Cost of Walking Poles: You can get the best walking poles in the range of £45 to £150. For cost-conscious buyers or occasional hikers, budget buys like TheFitLife Carbon Fibre Trekking Poles at £45 would work well. I was overall pretty impressed with it. Its tungsten tips with rubber protectors outside provided good traction. Its EVA foam grips were comfy, and the flip lock system enabled quick height adjustment. The carbon fibre construction felt pretty high-quality, sturdy, and ultra-light. 

If you need premium features and are ready to splurge, our overall best walking poles buy is the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Wanderstöcke, at £145. It has a lightweight aluminium design and three 100% carbon fibre shafts. It also has a premium and ergonomic cork grip and a 38mm basket plus interchangeable Tech Tips.

Size of Hiking Poles: When your walking pole’s tip is on the ground near your feet, it should put your elbows at a 90-degree bend. If you buy hike sticks with adjustable lengths, this will be easy to achieve. However, you should check how strong the fixings are when the hike stick is fully extended. You should also check if the locking mechanism, which lets you adjust the length, works smoothly.

When choosing the right walking pole length, it’s important to consider your height (esp. if buying a fixed-length trekking pole). Here are the recommended lengths in centimetres (cm) and inches (in) based on height ranges:

• Under 5′ 1″ (155 cm): If you’re shorter than 5′ 1″, a walking pole length of at least 39 inches (100 cm) would be suitable.

• 5′ 1″ to 5′ 7″ (155-170 cm): For individuals standing between 5′ 1″ and 5′ 7″, the suggested trekking pole length is 43 inches (110 cm).

• 5′ 8″ to 5′ 11″ (170-180 cm): If your height falls between 5′ 8″ and 5′ 11″, your walking pole should be at least 47 inches (120 cm) long.

• Taller than 6 feet (180 cm): For those taller than 6 feet, a walking pole length of 51 inches (130 cm) would be suitable.

By selecting the appropriate walking pole length based on your height, you can ensure optimal comfort and efficiency during your walks or hikes.

Material of the Best Walking Poles: Most walking poles are aluminium or carbon fibre. Carbon is lighter, stiffer, more durable and more expensive. In contrast, aluminium is heavier, cheaper, more flexible, and can take the knocks better. It’s also more durable. Under high stress, aluminium hiking sticks can bend but are unlikely to break. Carbon is more prone to splintering and breakage, though. If you’re hiking in remote areas or rugged mountains, remember this when buying your hike sticks.

The Comfort of Trekking Poles: When buying the best walking poles, you should look for comfortable hand grips and straps. The hand strap shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. It should be comfy to use and not irritate your hands on sweaty, all-day hikes. You should be able to adjust it as well. When you grab the grip, the hand strap should have adequate tension to let you slide your palm over the strap while holding the walking stick with your index and thumb finger.

You can get grips in different widths, shapes, and materials. For instance, ladies walking sticks have smaller grips. But you don’t need to follow the convention on this; look for comfy grips that fit your hand well. You can get good quality walking poles with rubber, foam, cork grips, or a blend of all three.

Foam grips can absorb some moisture. This could feel extremely cold on your hand in winter. The best Walking poles at almost all price points use foam. Rubber grips give you a good hold in cold conditions and are durable. But they can be a little slippery due to your hands’ sweat and body oils. But you can look for better quality rubber grips with a bit of silicone in them. When it rains, they give you a good grip.

If you need the best all-rounder in grips, ground cork moulded with polymer is the best bet. These grips absorb little moisture, are cool, and offer a good grip.