How To Choose The Right Trekking Pole [For Trail Runners, Ultra-lite Hikers AND Backpackers]

In this video, I review 3 Leki Trekking poles in detail. I chose one from each of the 3 main styles of trekking poles and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each type to help you to decide what pole is right for your adventure whether it be ultralight hiking, heavy backpacking, trekking or trail running.

Check out all these poles on my Best Trekking Poles Kit here! (Contains Affiliate Links)

So what's the difference between a stick you picked up off the ground and $100 of Leki Trekking Pole technology? Now you know!

Do you use trekking poles?

Have you tried and failed? Thrown them out? Given up or just never been interested in them?
You’re thinking,....“Not my thing” maybe? Is it possible that you’ve told yourself you’ll become a harder and stronger hiker without them? … well, maybe you’re right but I've got a series coming all about trekking poles and how they can help you become a much stronger, faster and more capable hiker (and/or mountaineer, yes, you too mountaineers)

But first on the list is my video from 2015 “How to use Trekking Poles” if you haven’t seen that, maybe you should. It’s got over half a million views, 6.1K likes and almost 400 comments so there must be something good in there I guess.

(I don’t know because I can’t even watch it its soo bad, I can’t look at my bum chin)

Or if you haven’t seen it, hey watch it again for nostalgic reasons, it maybe have been how you initially, you found me--- ook how far we’ve come together.

How to Use Trekking Poles

Next up is the video I’m posting next FRIDAY specifically about my new Uphill Technique and how the techniques you're using could be making you WORK HARDER! When it's done, it will be posted here:

Is Your Trekking Pole Technique Making the Uphills harder?
---------next friday!-----

So, hopefully either of these videos will draw you to the dark side, the hikers who LOVE trekking poles because they KNOW how much easier it is to get to the summit..

Speaking of which,

I’ll see you, on the summit.

Chase

// GOT QUESTIONS?
Put em here in the comments section :)

//INJURY PROOF PROGRAMS

// TRAIN

// BLOG + WEBSITE

#chasemountains #strongerforlonger

[What_If_We_Tried]

Your little comments about the Leki locking mechanism for the straps, and the utility of the foam grips below the handle were excellent points. Thanks...

[BM-msgr]

Flick lock poles any time over twist lock, a no brainer I would say, tx for the video.

[johncycling]

Mountain King 3 part poles; Sky Runner (carbon) or Trail Blaze (alu). Really simple design. Great product. Light, reliable... Love mine.

[ilovethenightlife]

My Leki telescopic poles failed in the snow today which led me to watching this review - interesting! I think the aluminium flick lock ones might be the next buy

[dutezore]

Started with Leki telescopic Poles and hurt myself really badly when the locking mechanism decided to give in on a steep slope. Later my wife’s pole did exactly the same thing she was very lucky . I changed to Black Diamond carbon flick locking pole with cork handles . They have been amazing many days in Pyrenees and all over Nepal . My feeling is from a safety point of view I don’t trust telescopic Poles especially if they get wet . I would go for flick locking Poles everytime

[stijndeklerk]

Intresting. My trusty old Black Diamond Distance FL poles are of the collapsible design, height adjustable, aluminium, take a basket, have the longer top section & not to porky. Haven't let me down yet.

[dickbunce]

For those of us who have to take a flight to get to the trailhead, the collapsible poles fit in a suitcase. The others must be carried on a backpack onto the plane and are often stopped at airport security and have even been confiscated.

[markfectic]

Great video mate. Really informative and helped answer my questions. Now I've got some idea about what I'm looking for 👌

[micahramsey]

Thanks for the information. I’m about to attempt a 100 mile trail trek as a fundraiser January 1st. I’ve never used poles running before. This was helpful.

[katyussha]

Great stuff! Just one thing: I used my foldable 3-section poles on my entire pct hike (the bd carbon flz ones), and I did use them as tent poles the whole time. An adjustable pole would have allowed for a higher pitch and a bit more space in the tent, but I valued their insane weight over that advantage. Bigger guys probably weight thiss differently, but for me, this was a really good compromise. I lost them the day after I finished, and I ended up getting them again for my next trip.

[Chris-eozs]

Another benefit of the foldeable poles is that they are much easier to fit inside your rucksack (or fit in a smaller rucksack). That's pretty useful if you're scrambling or climbing up a crag as there's nothing to get caught on the rock.

[ketv]

My preferences:

Aluminium 7075. Carbon is brittle.
Cork grips. My poles have that lower foam grip but I hardly use it.
Lever locks. Adjustable - I use a trekking-pole supported tent and the right length for the tent is the wrong length for me.
No squishy springs/shock absorbers. Just don't care for them - I like to know that I have a solid pole placement. I hike in some pretty sketchy terrain.
That glove gimmick doesn't appeal. but I'm not a runner.

Where I am, Komperdell (or various house brands that buy from Komperdell) runs a little cheaper than Leki or Black Diamond and I've had two pair that have given good service.

[DiGiTaLdAzEDM]

I just bought my second pair of Black Diamond 'Trail Back' poles--I lost one of the original set. They are a no frills flik lock design, and work well. Cheapest poles in the BD lineup, but are very durable, and also work very well in supporting many configurations of a tarp shelter. Also, the newer ones have an improved extended hand grip. I suspect many of the features found in poles that cost twice as much are unnecessary gimmicks.

[douglashihn]

Excellent review of the Leki the advantages of the latch lock vs. collapsible.

[anniray]

I have Leki flick lock with cork handles - LOVE them!

[Thereisalwaysmore]

Never created that video for the best affordable trekking poles? Couldn’t find it.

[macmurfyjka]

I like my poles to have extended handles. When the terrain is super verifiable like the trails i tend to hike are, constantly adjusting the length of polls is just a pain in the ass, extended handles let you just slip you hand out of the straps and choke down in one motion.

Got a couple sets of Kamperdales and like them a lot. The telescopic allow are bomb proof. I’ve actually had more trouble with the flick lock ski poles. Go figure!

[caseysmith]

Black Dimond has a few models of three pole style with interchangeable baskets, or you can get some baskets for a few models the parts are meant to be used on models that are replaceable. At least Black Dimond used to have some like this, not sure they do now.

[michaelmalloy]

Thanks Chase. I swear by Hiker Hunger carbon fiber poles. Super light, well made. Never failed me.

[BackcountryPilgrim]

Great info! I dont think I'd like those gloves on the trifold Lekis, but it's an interesting concept. :)