[Closed] Aluminium vs carbon trekking poles

Mrs_oab's sticks are cheapo Sprayway carbonz.

Mine are Vango alloy.

Neither have broken. Mrs_oab has fallen on hers while descending Liatach, used one as ice axe a few times, and we've pitched the tarp with them.

Hers are noticeably lighter and nicer feel - mine seem to transmit more harshly the ground impacts.

One of those reviews:

https://wheretheroadforks.com/carbon-fiber-vs-aluminum-trekking-poles-pros-and-cons/

Thanks MOAB, that's super useful!

I have Karrimor carbon and aluminium Leki.

The Karrimor were £30, the Leki were £75. The Karrimor have done well over 100 munros and hundreds of KM of backpacking. The Leki less than half of that. The Karrimor look less worn and are in better condition. Neither have failed but I vastly prefer the Karrimor ones. They are lighter, the handles are a better fit, the balance is better and the locking mechanism is more secure.

You don't always get what you pay for.

I have some cheap carbon ones ( fast tracker). done a fair few treks without an issue and are under half the weight of alloy ones and that is really noticeable.

Edit - that review is nonsense. a carbon pole will not fail in use unless you put bending loads on it - and would take a comparable force to an alloy one - the ally will bend and fold, the alloy crack and break. Both would be unusable afterwards

they are also perfectly fine for tent poles.

"that review is nonsense. a carbon pole will not fail in use unless you put bending loads on it – and would take a comparable force to an alloy one – the ally will bend and fold, the alloy crack and break. Both would be unusable afterwards"

This is what I thought. Yet every write up I can find on the interwebs says that carbon is more fragile- I'm thinking that this is one of those 'perceived wisdom' things, where the wisdom that is being perceived is not based on any solid evidence in the first place

"they are also perfectly fine for tent poles"

This is my main concern really. It makes more sense to me that carbon might be more vulnerable to side loads- ie loads in a direction that they weren't designed for. However I am not an engineer and welcome a more informed opinion!

A tent pole only has forces in line with it! No bending loads.

All the aluminium trekking poles we have had have corroded quite badly.

This is my main concern really. It makes more sense to me that carbon might be more vulnerable to side loads- ie loads in a direction that they weren’t designed for.

I've never broken either type, but I suspect that both types get broken if you subject them to a serious bending force - eg: you fall over with the tip effectively wedged in a crack or fall hard and use the pole to try to stop your fall so it's side loaded. Most will take a pretty good load in perpendicular direction, though sometimes the locking mechanisms slip.

I don't know if any of the major pole manufacturers - Leki, BD etc - has tested side loading, but I suspect they're more focussed on the way the poles compact or fold away, the handles and the mechanisms involved. I'm guessing they have only limited influence on the properties of the tubing as they're simply going to buy it in from manufacturers.

My guess is that it's a bit like riding any bike tyre, no matter how tough the carcass, over broken glass.

I'd be more focussed on the folding mechanism - how small do they pack if you intend to use them with a bike as well - and how robust it is under downward pressure and the grips. Also check out the minimum extended length if you intend to use then as tent poles and makes sure it's short enough for the tent. I have/had a minimalist MSR thing that was too low for some trekking poles to work with.

Of more concern to me would be the extension mechanism. The ones with a QR type cam are more reliable than twist lock ones in my experience.

Agreed that the cam locks are much more reliable.

Funny - I much prefer twist locks! Never had an issue with them. Cam locks can catch on stuff

@csb This has definately been our experience. The external cam is king!

Yeah, I've always preferred cam-locks, but I've also found the new-fangled, folding z-pole type top-end Lekis work fine and pack down super short. As they should at the price.

This is what I thought. Yet every write up I can find on the interwebs says that carbon is more fragile

To an extent, I'd say a carbon pole is more likely to be damaged and fail in a boulder field like you'll find on many a Cairngorm than an alloy pole. I've had both, there isn't much in it really, so I user cheaper Black Diamond alloy poles - when I remember to take them off my pack! - Carried them for 13 miles again on saturday. 🙂

I've bent two ally poles. Both times when the spikes been planted and slipped past the pole on steep, wet grass. Y'know, the sort your boots slip out from under you when descending.

Both times I bent the section back into some sort of shape without it folding then replaced back at home. That's the only minor downside to carbon, it breaks rather than bends.

When my current sets die, I'll probly buy cheap carbon.

As for corrosion, I take mine apart and dry in the airing cupboard after a trip.

When my current sets die, I’ll probly buy cheap carbon.

I tried that, bought carbon z-poles from Lomo, cracked after 3 walks. Not a huge issue, failures happen, their customer services was however, shite.

As for corrosion, I take mine apart and dry in the airing cupboard after a trip

Absolutely this, mine get dried and a wee spray of GT85.

I've just replaced some 20 year old,twist lock, anti-shock Lekis.

They were awful. Two broken twist lock mechanisms and finally one split alloy lower. Heavy too.

I replaced them with some Black Diamond alloy Trail Trekking poles, the lightest, simplest Flick-Lock one they do.
£75.
Excellent so far, light and seemingly fool proof.
Don't miss the anti-shock, even on a long tarmac schlep up Hardknott from Boot after a dodgy ankle kept me away from the rough stuff.

I remain carbon curious.

Aye, anti-shock is odd.

Excellent! That answers my other question- whether anti-shock is worth it. I'm guessing it isn't!

"A tent pole only has forces in line with it! No bending loads"

Sometimes, when I am using them to set up a tarp, I use the trekking poles to support a ridge line- and then suspend the tarp in between them. With this set up, there is a lot of bending in towards the tarp when there's a high wind..

I have a black diamond set and like the foamy feel grip. My missus bought some cheap tiso poles. Grip is firm shiny plastic and I had to glue to twistlock grip onto the pole.

Both do the job but I try to convince myself the aero shape of mine is better.

Only ever owned the cheap Karrimor carbon poles with the cam levers.
Never had an issue with them in 6 years and plenty of walks.
Scratched to buggery lower down where they've hit rocks but it's just cosmetic - they tell a story! I paid £30 for them online - one of the best thirty quids I've spent. Super lightweight but strong - I slipped on a walk in Montriond 2 years ago and all my weight went through my right arm as I pirouetted around and fell over but the pole didn't break. A mate of mine has more expensive Leki alu ones with the shitty twist lock - PITA to set up unless he has a duff pair.

We've got 2 pairs of alloy Leki and one of Lidl carbon (all twist lock). My only gripe with the carbon ones is the locking mechanism is poor (jams hard or doesn't tighten easily) but that is more a function of cheapo Lidl stuff than carbon. All are more than capable of being used as pole vault types poles for jumping widish streams and peat bogs, no breakage concerns. Carbon ones are way lighter.
My only comment on wear is that the older Lekis are anti shock and have worn thin where the movement happens. One day they will fold but given that they are so used that almost all the paint has worn off the lower legs I'd say that was fair wear and tear. They are also on a second set of expansion bungs.
If I were to buy now I would get cam lock or folding by choice not twist lock but only BD did flick lock 20 years ago.

anti-shock

Honestly? I had it on my first set of Leki twist locks bought for me as a gift. When time came to replace them I went for a set without anti-shock, and kinda of missed it! Don't ask me how or why, it was just nice having that little bit if give. Doubt I would ever pay for it again though.

For what it's worth I went for a pair of these

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/trekking-poles-c67/all-trekking-poles-c168/distance-carbon-z-trekking-poles-p9455

I'll let you all know how I get on!