How to Choose Folding Trekking Poles: Sizing and Fit Guide

Set the pole tip by your foot and check your elbow angle: roughly 90 degrees is the right fit, putting the grip at waist or hip height.

A pole two inches too long wears out your shoulders on climbs; too short drops your reach on descents. Folding poles pack small and deploy fast, but many lock at a fixed length, so getting the size right before buying matters. This is the method manufacturers and retailers use.

Does The Elbow Angle Or Your Height Decide The Length?

The elbow angle decides; height only gives a starting guess. Stand on level ground in your usual hiking shoes, assemble and lock the pole per the manufacturer’s instructions, place the tip near your foot, and grip the handle normally. Your elbow should bend about 90 degrees.

On flat ground the handle sits at waist or hip height. For walking, hiking, and backpacking, take the longer size if you land between two. Running reverses this — size down so the pole drives you uphill instead of dragging. Height charts are a first guess, not a substitute for the elbow check or the maker’s chart for that model.

At 6 ft or taller, look for adjustable poles with a maximum of at least 51 in, since a fixed pole may leave the elbow too low. Near 6 ft 4 in, the Trail Cork Trekking Poles cover it with a 100–140 cm usable range.

What Changes On Long Climbs And Descents?

Terrain overrides your flat-ground setting. For long climbs, shorten each pole by roughly 5–10 cm (2–4 in) for more push and a planted tip. For long descents, lengthen each by about 5–10 cm to keep reach and stability.

Folding poles usually lock at a fixed length or offer only a narrow adjustment band, so confirm the terrain range you need before buying — a fixed-length pole can’t follow that 5–10 cm swing.

Before every outing, seat and lock each segment and check the connectors and internal cord. A pole with a damaged carbon shaft, frayed cord, or unlocked connector should stay in the car. None of these poles are built as climbing or fall-arrest protection.

Which Details Separate One Folding Pole From Another?

Folding versus telescoping is the first split. Folding poles win on packability and setup speed; telescoping poles give more length adjustment across terrain and users. Match it to how you move.

Next, check the length range: the shortest usable size should suit you and the longest should still allow a 90-degree elbow. A fixed 130 cm pole is wrong for anyone needing something noticeably shorter.

Run through these before ordering:

• Pair or single staff: a matched pair gives bilateral support; a single staff suits one-handed use.
• Height band overlap: verify the model’s chart covers your height, not just your general bracket.
• Adjustment style: folding segments for travel, telescoping sections for varied terrain.
• Cusp choice: longer for hiking, shorter for running.

Specs differ by model: the Distance Carbon Z Poles run 105–130 cm in a three-section carbon build, while the Pursuit Carbon Z Poles list 110–130 cm with the same 90-degree elbow guidance. Compare tested options in our roundup of the best folding trekking poles before you commit. Salomon’s trekking pole sizing guide also walks through the elbow method.

The Mistakes That Cause A Bad Fit

Most bad purchases come from sizing on total height alone and never checking the elbow angle. The rest cluster around a few habits:

• Buying too short for descents, which costs reach and stability.
• Buying too long for climbs, which weakens leverage and makes the tip wander.
• Assuming every folding pole adjusts like a telescoping one.
• Applying running sizing to a hiking trip — the cusp rule reverses.
• Skipping the manufacturer’s chart for that specific model.

Test both poles while walking, and allow a small tweak for footwear, pack weight, and hand position. A one-inch change can separate a pole that helps from one you resent by mile three.