Today we’re looking at the best budget trekking poles on the market in 2025! Whether you are an avid hiker or a beginner, they’re a useful piece of kit and you need not spend a fortune. There are some great-value trekking poles available. Although not every hike will require poles, the more strenuous trails might. However, they aren’t just a tool to help conquer those difficult hikes. They have many great benefits including provisioning stability and safety when hiking, and protecting hip, knee, and ankle joints whilst we are on the move. We’ve looked at packability, weight, and ease of use in this guide to the best budget trekking poles.
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TOP HIKING POLES PICK
These fabulous budget trekking poles are the best buy and the most popular poles for hiking.
Whether you are planning to hike National Parks in Japan, make your way up to Everest Base Camp or simply hike in your home country, I’ll go through the best choices available, but first, here are a few considerations for buying hiking poles
2025’s Best Budget Trekking Poles at a Glance
Here are the top budget hiking poles updated for 2025, with features, prices, and materials at a glance.
| Trekking Pole | Material | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TrailBuddy Trekking Poles | Aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum | 4.7 | Check Prices | |
| Trekology Trek-Z | Aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum | 4.5 | Check Prices | |
| Cascade Mountain Trek | Aluminum or Carbon Fiber options | 4.6 | Check Prices | |
| Foxelli Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber | 4.7 | Check Prices | |
| FitLife | Aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum | 4.5 | Check Prices | |
| Hiker Hunger | Aircraft-grade 7075 aluminum | 4.7 | Check Prices | |
| FitLife Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber | 4.6 | Check Prices |
What to Consider when Buying Hiking Poles
The usual first consideration when buying trekking poles is the weight. These hiking tools are supposed to be a help, not a hindrance, and it usually means that the lighter the better. My first set of hiking poles was bought from a mountain equipment store in Bansko, Bulgaria. They came with an inbuilt compass in each pole, each of which pointed in different directions. They also weighed a ton. Two materials are generally used when making hiking poles, aluminum or carbon fiber. Carbon Fibre tends to be lighter. (I am a proud owner of a pair of carbon fiber trekking poles and they go everywhere with me now.)
The next consideration for buying hiking poles is the comfort of your hand grip – and this means you get to choose from either cork or EVA – a moisture-resistant grip.
Then finally. The style. There are two types. Folding or collapsible. My current poles are folding. I bought them specifically so that they would be lightweight AND fit inside my 40-liter Osprey backpack, because, no you can’t take them on most planes as hand luggage.
The Best Budget Trekking Poles for 2025
I first used a single hiking pole when we trekked to Everest Base Camp. And one is better than nothing, but two are way better. In the months after I broke my wrist going anywhere downhill was a mental nightmare, and using a pole with my good wrist gave me some measure of comfort. I’m definitely a faster, more confident, and more comfortable hiker when I have my poles. So, anyways, enough about me, here are the best budget trekking poles reviewed.
1. The TrailBuddy Collapsible Hiking Pole
The TrailBuddy Collapsible hiking poles are designed for durability and are crafted with 7075 aluminum. This material is tougher than carbon fiber, making it durable and sturdy. This set of budget hiking poles can reach an extended length of 54 inches (137 centimeters) which makes them suitable for any adult and child over the age of 7. The height of these trekking poles can be adjusted to suit anyone from a height of 4ft to 6’4ft. (1.2 meters to 2 meters). You can take a look at some of the other features of these collapsible budget hiking poles here.
TrailBuddy Poles are incredibly compact and fold down to 24.5 inches (62 centimeters) when collapsed. This means they easily fit into your backpack. When disassembled the poles are even smaller at 21 inches (53 centimeters).
Want to stand out with your hiking poles? These come in a variety of colors, so you can mix and match your hiking accessories !! See what colors are available here.
These budget poles for hiking come with interchangeable pole accessories for all terrain and weather conditions. These accessories include 2 mud baskets, 4 rubber tips, and 2 snow baskets. These budget poles are very lightweight and are 4 ounces (114 grams) lighter than competing budget hiking poles. Check the prices and availability of these budget poles here.
2. Trekology Trek-Z Folding Trekking Poles
These Trekology Trek-Z hiking poles get amazing reviews and for very good reason. They’re extremely lightweight –just between 10.04 ounces (284 grams) and 10.8 ounces (306 grams) depending on size and option. Check the weight of the right-sized poles for you here.
These budget hiking poles are very compact, and when folded down they are less than 15 inches (38 centimeters). This means they can easily fit into a backpack, or luggage or can simply be attached to the side of your bag if it has straps.
Trekology Trek-Z poles come with a metal flip-lock mechanism that enables you to adjust the pole length fast, and without requiring a strong grip. It is the only mechanism of this type on the market, which sets it apart from other trekking poles and it’s amazing. You can see more about how that works here.
Trekology Trek-Z budget hiking poles are made from 100% 7075 aluminum which is stronger and more durable than carbon fiber poles. There are different sizes available, so you’re covered no matter your height. The grips on these budget hiking poles are made of a cork-texture material which helps to keep hands dry and wipe away sweat. They also have EVA foam shafts to allow for a strong grip whilst hiking. You can get up-to-date pricing on these super trekking poles here.
3. Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles
Cascade Mountain is a great brand for trekking poles and produces five different varieties of trekking poles. You can opt for either carbon fiber or aluminum and folding or quick lock. If you’re a Cascade Mountain Tech brand fan, then you have some great choices here. Each variation is unique, but they are all built with quality and convenience in mind. Here are the budget options from Cascade Mountain Tech. Visit the Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Pole store here.
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles Carbon Fiber Quick Lock
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles Carbon Fiber Folding
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles Aluminium Quick Lock (cheapest option)
Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles Aluminium Cork Grip
Each of these poles has an easy quick-lock mechanism, making them easy to adjust. Many of the poles from Cascade Mountain Tech come with two variations when it comes to the grips; you can choose a cork grip or an EVA grip. A cork grip is extremely comfortable and molds to your hand shape, whilst an EVA grip absorbs moisture. You can see what options are available here.
Depending on the option you choose, the weight varies from 5.06 ounces (143 grams) to 10.4 ounces (294 grams) making any of these poles incredibly lightweight.
4. Foxelli Carbon Fiber Collapsible Trekking Poles
Foxelli trekking poles are popular with hikers as they offer durability, comfort, and versatility whilst trekking under difficult conditions. They have a variety of heavy-duty season accessories and a tungsten carbide tip to help you hike in any condition. You can see the accessories that come with these budget hiking poles here.
Adjustable wrist straps are included that are air ventilated and extra padded. They are very comfortable whilst on a long trail, and have extended foam sleeves to easily handle abrupt changes in the surface or terrain. The Foxelli budget poles come in two colors and are super lightweight, coming in at only 7.6 ounces (215 grams), these are a lighter alternative to some of the others listed in this article.
The length of these hiking poles can be adjusted easily and quickly and can be extended to a length of 55 inches. This makes it suitable for men, women, and children. The Foxelli trekking poles are a great choice for beginner hikers especially but also offer plenty of durability and strength for more experienced hikers. Pick up a set of hiking poles from Foxelli here.
5. TheFitLife Nordic Walking Poles
The FitLife Nordic walking poles come with their own bag and plenty of accessories for you to hike in a variety of conditions. The contents include snow baskets, rubber tips, and walking tips. These are a great option as they come with long EVA foam handles with straps that make these poles incredibly soft and comfortable. They also help to absorb moisture from sweaty hands, making them safer to hold and less likely to slip. Take a look at what other people think about these budget hiking poles here.
The FitLife walking poles are easy to collapse and compact. When collapsed they are 14.6 inches (37 centimeters) making them easy to store in any backpack. One feature of these poles is the anti-shock mechanism which is included within the FitLife Trekking Poles. It’s a great option and can help you to reduce the impact on your joints and create stability whilst hiking. These poles come with a twist lock technique that allows you to adjust the height easily and quickly and also offers secure fasteners to fix the height.
Fitlife is a cheaper alternative to many high-end trekking poles as they offer great features. The poles are compact, easy to collapse, and include an anti-shock mechanism which makes them a great choice for trekking. Get a current price for these great budget trekking poles here.
6. Hiker Hunger Collapsible Hiking Poles
These Hiker Hunger Collapsible hiking poles are a great choice if you are searching for the best budget trekking poles. They are built for comfort and durability and are the perfect accompaniment to any hiking trip. Hiker Hunger Collapsible Hiking Poles can be extended to 55 inches (140cm), and so are great for a variety of heights.
The handle of these budget trekking poles is made of ergonomic cork which molds to the shape of your hand whilst hiking. That makes for maximum comfort during your trek, and there is even a nonslip EVA foam grip extension if you can feel your hands starting to get sweaty. You can see more of the features of these budget hiking poles here.
Like many of the others on this list of budget hiking poles, the Hiker Hunger poles are made from 7075 Aluminium, meaning they are tough and lightweight – and these poles come with a 3-year warranty which is always handy.
As the hiking poles are collapsible, they can easily fit within a bag or backpack and are very compact. The Hiker Hunger Collapsible Hiking Poles are made of sturdy material and are great for hiking in all conditions. The cork handgrip makes for a comfortable journey and the EVA grip helps to make your hike a non-slip one! You can check the current pricing and availiabilty of these budget hiking poles here.
7. The FitLife Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Last on our list is the FitLife Carbon Fiber pole. As the name suggests these trekking poles are durable, lightweight and come in a variety of colours. You can see the colours here.
These lightweight budget trekking poles are made of 100% high-quality carbon fiber, which makes them sturdy, corrosion-resistant and shock and noise absorbent. The poles are incredibly lightweight and can bear a strength of up to 200kg which is pretty impressive.
Heavy-duty accessories are included with this purchase for maximum control, with whatever terrain you choose to hike. The kit includes tungsten tips, rubber tips for flat surfaces and screw on snow and mud tips. These super carbon fiber trekking poles on a budget come in a variety of colours including turquoise, pink, purple, red, green and orange. The poles come with a flip lock system which allows you to collapse or extend the pole very easily. This system is especially convenient when wearing gloves or hiking in cold or wet conditions. You can get the current pricing here.
Final Words on the Best Budget Hiking Poles for 2025
Whichever budget trekking poles you choose, your hiking experience will be much more comfortable. These options are great for packing into backpacks, and they’re so easy to transport! You can rely on the pole for stability, and you can hike through beautiful mountains knowing your joints are protected much more by leaning on the pole!
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