Foldable Telescopic Trekking Poles

The strongest argument for trekking poles is what they do on the way down. Descending puts substantially more load through the knees than climbing does, and poles let the arms take a share of it, which is why walkers who start using them on descents rarely stop.

They also do steady work on the flat: crossing streams, testing soft ground, staying upright on loose scree, and setting a rhythm on long approaches. Adjustable length matters because the useful setting is different uphill and down, and these telescope through a range wide enough to cover both.

Folding rather than only collapsing means they pack into or onto a daypack rather than sticking out of it. Wrist straps take load off the grip so the hands are not clenched all day. Check the locking mechanisms are properly tightened before setting off and again after the first descent, since a lock that slips under load can put you on the ground. Rinse and dry the sections after muddy or wet use.

• Reduces load through the knees on descents
• Telescopic adjustment for uphill and downhill settings
• Folds down to fit in or on a daypack
• Wrist straps take load off the grip
• Check locks are tight before setting off and after the first descent