grip lets you hold the pole lower on traverses and technical sections without changing its length.
The DISTANCE weighs 275 g per pole. It’s made from 7075 aluminium and has a lower EVA foam grip for traverses. If every gram counts on an ultra, choose the DISTANCE CARBON; the DISTANCE costs less and weighs 50 g more per pole. Both styles are described as ultra-durable.
What length trail poles should you choose?
Adjust them on level ground: with the pole planted vertically, your elbow should form a 90° angle. Both pairs adjust from 115 to 135 cm. They’re unisex, with no separate men’s or women’s version: the same pair suits any runner, provided the required length falls within that range. If you need a length below 115 cm, choose a telescopic pole : our walking and hiking poles adjust to shorter lengths.
Try adjusting them at home, wearing your trail shoes, before your first outing.
Stowing your trail poles during a race
On runnable terrain, you can stow your poles as soon as the slope eases. Folded into five sections, the DISTANCE CARBON measures 36 cm and fits in a pack’s side pocket. The DISTANCE folds the same way and can be stored in your pack between climbs. To carry them, see our trail packs. Before a race, practise unfolding and folding your poles while walking, so you can do it quickly on the day.
Tips, baskets and trail gear
Both pairs come with tips for moving between tarmac, trails and snow. The DISTANCE CARBON comes with a full kit: tarmac and Nordic walking tips, plus ski and hiking baskets. For a snowshoe outing, fit the ski baskets.
To complete your kit your trail gear, see also our trail shorts and trousers and our trail shoes.
