They have the foam handle that extends down the shaft for uphill struggles and they come with a pair of snow baskets that are easily interchangeable with the standard ones that are already fitted. This latest version fo the Trail poles has an improved, softer foam grip. Weight: Weight is one of the biggest factor in choosing the best trekking poles and this largely depends on the material the poles are made from. A hiker’s main aim, for multi-day treks, should be keeping weight to an absolute minimum, and that includes poles. However super lightweight poles, made from carbon, don’t come cheap so you might have to weigh price into your equation.

Here are some useful tips and advice on how to get the most of your walking and trekking poles so you can enjoy your adventures more, be safer and improve your fitness. The use of walking and trekking poles has become much more popular, and acceptable, and will provide huge benefits if they fit you properly and you understand the techniques required. I've used these poles for almost six months. Not many kilometers on them but I would recommended them nonetheless. These are ideal for trail walking and traveling. Because they are so compact, they are also great for sierra climbs and scrambles. Value The Trail Pro Trekking Poles are supplied with low profile trekking baskets and snow baskets and should the tips wear down they can be easily interchanged. The wrist straps on the Trail Pro are comfortable and stay put without haveing to make any alterations or adjustments. After many countless sweaty miles on the trail, they’re still looking pretty good and haven’t developed any funky smells. Wrist Straps

HARD SENDS WITH SEB BOUIN: ACL (9B/5.15B)

I was caught off balance a couple of times and even though the poles flexed they held me without bending at all. Nice! Durability: Look for a good quality pole that’s going to last. It’s far better to pay a little more for a quality brand than buy cheap poles that will simply add to landfill within weeks. A pair of good quality trekking poles should last years. Durability will depend on the construction material. Aluminium offers excellent durability but is heavier than super light carbon fibre which comes at a cost. Walkers can really benefit from a version of the skiing technique used by Nordic walkers and skiers; if you saw cross country skiing you’ll be aware of this technique. The simplest way to learn is to find a flat piece of ground large enough to walk comfortably, a football pitch or park is ideal.

The wrist attachment is very soft and one of the most comfortable we tested. It has a wide piece of webbing lined with soft and breathable material. We also really like how the foam grip has an extra four inches below the main handle. This comes in handy on occasional steep terrain where you can "choke up" on the pole without having to take the time to shorten or lengthen it. Dislikes When not required the poles collapse down to a sensible size (63cm) but if you want to get them even smaller you can separate the sections completelyto get them into a small case etc.I would love a dual grip option with cork being the primary material and eva for the secondary grip. The extended non-slip foam grip has been optimised for smaller hands and is exceptionally comfortable and helps to minimisevibrations form hard surfaces and because it extends down the pole it offers varied grip positions when ascending or descending. The soft 360 degree strap has built in padding so it wont rub or dig in. When not required the poles collapse down to a sensible size (59cm) but if you want to get them even smaller you can separate the sections completelyto get them into a small case etc.Because of their reduced length and therefore reduced weight these versatile poles would also suit shorter male users who really want to keep things ultra lightweight and compact.