Hiking poles carbon or aluminum? " Test for newcomers ✓

One thing first: Neither material is better or worse than the other. It depends much more on your personal preferences and the areas of application. Whether you choose hiking poles made of carbon or aluminum is entirely up to you.

To make your selection easier, we have put together the most important features and criteria for you. You will learn about the advantages and variants of the individual models and receive all the information you need to make the right choice. Are you ready?

Hiking poles made of carbon vs. aluminum

Hardly any topic causes more discussion in forums than the selection of hiking poles. While some prefer trekking poles made of carbon, for others only aluminum is an option. But what are the two materials all about and what advantages and disadvantages do the models have?

Are you more of a video type? No problem, we go into the topic in detail in our buying guide for hiking poles.

Video advice on hiking poles » How to find the right hiking poles

Carbon hiking poles

Telescopic hiking poles made of carbon are, as the name suggests, made of carbon. We rely on high-quality 3K carbon in production. Compared to conventional trekking poles made of carbon, all models are Alpin Loacker therefore much more robust. Carbon trekking poles are all more expensive than aluminum poles. However, they are also lighter and are an ideal companion, especially on long hikes.

Advantages: 

•  Lighter than aluminum poles, making them ideal for long hikes
•  Optimal vibration protection
•  High rigidity (not easy to twist)

Disadvantages:

• Breaks more easily under high loads compared to aluminum
• Lower notch strength
•  More expensive than aluminum poles

Aluminum hiking poles

OurAluminum hiking poles are made of super light aircraft aluminum. However, they are heavier than carbon trekking poles. Since aluminum hiking poles are slightly less rigid, vibrations are passed on rather than absorbed. Unless they are sprung.

This can really get on your nerves on long hiking tours. Aluminum poles are usually cheaper than carbon trekking poles. However, they have a decisive advantage: aluminum bends under high loads and rarely tends to break.

Advantages:  

• Cheaper
•  Bend under load, so no risk of injury
•  More robust

Disadvantages:

•  Heavier than carbon trekking poles
•  Bends more easily

What types of hiking poles are there?

You already know that there are hiking poles made of carbon or aluminum. But it's not just the material that plays a crucial role when choosing trekking poles. The stock type is also an important criterion. In addition to telescopic hiking poles, foldable poles are also becoming increasingly popular. But what are these models all about? We have summarized the most important information for you:

Telescopic hiking poles

StableTelescopic poles can be easily pushed together.The easier they are,the better. The individual parts are either used for fixationscrewed tight or withClamps fixed. Thanks to their small pack size, telescopic hiking poles made of carbon or aluminum are also suitable for short-term carrying if you have to pass climbing areas.

Telescopic hiking poles have proven themselves in practice, especially on demanding tours, due to their excellent stability.

Folding sticks

For theFolding sticksAlmost the same applies, except that they cannot be pushed together, but rather folded. The individual elements are connected with a thick cable and are simply threaded and tensioned during assembly.

In contrast to telescopic hiking poles, there are hereno clamps and noneScrew mechanism. Through this will theHiking or trekking poles stilllighter. Folding sticks are often somethingmore space-saving and thuseasier to store. The weight of folding sticks is also slightly lower, which is what this variant doesvery popular might.

Telescopic and folding poles are offered with different handles. Full plastic andrubberprovide for sweaty hands and can quickly unpleasant Blowlead. Some handles also have unpleasant abrasion that blackens the hands.

That's also why they shouldHandles of hiking poles at leastFoam, better yet cork consist.Alpin Loacker Hiking poles  have exclusivelyabout sustainable cork handles,the practical one Handle extension is made of foam. This means that the hiking poles are made of carbon or aluminum very pleasant in the hand. The palms remain dry and clean. 

Often there is oneshorterand alonger version same model. Both Alpin Loacker Carbon folding sticksis the shorter versionfor people with a height of less than 165 cm thought.

The ideal length setting is difficult to generalize. There are a few tricks to set the perfect length for yourself. Basically, if the handle is held in the hand and the tip of the stick is on the ground, the elbow should be at an angle of approx. 90°. Here it is of course an advantage to wear the right shoes. When going downhill, the poles tend to be a little longer.

Conclusion

As mentioned at the beginning, neither material is better or worse than the other. It depends much more on your personal preferences and the areas of application. Whether you choose hiking poles made of carbon or aluminum is entirely up to you. The choice depends on various factors, including weight, robustness, vibration protection and price. Carbon hiking poles are lighter, offer optimal vibration protection and are stiffer, while aluminum hiking poles are cheaper and more robust. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, and it's up to you to make the right choice.

FAQ on the topic: Hiking poles - carbon or aluminum?

What should you consider when using hiking poles when walking downhill?

When going downhill, you can tend to adjust the hiking poles a little longer. It is important that the handle is held in your hand and the tip of the stick is on the ground while your elbow is at an angle of approximately 90°. It is beneficial to also wear suitable shoes to ensure optimal balance and support. The length of the poles can be individually adjusted to allow comfortable and effective use during the descent.

Which is lighter carbon or aluminum hiking poles?

Carbon hiking poles are generally lighter than aluminum hiking poles. Carbon is a lightweight material with high strength, making carbon hiking poles lighter. This makes them particularly suitable for long hikes or activities where every gram counts. Aluminum hiking poles are slightly heavier in comparison, but offer a good balance between weight and robustness.

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