Finding your way through the forest of trekking poles is not easy. RayonRando offers a focused selection to help you identify each pole's benefits and choose according to your activities and priorities.
The lightest:
Not only are they reliable, these trekking poles are so light that they feel like chopsticks in your hands. Very pleasant for walking. And when you need to attach them to your backpack, they avoid adding much weight.
Fizan Compact poles
158 g per pole. These Italian poles are among the lightest aluminium models. Their locking system is reliable without needing excessive force, and the foam grip is comfortable. A dependable choice for years.
The most compact:
These poles are so compact that you can store them easily on, and inside, your backpack, unlike other poles that are generally too bulky. They are also very convenient to store at home or in the car boot after your hike. We offer 2 folding models in particular that could also feature in the ‘really practical’ category, as they are very easy to handle.
Fizan Compacts 4 poles
How do you make a 3-section pole more compact? Make it a 4-section pole, as with this 4-section version of the Fizan Compact. They remain very light at 177 g but pack compactly to 51 cm. A tip: you can twist all 4 sections at once by holding the uppermost and lowest sections.
Elémenterre Lagoya folding poles
These poles offer several advantages. They fold, but the upper section adjusts in length like a telescopic pole, adapting to both your height and the slope. Their long grip extension is useful for traversing and snowy slopes. Finally, they are affordable; note that they are sold individually. However, they are heavier than other models at 295 g. You cannot have everything…
TSL Tour Alu 5 Light and Tour Carbon 5 Light folding poles
Again, these folding poles have an adjustable upper section. But these French poles are higher quality and tougher than the previous model, at a higher price too. The carbon version is very light at 200 g but the most expensive. The aluminium version is more affordable, with reasonable weight at 260 g and the same quality level.
Summer/winter all-rounders:
For 4-season use, poles that are easy to handle in winter, with cold, snow and gloves, are worth considering.
Elementerre Apagado poles
Good for summer, they also have useful winter features: lever locks operable without removing gloves; a cork grip pleasant in any weather, with a long extension for traverses and snowy slopes; and summer and winter baskets. These budget poles, sold individually, are again slightly heavier than other models.
Ferrino Thui poles
A step up in the range, with good reason. These folding poles are easy to handle. Release the sections and they slot together and lock automatically. The upper section adjusts using a lever operable without removing gloves. Finally, the very long grip extension lets you handle slopes and traverses without changing the length setting.
The highly practical models:
Fizan Prestige AS poles
These tough, conventional-looking poles hide a secret: an internal shock absorber. It can be locked or released as needed. Practical on hard ground or if you have joint pain in your arms.
Komperdell CARBON FXP.4 APPROACH - VARIO COMPACT poles
Behind this lengthy name is a premium pole that is a pleasure to handle. This folding pole deploys automatically and folds just as quickly. Simply release the sections and it assembles and locks automatically. A concealed button in the shaft unlocks the sections equally quickly. The upper section adjusts in length to suit the user and slope. The whole pole is tough and light.
Conclusion:
This small selection guides you easily according to a few central criteria: lightness, packed size, practicality, summer/winter use and budget. It helps you find a solution suited to your needs.
For beginners or occasional use, Elementerre poles offer good compromises at affordable prices. Moving up the range brings technical features and practicality well suited to regular use.