The 8 Best Trekking and Hiking Poles of 2026: Tested

Keep it simple and take 'em everywhere—that should be the unofficial motto of the REI Co-op Traverse Trekking Poles. Our testers loved the fuss-free design with just enough key features to make them reliable year-round companions, including two baskets for trail and snow.

Two sizes give you options based on your height; for ultimate flexibility, the shaft can be lengthened up to 10 inches at two lever locks, allowing users to adapt to changing terrain. (On the uphill, you might want a shorter pole, while the downhill may require a longer reach.) This came in handy when our testers approached a steep section of the Chilkoot Trail on the Alaska/British Columbia border. Our testers were able to shorten their poles for the more aggressive approach without compromising stability, giving them both better leverage to continue hiking in the slippery duff. The lever locks stayed tight over 8 miles on a fall trek through New Hampshire, too, rendering readjustments unnecessary.

Nice touches: Cork grips help keep your hands comfy over long distances, while the natural wicking material also helps keep sweaty palms from slipping or blistering. The cushioned straps come in handy on hot hikes and long hauls, or if you tend to lose poles on steep sections. (One tester was guilty of this.) Don't worry if you tend to beat up your gear: The tough-and-light aluminum poles survived a quarter-mile drop down a steep cliff with minimal scratching and zero dents, even after bouncing off boulders. "I didn't give a second thought to bringing them, because the hike was so much easier with that boost of upper body assistance," crowed one tester, who'd never been a trekking pole user before. "That's how gear should be."

Whether you're strolling through a local park, stopping to admire wildflowers or logging weekend miles on your favorite trail, the Legacy Lite Trekking Poles from Leki are ready to come along. Entry-level friendly and reasonably priced, they offer dependable performance that can grow with you as your adventures do.  

Lightweight but durable aluminum shafts will bend before they break, even under the stress of a steep uphill. At barely over a pound per pair, the Legacy Lite are among the lightest aluminum poles on our list, but they don’t feel like disposable gear, testers say. “These have a nice moderate weight: They're light enough to carry for a brisk hike but they're not too light as to feel flimsy or less durable,” says REI Expert Advice hike editor Ever Meister, who trudged along on two 11-mile hikes with their poles. “I generally like to have a little weight in my hands on a longer day hike, and these were just on the cusp of being a hair light for me at first, but once I got used to them, they gave me wings.”  

Comfort matters as much as durability when you’re spending hours with trekking poles in your hands. Here, the ergonomic grips feature a compact combination of smooth cork and rubber that wicks away sweat as the going gets tougher. “The handles fit so perfectly in my hands it's as though I'd been hiking with these for years,” Meister says. “The straps were easy to adjust and I love being able to dial in their length. My one complaint there is that I have very small hands, so making the straps small/snug enough meant there was a long tail of strap material that could be somewhat annoying.” Co-op gear tester Kim B. in Pennsylvania, on the other hand, loved the fit and the straps but didn’t prefer the cork’s hand feel at all; as a tried-and-true foam-grip fan, Kim prefers feeling more feedback from the trail as she goes.  

An easy-to-use lever lock and three-piece telescoping design make it easy to dial in sizing to the centimeter and allow you to adjust on the fly as the terrain changes. (Tip: Lengthen your poles on downhills to boost stability and shorten them for climbs to help maintain efficient movement). 

Budget-friendly but durable and comfortable options need to be more prevalent in the world of hiking aids, and we were thrilled that the REI Co-op Trailmade Trekking Poles checked all the boxes. These adjustable poles are still on the lighter side and provide plenty of flexibility when it comes to height, at a significantly lower cost than other poles on our list. "Despite testing a half-dozen trekking poles in the last two years, these remain some of my favorites," says REI hike editor Ever Meister. "They're great everyday hikers and I just keep them in the trunk in case of a spur-of-the-moment adventure."

A strong aluminum shaft provides stability throughout your hike, while the two flip levers hold your adjusted height firm, even when you dig in. Comfortable rubber handholds allow you to grip without the slip, discourage blisters and make sure your wrists sit in a healthy neutral position, which came in handy with both of our testers. One self-proclaimed "beefy" fellow said, "I felt like these were sturdy enough to hold me. I'm a big guy and I didn't want a pair of trekking poles breaking down on me, and I was worried that it might be too much on my wrists, putting my weight down on my hands." He said he didn't have a problem on a 4-mile loop with 2 miles of downhill, and his arms felt great at the end. Our other tester, who has upper-extremity mobility issues, sang the Trailmade's praises for their ability to keep her arms comfortable and her movements powerful on steeper hikes.

If your hikes include long miles, frequent elevation changes or sections where you'll want to stash your poles, the Vista FLZ from Black Diamond is built for the job. Its compact, foldable design makes it easy to deploy when you need support and tuck away when you don't.  

The FLZ designation combines two Black Diamond technologies: rapid-ready Z-pole deployment which folds into compact, connected sections for fast setup and flick-lock adjustability for quick, secure length changes. Together, they make the Trail Vista FLZ a versatile companion for long hikes and backpacking trips. 

The Z-pole design helps these become one of the most compact options in this guide when collapsed, and Black Diamond has refined the system to offer more adjustability than previous models. Even self-described Z-pole skeptic, Florida-based gear tester and adventure guide Brooke B. came away impressed after several months of use. “I typically find Z-poles difficult to adjust and limited in their range. These poles had more adjustability from the top and I really liked that feature. Very easy to adjust on the go for descents and ascents,” she says. “This has been my biggest issue with Z-poles, and these might have solved that issue. I still don't find Z-poles as adjustable as telescoping poles, but these were definitely better.”  

A FlickLock lever located just under your thumb grip makes ascent and descent adjustments quick, and the hold is secure enough to stay secure across dirt, grass or packed snow. Gear tester and multi-year thru hiker Jasmine S. carried hers for 460 miles on the Arizona Trail, which stretches from the U.S.–Mexico border into Utah. She applauded the comfortable grip and the improved, easy-to-adjust straps compared with previous Black Diamond poles. While she’s used to the ultralight feel of carbon poles, she’s also used to them snapping on the trail.  “These are heavier, but I trust them more. I didn't notice the weight. And hiking is so lower-body intensive that I don't mind a few extra ounces in poles.” Other versions: Available without Z-poles and with shock-absorbing technology as the Black Diamond Trail Vista Shock Trekking Poles. 

We should all be so lucky to rock a stylish single trekking assistant like the REI Co-op Walker Staff. This crankin' cane is as adjustable as the Trailmade (with two sliding locks) and as strong as the Legacy Lite, but our testers liked the beefier grip even more than the Traverse poles: The Walker comes with an extended handle for additional support. If you like the stability of a traditional cane handle or like the width offered by the extended top, the Walker could make the difference between an OK stroll and a great hike.

"I recently completed a long traverse of the massive wilderness area that lies close to my home in New Mexico," says longtime REI Co-op Member and gear tester John F. in an ode to his walking staff "Midway through, I spontaneously diverted from the system trail I had been following and bushwhacked up a creek bed. The canyon boxed up tight and I was forced to negotiate series after series of house-size boulders that jammed my route, requiring gymnastics that would have been more complicated with trekking poles. I would have had to move both poles to one hand or remove my pack (difficult, given that I was, for the most part, standing in waist-deep water) to stash one or both of them. Instead, with the Hiker Staff helping to maintain my balance, I had a free hand that I could use to grip the rock faces I was ascending."

The 6-inch-tall cork grip still offers the traditional handhold of any other trekking pole, but with the ability to place more of your weight and balance through your arm and onto the staff. It gave our testers the supportive boost they needed to keep their confidence on rocky trails and paved paths—and we're all for that. Other versions: REI Co-op Hiker Staff - Single

Trekking poles might not be the first item you think of when it comes to trail running, but they've kept more than one athlete from throwing in the towel on tough sections. Runners and fastpackers alike know the value of incorporating your upper body strength to propel you up, down or through that last mile of trail—and nowhere does weight matter more than when you're vying for a personal record. Weighing mere ounces, the collapsible Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles answer the call for light, fast and incredibly helpful.

While these are among the most expensive poles on our list, that price comes with a valid argument: These poles fold smaller, weigh half as much as aluminum poles and are just as strong as any other trekking pole we tested. In fact, in manufacturer tests, Black Diamond states the updated carbon fiber materials are 30% stronger than previous versions of this design. Our testers appreciated the nonslip, ribbed EVA foam handles that helped keep the sweat off their palms, and the straps didn't chafe one tester's wrists as they sped over the hills of New England. Need grip on ice, rock and packed ground alike? Switch between interchangeable carbide or rubber Tech Tips to keep you from slipping on any surface.

Slide these poles into place by pulling on the closest shaft to the handle, then quickly release them with a push of the button, pulling the three sections loose and collapsing into a Z again. Is it easy enough to do midjog? "Sure is—I pulled them out of my pack, set them up and packed them away without breaking stride," said our fastpacking tester.

Weight is key when you're on the long haul. Black Diamond took that key and ran with the Distance Carbon Z poles, upgrading this newest model to be even lighter without sacrificing strength. Designed as a fixed-length trail-running pole, the pair weighs roughly the same as a roll of quarters, yet is strong enough to hold up a tent in a windstorm. What more could a thru-hiker ask for than the lightest pole—and a plenty tough one, too?

While these pared-down poles aren't adjustable, they are collapsable for easy carrying, and there are three lengths available to fit a range of heights. The fixed-length design takes away all the extra weight to make these some of the lightest poles on the market—no levers, extra shaft or big baskets. (They can be paired with Z-design snow baskets, though.) Our testers chose these poles as the best thru-hiking option, trading stashability for minimal weight and high durability. The strength of the carbon-fiber construction combined with the comfortable, ergonomic design of the handles combine to create the kind of pole you want with you 100 miles into a trek.

Testers couldn't stop raving about the extra-lightweight assist on long treks. "I never thought to bring trekking poles because of the weight, but I'd heard they could be helpful," said our ultramarathoner and thru-hiking tester after tackling 100-plus miles of the Colorado Trail. "One time out with these trekking poles and I was sold. I moved more efficiently with the poles than I had without."

If you're counting every ounce in your pack but still want dependable support on the trail, the Skytera Carbon Lite from Leki strikes an impressive balance between low weight and durability. Its wide adjustment range and hybrid carbon-and-aluminum construction make it a strong choice for fast-moving backpackers and ounce-conscious hikers alike. 

“These are so light. When I took them out of the package for the first time, I think my jaw hit the floor,” said REI gear tester and adventure travel guide Brooke B. in Florida. “They are so sleek and lean and beautiful. These trekking poles are such a fantastic display of ultralight technology.” Clocking in at around 7 ounces per pole, the Skytera Carbon Lite barely register in your pack. Carbon lower sections keep weight to a minimum, while aluminum upper sections add durability where it’s needed most.  

A telescoping, three-section design lets you quickly and easily adjust from 100 to 135 cm without any tools required. “The adjustability is huge and easy to manage. I felt like they were durable and sturdy at all heights,” Brooke said. “Very simple and easy to adjust for ascents and descents, and I never felt like a longer extension made them flimsy or untrustworthy.” 

Adjustable mesh straps dial in the fit, and lightweight, minimalist Verticon foam grips (1 ounce each) provide comfortable hold despite their flat appearance. Oklahoma-based REI gear tester and adventure travel writer Nicky O. was particularly grateful for their single-density foam grips. “I have a medical condition that causes my hands to sweat excessively, and that's historically made trekking pole grips a real problem for me. The Verticon [grip] was a game changer. It actively wicked moisture away rather than letting sweat pool and create friction, which meant my grip stayed secure even after extended use on the trail. No slipping, no readjusting, no death-gripping to compensate.”  

Flex tips and included, interchangeable trekking and snow baskets make these a versatile option for year-round adventures. Other versions: Available with aluminum shafts as the Leki Skytera Lite Trekking Poles.