Maya Calderon
This post is a review of several different trekking poles based on over 3,000 miles of trail use. I have used trekking poles on three different long distance trail thru-hikes, and have come to the conclusion that some poles are clearly better than others for long distance use. This post will cover the good and the bad of several different models, as well as some of the design choices that make some poles more suitable for long distance use than others.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z: light and durable
These poles weigh 9 oz per pair and survived 1,200 miles on the PCT with no breakage. In practice, the carbon-fiber sections are stronger than the marketing copy suggests; they handle bodyweight on the chains sections of the GR20 and the river-crossing sections of Te Araroa without splintering. The catch is the trade-off is the price (around 180 to 220 dollars) and the lack of adjustability; these are fixed-length Z-fold poles, which means you commit to one length for the trip. In real conditions, the failure mode that does happen is at the joint connectors after 1,500-plus miles; the internal cord stretches and the poles develop a tiny wobble; this is repairable with a kit Black Diamond sells. This is the part most guidebooks skip. Plan ahead.
Leki Cross Trail FX Carbon: heavier but stronger
These poles are used by professionals worldwide for long distance backpacking, trekking and expedition use. I really like the Cross Trail FX as it is heavier than the Black Diamond Distance Z carbon pole but has a lot more ability to deal with harsh terrain and weather conditions. The bigger carbide tips last longer than the Distance Z’s tips, and the locking mechanisms perform well in dirty conditions and in cold weather. This pole is at the higher end of the price spectrum (around $200 – $240) for trekking poles and I wouldn’t recommend it for fast-and-light style backpacking or trail running and ultralight style backcountry travel. However, I would recommend this pole over the Distance Z for use on long distance trips where you expect to encounter some rougher sections of scrambling and higher winds.
REI Co-op Traverse Carbon
REI Co-op Traverse Carbon Trekking Poles $100-$130 lbs. for 9.5 oz. pair. They performed well on my Te Araroa trail adventure taking the poles on over 800 miles of trekking without failing. As with most Trekking Poles the carbide tip will wear out faster on rougher trails but expect to get about 600 miles of use before they need to be replaced. The FlickLock lock is identical to that found on the Black Diamond poles and works well in the cold. While the Trekking Pole handles are made of foam and do not have the same comfort fit of the Black Diamond and Leki Poles they do work well. Overall for the budget conscious trekker this would be the way to go for a high quality pole before leaving for your thru-hike for half the price of the two above-mentioned brands. A local Guide I asked about these stated they were a great product for the price and worked very well. This was in stark contrast to every other Guide Book that I read.
What breaks first
All three poles fail in essentially the same ways – the tips of the poles can wear down or fall off, the rubber tip covers can fall off, the locking mechanisms can wear, allowing the pole to fall apart with time, especially when used in harsh conditions and subject to lots of dirt and grit, and the internal cords in the Z-fold sections of the poles can stretch, making the pole wobbly. The part that never fails in all my testing, to date, are the carbon shafts of the poles. This is why so many focus on the shaft material – and yes, there are lots of different types and quality levels of carbon shafts, and some are lighter or stronger than others – but the truth is, no matter how lightweight or stiff a pole shaft is, it can be subject to failure due to excessive lateral torque (a fancy way of saying bending sideways) – just like a hiking pole can break under heavy use on uneven terrain – and similar circumstances, and this type of failure is most pronounced when using poles on very steep or rough terrain, like mountain trail, and on mountain chains, where lots of torque is placed on the pole by the hiker. That being said, the failure points mentioned in the first sentence above are by far the most common, and are the ones that most impact the user, and can usually be easily fixed with a bit of gear, and a bit of know-how. Carrying a very small repair kit, for example, with spare tips, a length of paracord to replace internal cord in the Z-fold sections, and a small amount of epoxy to repair worn locking mechanisms, will save hikers on repeated occasions, and weighs only an ounce or so – a tiny price to pay for the increased peace of mind that comes with knowing you have the ability to repair the most common failure points on your trekking poles.
What I would buy now
So, the best pole for most hikers is the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z pole for thru-hikes with mixed terrain (PCT, AT, Te Araroa) while the Leki Cross Trail FX Carbon pole is best for shorter section hikes with serious scrambling (GR20, the alpine routes in the European Alps, the Sierra High Route). For hikers on the road who are just starting out with trekking poles for short to mid-length trips, the REI Traverse Carbon pole is a great choice for a first pair of poles for a hiker on a budget. Most hikers make the mistake of buying the wrong pole for their needs.
What to take from this for your next trip
Document your trail gear as you hike the trail. Six months from now you won’t be able to recall the details of your great gear. But by keeping a written log you will notice subtle improvements in your pack and your hiking on subsequent long distance hikes. Most hikers that complete one long distance hike are hooked for life. If they don’t return to the trail it is because they underestimated the time and physical ability required to thru-hike a long distance trail and attempted to complete it before they were ready. Thru-hiking long distance trails is a skill that can be learned on shorter trips. Hike short trips on familiar trails, learn what gear works for you and then put that gear to use on longer trips. Specialty gear for long distance hiking should not be purchased before giving the proposed gear a trial run on a short trip on familiar trail.
