Best Ultralight Trekking Poles 2026

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I have hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Appalachian Trail, Te Araroa and many more with trekking poles in my hands almost every day, and I have broken a couple of sets of carbon fibre poles along the way. That kind of mileage teaches you quickly which trekking poles can survive a real thru-hike and which ones look good in a shop window but fall apart in the field. This guide is built for ultralight backpackers, thru-hikers and serious dayhikers who care about real-world durability, weight and feel, not casual lifestyle buyers.

My current top pick is the Black Diamond Pursuit for most backpackers, with the Gossamer Gear LT5 as the best ultralight thru-hiking pole and the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon as the most durable all-rounder if you want carbon strength without going fragile. I am a former outdoor retail store manager and I research, test and write everything you read here independently.

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Quick Picks – Best Ultralight Trekking Poles

• Best Overall: Black Diamond Pursuit – the best blend of cork comfort, aluminum durability and price for the average backpacker, and my recommendation for anyone who is not counting every gram.
• Best Ultralight for Thru-Hiking: Gossamer Gear LT5 – at around 294 g per pair, my personal favourite for long trails when I want every gram off my hands and I am sticking to formed tread.
• Best All-Round Carbon Folding: MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon – Kevlar-reinforced carbon, very stiff lever locks, the pole I trust on shoulder-season trips and rough scrambly terrain.
• Best for Lightweight Trekking Poles: Zpacks Carbon Fiber – the best balance between weight, price and durability. Also sold individually if you only need one pole for a shelter.
• Best for Travel: Black Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ – folds short enough to fit in checked luggage, with enough adjustability for trekking pole tents.
• Best Ultralight Folding (Fixed Length): Black Diamond Distance Z Carbon – under 280 g per pair, ideal for fastpackers and runners who already know their pole length.
• Best Durable Carbon: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork – thicker carbon than most, good for hikers who want carbon weight with more abuse tolerance.
• Most Innovative Trekking Pole: Durston Iceline – wide-diameter carbon shaft that is genuinely stiff for the weight, and a strong choice if you have broken cheap carbon poles before.
• Best Women’s Trekking Pole: Leki Cressida FX Carbon – shorter range and slimmer grip diameter, the standout women’s-specific pole I would buy if I had smaller hands.
• Best Beginner Trekking Poles: Trekology Trek z 2.0 Cork – cork grips, folding design and a price that makes it the easiest pole to recommend to a first-time buyer.
• Best Budget Carbon Trekking Poles: REI Flash Carbon – lightweight, durable, telescopic design and a reasonable price for a first-time buyer.
• Best Budget Trekking Poles: REI Trailmade – foam grips, sturdy aluminum shaft, telescopic design and a price that makes it the easiest pole to recommend to a first-time buyer.
• Cheapest Carbon Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber– replaceable shaft segments and surprisingly light for the price.
• Cheapest Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum – a heavy but bombproof workhorse for hikers who do not want to baby their gear.

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How We Tested

The trekking poles in this guide are researched and, where possible, field-tested by an experienced long-distance hiker, triple-crown thru-hiker, and former outdoor store manager. Across thru-hikes on the PCT, CDT, AT, Te Araroa and more, plus shoulder-season trips. I judge trekking poles on weight, resistance to abuse, locking mechanism quality, grip comfort, packability and value for serious backpacking. Some of the items where supplied by the manufacturer and some items were purchased by the author for this review. For more on how we research and review gear, see the Review Policy for further details.

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Trekking Pole Comparison Table

Brand	Weight (pair)	Material	Handle	Locking Mechanism	Type
Black Diamond Pursuit	1 lb. 1 oz	Aluminum	Cork	Lever	Telescope
Gossamer Gear LT5	10.3 oz	Carbon	Foam	Twist	Telescope
MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon	1 lb. 1 oz	Carbon	Foam	Lever	Folding
Zpacks Carbon Fiber	14.5 oz	Carbon	Cork or Foam	Twist	Telescope
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ	11.8 oz	Carbon	Foam	Lever	Folding
Black Diamond Distance Z Carbon	9.8 oz	Carbon	Foam	Lever	Folding Fixed
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork	1 lb. 1 oz	Carbon	Cork	Lever	Telescope
Durston Iceline	10.2 oz	Carbon	Foam	Lever	Quick Connect
Leki Cressida FX Carbon	1 lb. 1 oz	Carbon	Cork	Lever	Telescope
Trekology Trek z 2.0 Cork	1 lb. 7.3 oz	Aluminum	Cork	Lever	Folding
REI Flash Carbon	13.6 oz	Carbon	Foam	Lever	Telescope
REI Trailmade	1 lb. 1 oz	Aluminum	Foam	Lever	Telescope
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber	14.8 oz	Carbon	Cork	Lever	Telescope
Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum	20.8 oz	Aluminum	Cork	Lever	Telescope

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Best Trekking Poles – In-Depth Reviews

The Black Diamond Pursuit is the updated replacement for the long running Trail Cork and it remains the pole I recommend most often to backpackers. They are neither the lightest nor the strongest in this review but made it to the top of the list for doing everything well and being reliably durable.

The cork handles are soft to the touch, mould to your hand over a few hundred miles, and stay comfortable on long days. The EVA foam grip extension is genuinely useful when you sidehill or grab the shaft on a steep climb.

The Pursuit suits three-season backpacking, thru-hiking on rough trail where carbon would scare me, and trekking pole tent users who need real height adjustability. The Flick Lock levers are easy to use with cold hands and the integrated hex tool is a nice touch when the lever tension wanders mid-trip.

In real use the trade-offs are weight and price. At 500 g per pair these are not ultralight, and they cost a little more than basic aluminum poles, but the durability, the cork grip and the Flick Lock quality earn the price. They are made from 7000 series aluminum, which bends rather than shatters when you fall on them, and the carbide tips screw out for replacement. Expect them to last tens of thousands of miles of hiking.

Trade-off: Weight vs durability — cork comfort and aluminum strength cost grams.

Best for: Backpackers and thru-hikers who want one pole that does almost everything well without being fragile.

The Gossamer Gear LT5 is one of the few high-end ultralight poles that still uses a twist lock, and on this pole the twist lock works fine. They are my personal favourites for thru-hiking when I want every possible gram off my hands and I know I will mostly be on formed trail.

The LT5 suits ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers who understand the trade. They are not built for bush-bashing, post-holing through spring snowmelt, or aggressive sidehilling on scree. Use them for what they are and they will repay you on every long climb.

The recently updated wrist straps no longer slip the way the old ones did, although a lot of LT5 users still cut them off entirely to save more grams. The collapsed length of around 23.5 inches / 60 cm is genuinely compact, and Gossamer Gear sells replacement segments if you break one, a feature almost no other pole maker matches. One of the best trekking poles for thru hikers using an ultralight trekking pole tent.

Trade-off: Weight vs durability – at this weight you cannot also have abuse tolerance.

Best for: Thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers on graded trail who prioritise grams above everything else.

The MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon does everything right. It is light without being fragile, strong without being heavy, and comfortable without being the most expensive pole on this list. MSR designed it primarily for winter and mountaineering use, but I find it excellent as a general trekking pole that can handle a long-distance thru-hike with more confidence than thin-walled carbon.

The Kevlar reinforced carbon shaft is the strongest carbon construction in this review and the Dynalock levers are the best lever locks I have used. They face backward, which stops them catching on rocks and clothing, and the tension adjusts without tools. The folding plus telescoping design gives you the small packed length of a Z-fold pole with the height range of a telescoping pole.

The EVA foam handles plus neoprene strap stay comfortable for hours, and the build quality is the kind that lasts multiple long trails. The only thing that keeps this pole out of the top spot is weight. The Gossamer Gear LT5 is a lighter ultralight option for hikers who never see snow or scrambly terrain but the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon is certainly stronger.

Trade-off: Weight vs all-round strength – the Ascent Carbon is heavier than pure ultralight poles but tougher in every condition.

Best for: Thru-hikers and shoulder-season backpackers who want one carbon pole that will not snap on them.

Zpacks is one of the best companies in the world for ultralight backpacking gear, and the Zpacks Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are reasonably priced for what you get from this premium maker. One of their best features is the option to buy a single pole, which is useful if you only want one pole as a tent strut plus light support.

When I tested the foam-handle version I found the grip comfortable, the strap easy to adjust, and the balance noticeably good and not too tip-heavy, not too handle-heavy. I also tested them as tent poles on several trekking pole tents and they performed well in that role too.

These suit lightweight backpackers, thru-hikers, and Zpacks tent owners who want a single matching shelter pole. They are available with foam and cork handle options. The foam saves a few grams, cork wins long term on comfort.

Trade-off: Weight vs sub-300 g pure ultralight options.

Best for: Lightweight backpackers, thru-hikers and trekking pole tent users who want a single-pole option.

The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ is the travel pole I reach for when I am flying somewhere and need short packed length without giving up adjustability. It is similar to the Distance Z but with a small telescoping section, which is the difference that makes it usable with most trekking pole tents.

It suits travel hikers, fastpackers and ultralight backpackers who want a folding carbon pole with some height range. The folded length of around 40 cm fits most checked luggage and even some carry-on dimensions, although you still cannot fly with poles in the cabin.

The Flicklock Pro aluminum levers are tool-free and the foam grip is comfortable. The 15 cm of adjustability is the main limit, most other poles in this review give you much more range, so trekking pole tent users with non-standard pitch heights should double-check their tent specs first.

Trade-off: Compactness vs adjustability range.

Best for: Travel hikers and ultralight backpackers who fly to their trails.

The Black Diamond Distance Z Carbon is the lightest practical poles on the list at 9.8 oz / 280 g per pair. The Z-fold design packs them down very small, the carbon shafts are stiff for the weight, and the EVA foam grip with grip extension is comfortable.

The trade-off is the fixed length. They do not adjust, which is fine for fastpackers and trail runners who already know their pole length but a real limitation if you use a trekking pole tent or want to lengthen for descents. If you fall into the second group, the FLZ or Gossamer Gear LT5 are much better.

Trade-off: Weight and packed size vs zero adjustability.

Best for: Fastpackers, trail runners, and ultralight hikers who already know their fixed pole length.

The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork is one of the more durable carbon poles on the market because Black Diamond uses thicker-walled carbon than the typical ultralight competitor. That makes them heavier than the Distance line but more confidence-inspiring under load.

They suit backpackers who want carbon weight, cork comfort and more abuse tolerance than the ultralight category usually allows. Good shoulder-season pick.

The cork grips are soft-touch and ergonomic, the EVA foam grip extension is comfortable for sidehilling, and the Solution wrist strap is one of the better straps in the Black Diamond line.

Trade-off: Weight vs strength inside the carbon category.

Best for: Backpackers who want the cork and carbon combination with above-average durability.

The Durston Iceline is the pole I would have wanted ten years ago when I was breaking carbon trekking poles on the PCT and CDT. Durston designs them with a wider shaft diameter than most ultralight carbon poles, and that single design choice meaningfully improves stiffness-to-weight without taking the weight back into Black Diamond Pursuit territory.

These suit ultralight backpackers and thru-hikers who want carbon weight without the typical “I am scared to lean on these” feeling that thinner carbon poles give you. They are also a strong shelter pole if you use a trekking pole tent that wants real stiffness at full extension.

In real use the trade-offs are price and brand availability. Durston is a small-batch maker, and the price reflects the engineering. The locking mechanism is solid lever-style and the EVA grip is comfortable, although a cork option would round them out. These poles may find themselves rated higher in the coming years when the new design proves itself.

Trade-off: Stiffness and weight vs price and new design that will take a bit more time to prove itself.

Best for: Ultralight thru-hikers who have already broken cheap carbon poles and want stiffer carbon without the weight penalty.

All the trekking poles in this review are unisex and in many ways there is no need for a women specific walking pole. The Leki Cressida FX Carbon is the best women’s-specific trekking pole in this review for several reasons. The grip diameter is narrower than the unisex Black Series, the length range is built for shorter hikers, and the carbon plus folding construction gives you a packable pole that does not feel oversized in smaller hands.

They suit women hikers, smaller-handed hikers of any gender, and anyone who has used unisex poles and felt the grip was too thick for comfort over long days. The lever locks are Leki SpeedLock, the cork grip is genuine cork, and the folded length packs well for travel.

Trade-off: Length range, taller hikers will hit the max sooner than with unisex poles.

Best for: Smaller-handed and shorter hikers who want a true cork-grip carbon folding pole.

The Trekology Trek Z 2.0 Cork is the easiest pole I can recommend to a first-time buyer. Folding aluminum, real cork grip, lever lock, and a price that makes the brand-name competitors look greedy. These are not the lightest poles in this review, but they are genuinely useful and reliably built.

They suit beginners, casual backpackers, weekenders, and anyone who is not sure they will keep using poles long enough to justify spending big. The aluminum shaft will bend instead of snapping if you fall on it, which beginners do.

The main limit is height, at 130 cm max they are a bit short for hikers above six foot, and the weight is on the high side for ultralight trips. Inside their price band there is nothing in this review that beats them.

Trade-off: Weight vs price.

Best for: First-time buyers and casual backpackers who want a real cork grip without paying brand-name prices.

The REI Co-Op Flash Carbon is a solid, reasonably priced carbon pole. I have used them for more than 100 days of testing and thousands of miles of thru-hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail, and they did everything right without standing out at any one thing.

The foam grips are comfortable and absorb shock well, the lever lock is high quality, and the strap is good. They suit thru-hikers and backpackers who want REI’s return policy plus a carbon pole that is light without being fragile.

The price is the trade-off. They are reasonably priced inside the carbon category, but they could be 50 dollars cheaper before they would feel like a steal.

Trade-off: Price and brand premium vs no standout feature.

Best for: PCT-style thru-hikers and REI Co-Op members who want a tested carbon pole.

The REI Co-Op Trailmade is REI’s entry-level aluminum pole and a good budget option even though it does not quite knock out the Trekology or Cascade Mountain Tech budget picks. Foam handles, lever locks, and aluminum shafts that bend rather than break.

They suit beginners, semi-regular hikers, and REI members who want an aluminum pole without paying brand-name money. They are not as refined as the Black Diamond Pursuit or REI’s own Flash Carbon, but they are honest gear.

Trade-off: Refinement vs price.

Best for: Beginners and REI shoppers who want a no-fuss aluminum pole.

These Cascade Mountain Tech carbon fiber poles are one of the best price-per-gram deals in this review. The 2×2 twill weave carbon is stronger than basic carbon, the cork grip is real cork, and the EVA foam extension is useful on sidehills.

They suit budget-conscious backpackers, weekenders, and anyone who wants to try carbon without spending Black Diamond money. The lever lock could be smoother, but everything else punches well above the price.

A genuinely useful feature is replacement segments, if you snap a section, you can buy a new one rather than write off the entire pair.

Trade-off: Lock smoothness vs price.

Best for: Backpackers who want carbon weight on a budget, with the safety net of replaceable segments.

The Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum is the budget aluminum pole I send people to when they tell me they keep snapping cheap carbon poles. Heavy, yes, but bombproof for the price, with cork grips, an EVA foam extension and replaceable segments.

They suit beginners, heavy users, hikers in rough terrain, and anyone who does not want to baby their gear. The cork covering is thinner than premium poles and the weight is high, but at this price that is a fair trade.

Trade-off: Weight vs durability and price.

Best for: Hikers who want aluminum reliability at the lowest price and do not care about grams.

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Yet to be Reviewed

• Leki Legacy Lite
• Leki Ultratrail FX
• Leki Makalu Cork Lite

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Trekking Pole Buyers Guide

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Pole Types

There are four main pole types: telescoping, folding, fixed-length and shock-absorbing.

Telescoping Poles

Telescoping poles are the most common. Two or three segments slide inside each other and lock at a height you choose. They give you the widest height range, which matters for trekking pole tents, descents, and sharing poles between hikers of different heights.

Folding (Z-style) Poles

Folding (Z-style) poles fold into 3 or 4 segments for short packed length. The best designs add a small telescoping section on top so you still get some adjustability — that hybrid is the best of both worlds for most backpackers and the design used by the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon and Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ.

Fixed-length Poles

Fixed-length poles do not adjust. They are the lightest type and suit fastpackers and trail runners who already know their length. They are a bad pick for trekking pole tent users.

Shock-absorbing Poles

Shock-absorbing poles add a damper inside the shaft. The benefit is smaller than the marketing claims. A good carbon pole with cork handles already absorbs vibration well, and the extra weight and moving parts of a shock-absorbing pole are usually not worth it for backpacking.

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Shaft Material: Carbon vs Aluminum

The two real choices are carbon and aluminum.

Carbon

Carbon is lighter and absorbs vibration better than aluminum. The downside is that carbon shatters rather than bending. I have broken three sets of carbon trekking poles over the years, and every time it was an awkward fall, not abuse. If you tend to fall on your poles, value carbon’s absorption more than weight, or hike rough scrambly terrain, look for thicker-walled carbon (Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon, Durston Iceline) rather than the thinnest-walled ultralight carbon.

Aluminum

Aluminum is heavier but bends instead of snapping. You can usually bend aluminum back into a usable shape after a fall. It is also cheaper and more recyclable. For thru-hikers who know they hike rough or who hate replacing gear mid-trail, aluminum is often the right call.

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Locking Mechanism: Twist Lock vs Lever Lock

Twist locks were standard a decade ago and are now mostly used on budget poles and a few ultralight specialists like the Gossamer Gear LT5 and Zpacks. They work fine until they slip, which is more likely when wet or muddy.

Lever locks are the standard on every premium pole on this list. The MSR Dynalock and Black Diamond Flick Lock Pro are the best in class — backwards-facing levers that do not catch on rocks, with tool-free tension adjustment.

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Adjustable Height and Sizing

Most adjustable poles cover 100–140 cm. As a starting point, set the pole so your elbow sits at 90 degrees on flat ground. Lengthen 5–10 cm for descents, shorten 5–10 cm for steep climbs. If you use a trekking pole tent, check the pitch height first — some shelters need 115 cm or 125 cm exactly, which rules out fixed-length poles outside that size.

A rough sizing guide:

• Under 5’2″ / 158 cm — 100 cm
• 5’2″ – 5’7″ / 158–170 cm — 110 cm
• 5’7″ – 5’11” / 170–180 cm — 120 cm
• 5’11” – 6’2″ / 180–188 cm — 125–130 cm
• Over 6’2″ / 188 cm — 130–140 cm

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Handles: Cork vs EVA Foam

Cork is the best handle material I have used long-term. It absorbs sweat, shapes to your hand, and resists hot-spotting on multi-week trips. The downsides are price and the fact that cork as a material is being harvested faster than it regrows.

EVA foam is light, comfortable from day one, and cheaper. It wears out — after 3 or 4 thru-hikes the foam starts to flake and crumble. For a single thru-hike or a few seasons of weekends, foam is fine. For a hiker who plans to use the same poles for a decade, cork wins.

Most premium poles also include a foam grip extension below the main handle. This is genuinely useful on sidehills and short steep climbs and worth looking for.

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Wrist Straps

A good wrist strap puts the pole load through your wrist and forearm, not your fingers. That is the whole point. Look for adjustable straps with moisture-wicking lining. Many ultralight thru-hikers cut the straps off entirely to save grams and avoid blisters — that is a personal call, not a general rule.

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Weight Targets for Backpacking and Thru-Hiking

For backpacking, aim for under 17 oz / 481 g per pair. For ultralight thru-hiking, under 12 oz / 340 g per pair. Below 10 oz / 285 g per pair, you are in pure ultralight territory and you are buying weight savings at the cost of durability — make sure you understand the trade.

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Packability

For travel, folded length matters more than weight. Folding poles pack to about 35–40 cm, which fits inside most checked bags. Telescoping poles pack to about 60–65 cm, which works for car travel but is awkward for flying. Pole tips will not fly as carry-on regardless of length.

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Durability and When to Choose Aluminum

If you are hard on gear, hike rough terrain, post-hole through spring snow, or have broken carbon poles before, choose aluminum or thicker-walled carbon. Light-walled carbon is for hikers who already know they treat their gear gently and hike on graded trail.

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Women’s Trekking Poles

The poles in this review are unisex unless marked otherwise. Women’s-specific poles are usually shorter (max length around 120–125 cm) with a narrower grip diameter. Smaller-handed hikers of any gender benefit from women’s-specific poles — try the Leki Cressida FX Carbon as the standout option in this category.

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Tips, Baskets and Replacement Parts

Carbide tips wear out over hundreds of miles. Every premium pole on this list has replaceable tips. Carry a spare set on a long thru-hike. Snow baskets stop poles sinking too deep into soft snow. Trekking baskets do the same in mud and sand and are usually optional.

Pole tips will also shatter car windows on contact — keep them covered with rubber tip protectors when storing or driving.

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Traveling and Flying with Trekking Poles

Trekking poles are not allowed in cabin baggage on flights anywhere I know of, unless you fly private! They go in checked luggage. Z-fold and FLZ-style folding poles travel best because they fit inside backpacks and small duffels.

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Value

If you are anything like me the price and weight are the two most important considerations. In some cases, the cost of the poles does not indicate the quality. The cheapest model in this review would make a good value trekking pole for beginners or for someone wanting to try trekking poles.

My first-ever trekking poles were a very cheap model. Once I realized that they were for me, I purchased a better pair of carbon trekking poles.

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Conclusion

The Best Lightweight and ultralight trekking poles for 2026 are:

• Best Overall: Black Diamond Pursuit
• Best Ultralight for Thru-Hiking: Gossamer Gear LT5
• Best All-Round Carbon Folding: MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon
• Best for Lightweight Trekking Poles: Zpacks Carbon Fiber
• Best for Travel: Black Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ
• Best Ultralight Folding (Fixed Length): Black Diamond Distance Z Carbon
• Best Durable Carbon: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
• Most Innovative Trekking Pole: Durston Iceline
• Best Women’s Trekking Pole: Leki Cressida FX Carbon
• Best Beginner Trekking Poles: Trekology Trek z 2.0 Cork
• Best Budget Carbon Trekking Poles: REI Flash Carbon
• Best Budget Trekking Poles: REI Trailmade
• Cheapest Carbon Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber
• Cheapest Trekking Poles: Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum

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Frequently Asked Questions

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