You’re four hours into a Lake District walk, your knees are protesting on every downhill step, and the bloke ahead of you is bouncing down the same path with trekking poles like he’s got suspension built into his legs. That’s not fitness — that’s equipment. Trekking poles reduce the impact on your knees by up to 25%, improve your balance on rough terrain, and give you something to lean on when your legs have had enough. They’re the single most underappreciated piece of hiking kit in the UK.
In This Article
- Why Trekking Poles Are Worth It
- Carbon vs Aluminium: The Key Choice
- The Best Trekking Poles in the UK
- Locking Mechanisms Explained
- How to Size Trekking Poles
- Grips and Straps
- Pole Tips and Baskets
- How to Use Trekking Poles Properly
- Caring for Your Trekking Poles
- Frequently Asked Questions
Why Trekking Poles Are Worth It
Joint Protection
Every step downhill sends a shock through your ankles, knees, and hips. On a 15km walk with 500 metres of descent, that’s roughly 10,000 downhill steps. Trekking poles transfer a portion of that impact from your legs to your arms and shoulders, distributing the load across four points of contact instead of two. Research published in sports medicine journals consistently shows a 20-25% reduction in knee loading when poles are used correctly.
If you’ve ever finished a walk with aching knees, poles will change your experience. They won’t fix existing knee problems, but they’ll stop walks from making them worse.
Balance and Stability
On wet rock, muddy trails, scree slopes, and stream crossings — which describes about 80% of UK hill walking conditions — two extra points of contact transform your stability. Poles don’t just help when you’re wobbling; they prevent the wobble in the first place. Older walkers, heavier walkers, and anyone carrying a loaded pack benefit most, but even fit, lightweight hikers notice the difference on technical ground.
Uphill Power
Planting a pole and pushing off it uses your upper body muscles to assist the climb. On long ascents, this reduces leg fatigue and maintains a steadier pace. It’s not dramatic — you won’t suddenly sprint up Snowdon — but over a full day of hill walking, the accumulated savings in leg effort are real.
Carbon vs Aluminium: The Key Choice
This is the first decision you’ll make and the one that most affects price.
Carbon Fibre
- Weight: 150-250g per pole (lightest option)
- Price: £80-200 per pair
- Vibration dampening: absorbs trail shock better than aluminium
- Durability: strong in compression but can crack or shatter on sharp impacts. A carbon pole that gets caught between rocks can snap, while an aluminium pole would bend
Carbon makes sense for fast hikers, ultralight backpackers, and anyone covering long distances where every gram matters. If you’re doing multi-day treks with a heavy pack, the weight saving across two poles (200-400g lighter than aluminium) adds up.
Aluminium (7075 or 6061 Alloy)
- Weight: 250-350g per pole
- Price: £30-100 per pair
- Vibration dampening: less than carbon — you feel more trail feedback through the grip
- Durability: bends rather than breaks. A bent aluminium pole can sometimes be straightened in the field; a broken carbon pole is finished
Aluminium makes sense for most UK walkers. It’s tough, affordable, and perfectly adequate for day walks, weekend camping trips, and Munro bagging. The weight penalty over carbon is real but manageable.
The Honest Comparison
For day walks on UK hills, aluminium poles from a decent brand outperform cheap carbon poles every time. Don’t buy budget carbon — the weight saving isn’t worth the fragility. Either buy good aluminium (£40-80) or good carbon (£100+). The middle ground of cheap carbon is where disappointment lives.
The Best Trekking Poles in the UK
Leki Makalu FX Carbon — Best Overall
About £130 per pair. Leki is the gold standard in trekking poles, and the Makalu FX Carbon justifies their reputation. Three-section folding design, carbon fibre shafts, foam grips with extended grip sections for traversing, and Leki’s Speed Lock 2 mechanism (external lever locks). Weight: 230g per pole.
The extended grip below the main handle is a standout feature — on traverses and short climbs, you can grip lower without adjusting the pole length. The carbide tip is replaceable and lasts a full season of weekly use. Available from Cotswold Outdoor, GO Outdoors, and Decathlon.
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork — Best Value
About £65 per pair. The Trail Ergo Cork delivers 90% of the performance of poles costing twice as much. Three-section telescoping aluminium, cork grips (which wick moisture better than foam in warm weather), and Black Diamond’s FlickLock Pro adjustable clamps. Weight: 290g per pole.
Cork grips are a personal preference — they mould to your hand shape over time and feel warmer in cold weather than rubber or foam. The aluminium shafts are 7075 alloy, which is the strongest aluminium grade used in trekking poles. These are tough enough for scrambling and years of abuse.
Decathlon Forclaz MT500 — Best Budget
About £30 per pair. Decathlon’s own-brand poles are the entry point that proves you don’t need to spend £100+ to get a good walking pole. Three-section telescoping aluminium, foam grips, twist-lock mechanism, rubber and carbide tips included. Weight: 270g per pole.
The twist-lock is less convenient than a lever lock (wet, muddy hands can struggle), but for the price, these are remarkable. They’re the poles to buy if you’re not sure whether you’ll use poles regularly — lose or break them and you’re out £30, not £130.
Komperdell Carbon Explorer — Best Ultralight
About £110 per pair. At 185g per pole, the Carbon Explorers are featherweight. Three-section folding design that collapses to 36cm for packing. The grips are foam with a minimalist strap, and the locking mechanism is Komperdell’s reliable external lever system.
These are purpose-built for ultralight backpackers and trail runners who want pole support without the weight penalty. They’re not as robust as the Leki or Black Diamond — don’t use them for heavy scrambling — but for trail walking and running, they’re outstanding.
Alpkit Trekking Poles — Best UK Brand
About £45 per pair. Alpkit, the Nottingham-based outdoor brand, makes a solid pair of aluminium trekking poles that compete well above their price point. Three-section telescoping, foam grips, lever lock, tungsten carbide tips. Weight: 280g per pole.
Alpkit’s direct-to-consumer model keeps prices low. The build quality matches Black Diamond at two-thirds the price. If you want to support a British brand and get a genuinely good pole, these are hard to beat.
Locking Mechanisms Explained
Twist Lock (Internal)
You twist the sections to tighten an internal expander that grips inside the pole. Simple, lightweight, no external parts. The downside: they can slip when wet or muddy, and they’re harder to operate with gloves. Budget poles typically use twist locks.
Lever Lock (External Clamp)
An external lever that clamps around the pole section. Flip it open, slide to the desired length, flip it closed. Faster to adjust, works with gloves, and doesn’t slip when wet. Most mid-range and premium poles use lever locks. The mechanism adds a few grams but the convenience is worth it.
Folding (Z-Pole)
Poles connected by an internal cord that fold like tent poles — pull them apart, the sections click into place. Fastest deployment (under 5 seconds) and pack down smallest (typically 35-40cm). Popular with trail runners. The trade-off is that most folding poles aren’t adjustable in length — you buy a specific size.
How to Size Trekking Poles
The Elbow Rule
Stand upright with your arms at your sides. Bend your elbow to 90 degrees so your forearm is parallel to the ground. The pole grip should be at hand height with the tip on the ground beside your foot. This gives a 90-degree arm angle, which is the optimal position for walking on flat terrain.
Adjustable Poles
If your poles are adjustable, the 90-degree arm position is your starting point. Shorten them by 5-10cm for sustained uphill (to keep the tip engaging the ground ahead of you) and lengthen by 5-10cm for sustained downhill (to reach the ground below you without bending forward).
Fixed-Length Poles
Measure from the floor to your elbow when bent at 90 degrees. This is your pole length. Most manufacturers offer sizes in 5cm increments (100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125cm). If you’re between sizes, go shorter — it’s easier to adapt to slightly short poles than slightly long ones.
Grips and Straps
Grip Materials
- Cork — moulds to hand shape over time, wicks moisture, warm in cold weather. Best for long walks in varied conditions. Deteriorates faster than foam if regularly soaked.
- Foam (EVA) — lightweight, comfortable, absorbs vibration. Dries quickly after rain. Most versatile choice for UK conditions.
- Rubber — cheapest option, insulates well in cold but causes blisters in warm weather due to poor moisture management. Avoid for long walks.
Using Straps Correctly
Most walkers either ignore the straps entirely or loop them wrong. The correct technique: push your hand up through the strap from below, then grip the handle so the strap passes between your thumb and fingers, across the back of your hand. This way, the strap supports your wrist on each push — your grip can be relaxed because the strap does the work.
Wrong strap use means your hands grip tightly all day, leading to fatigue and blisters. Right strap use means a relaxed grip with the strap transferring force. It makes a bigger difference than you’d expect.
Pole Tips and Baskets
Tips
- Carbide/tungsten tips — standard on most poles. Hard-wearing, grips rock and hard ground. Lasts 1-2 years of regular use. Replaceable on decent poles (about £5-8 per pair).
- Rubber tip covers — slip over the carbide tip for use on paved surfaces, tarmac, and indoor floors. Reduce noise and prevent damage to surfaces. Always carry a pair.
Baskets
The small disc near the tip that prevents the pole sinking too deep. Standard baskets (about 4cm diameter) suit most UK conditions. Snow baskets (8-10cm) are available for winter walking but rarely needed in the UK outside Scottish Highland winter.
Remove baskets when walking on rocky terrain — they catch between rocks and can break or trap the pole.
How to Use Trekking Poles Properly
On Flat Ground
Plant the pole opposite to the leading foot — right foot forward, left pole plants. This mimics natural arm swing and feels intuitive within minutes. Keep the tip planting slightly behind your foot, not ahead of it — planting too far forward acts as a brake.
Going Uphill
Shorten the poles by 5-10cm. Plant firmly and push down to assist your legs. Lean slightly into the poles on steep sections. Some walkers prefer planting both poles simultaneously on steep ascents for maximum push.
Going Downhill
Lengthen the poles by 5-10cm. Plant ahead of each step to absorb impact before your foot lands. This is where poles earn their keep — the reduction in knee stress on long descents is the primary reason most people buy poles. On steep descents, plant both poles ahead of you and step between them.
Traversing
Keep the uphill pole shorter than the downhill pole (or grip the uphill pole lower using the extended grip section). This keeps both pole tips roughly level on angled ground.
Caring for Your Trekking Poles
After Every Walk
Collapse the poles and separate all sections. Wipe down the shafts with a damp cloth to remove mud and grit — debris in the locking mechanism causes premature wear. Dry all sections before reassembling. Store poles loosely extended (not locked) to release tension on springs and cords.
Periodic Maintenance
- Lever locks — check the tension screw every few months. If the lock feels loose, tighten the small screw inside the clamp with a coin or flathead screwdriver.
- Twist locks — disassemble the expander plug annually, clean, and apply a thin layer of silicone lubricant
- Tips — check for wear. When the carbide tip is worn flat, replace it. Walking on a worn tip is like walking in worn-out shoes — it defeats the purpose.
- Straps — wash if they smell. Hand wash with mild soap, air dry.
Similar to looking after your waterproof jacket, a few minutes of maintenance after each trip extends the life of your poles by years. Well-maintained equipment is a key part of safe walking. Ordnance Survey maps and routes cover all the UK’s best walking areas, and turning up with well-maintained gear — poles included — makes those walks safer and more enjoyable. Sport England research shows walking is the nation’s most popular physical activity, and proper equipment makes it accessible to more people for longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are trekking poles worth it for UK walks? Yes, particularly for hilly walks with descents. They reduce knee impact by up to 25%, improve balance on wet and muddy terrain, and help maintain pace on long days. Even on gentler walks, they provide stability and reduce fatigue.
Should I use one pole or two? Two poles give balanced support and the full benefit of load distribution. One pole (a walking stick) helps with balance but doesn’t provide the symmetrical joint protection that two poles offer. For hill walking, always use a pair.
Carbon or aluminium for beginners? Aluminium. It’s cheaper, tougher, and bends rather than breaks if something goes wrong. Start with a decent pair of aluminium poles (£30-70) and upgrade to carbon later if you find you use them regularly and want to save weight.
How long do trekking poles last? With proper care, a quality pair of trekking poles lasts 5-10 years. Carbide tips need replacing every 1-2 years of regular use (about £5-8 per pair). Lever lock mechanisms and shock cord in folding poles may need attention after 3-5 years.
Can I take trekking poles on a plane? Not in hand luggage — they’re classified as potential weapons. Pack them in your hold luggage. Folding poles (Z-poles) that collapse to 35-40cm fit more easily in standard suitcases than telescoping poles, which collapse to 55-65cm.