Best Beginner/Casual Pole

If you’re just getting into the hiking game and seeking out a pair of trekking poles that won’t skimp on quality nor break the bank, Black Diamond’s Trail Sport 3 poles may fit the bill. These three-section telescopic poles feature aluminum shafts and rubber grips, making them our top choice for casual hikers or those just starting out, and the study aluminum design will absorb all sorts of punishment without skipping a beat. However, these may not be the best choice for experienced distance hikers, much less those willing to spend a little more in order to optimize their comfort, pack size or weight.

A great value but far from top of the line, the Trail Sport 3s make for an excellent pair of poles for beginning or casual hikers. They offer reliable support for day-hikes, treks and backpacking adventures withFlickLock® adjustability and a new rubber grip with ventilation channels for better breathability. Ultralight hikers will definitely want to look elsewhere, as the Trail Sport 3s are the heaviest set of trekking poles on this list at 1lb 6oz (624g). Unlike the fixed-length construction of the Distance Z and Distance Carbon Z, the Trail Sport 3’s three-section aluminum shaft is fully adjustable and will fit a wide range of hikers, however this means they can only collapse down to 64cm (25in).

Amongst Black Diamond’s Trail series, these still might not be your best option, as both the Trail Back poles (which cost $10 more) and the Trail Explorer 3 poles (which cost $10 less) are both higher rated on the Black Diamond website. However, their telescopic design and aluminum shafts make these poles shockingly durable, while the rubber grips are surprisingly comfortable.

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See Our Best Trekking Pole Review 2021 HERE!

If you’re just getting into the hiking game and seeking out a pair of trekking poles that won’t skimp on quality nor break the bank, Black Diamond’s Trail Sport 3 poles may fit the bill. These three-section telescopic poles feature aluminum shafts and rubber grips, making them our top choice for casual hikers or those just starting out. The sturdy aluminum design will absorb all sorts of a punishment without skipping a beat. However, these may not be the best choice for experienced distance hikers, much less those willing to spend a little more in order to optimize their comfort, pack size, or weight.

Black Diamond has long been a well-known name in the hiking game, going back to the 1950s when Yvon Chouinard was selling his hand-forged pitons from the trunk of his car in Yosemite Valley. Since the company’s founding in 1989, they’ve established themselves in the climbing and skiing industries as well as many other outdoor pursuits. From helmets, crampons, and carabiners to backpacks, tents, and (you guessed it) trekking poles, they can help you scale the world.

Comfort

The Trail Sport 3s are the only Black Diamond trekking poles on this list with rubber grips, which is a decent material but certainly not the best, as foam and cork are generally considered to be far superior in terms of both weight and comfort. The rubber grips are by no means uncomfortable but will not wick away sweat to the same degree; they also have the potential to become slippery due to excessive sweat. They do, however, sport ventilation channels for better breathability and a rib pattern to dampen vibration on the trail.

In addition, the rubber material itself makes post-hike cleanup of these poles a much easier operation. Anyone who has ever glimpsed a pair of cork-gripped poles after a multi-day hike will attest to their, ahem, “grossness,” and it can be comforting to know that these can be easily disinfected and returned to their pre-hike condition.

The vari-width nylon webbing strap has a woven lining for added comfort. It’s not as light as Black Diamond’s distance straps or LEKI’s skin straps, but I can’t imagine the weight gain is at all significant.

Weight

Ultralight hikers will definitely want to look elsewhere, as the Trail Sport 3s are the heaviest set of trekking poles on this list at 1lb 6oz (624g). They’re even heavier than the Cascade Mountain Tech equivalent, their Aluminum Quick Lock Foam poles, which are less than half the price. However, with the additional weight of the Trail Sport 3s comes a higher degree of sturdiness. Bottom line: If you just need a set of poles to grab from the trunk at your nearest trailhead, these should more than suffice, but if you’re in need of a lightweight set, these will not make your list. For lightweight aluminum poles, you’d be better off going with the Distance Zs for another $30 dollars.

Packing

The Trail Sport 3s utilize a telescopic collapse system that is simply inferior to folding systems in terms of collapse size. These only collapse down to 64cm (25in), which is practically gargantuan compared to the collapsed Distance Z poles. The shortest of the Distance Z poles collapse down to 33cm while the largest collapse to 43cm.

The FlickLock system is used to lock the poles both in the collapsed and extended positions as well as adjust the height, which means that heavy use may wear on this locking mechanism. A worn-out locking system means that the poles will start slipping and telescoping once pressure is applied, which may as well render the poles useless.

Adjustability

Unlike the fixed-length construction of the Distance Z and Distance Carbon Z, the Trail Sport 3’s three-section aluminum shaft is fully adjustable and will fit a wide range of hikers. The built-in measurements on the poles make it simple to find the right height, an ideal feature for amateur and experienced hikers.

You may find that these trekking poles are not particularly easy to adjust with one hand but the chunky design works fairly well for gloved hands, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to change the height of these poles several times over the course of your adventuring. One reviewer recommended that you tighten the screws on the FlickLocks to ensure they don’t slip on the trail, however, I’d advise that users be cautious about modifying their poles if it runs any risk of damaging them.

Durability

A telescoping design with overlapping aluminum shafts adds to these poles’ overall strength. Truly, the durability of the Trail Sport 3s may quite possibly be one of their best selling points. I own a pair of their predecessors, and they have held up well over the course of several multi-day hiking trips with large packs. If you tend to be tough on your poles or are planning to do some heavy backpacking, these could make for a very decent option. The less-than-lightweight poles can bear a great deal of weight while the shafts themselves should hold up against some rough treatment, while also maintaining a great swing weight.

Price

The price tag associated with these trekking poles (approximately $70) is also one of their most attractive features. You could buy almost three pairs of Trail Sport 3s for the same price as one set of LEKI Micro Vario Carbons or Gossamer Gear LT5s.

Other Features

Unfortunately, this particular pair of budget poles is lacking in bells and whistles. Unlike the Cascade Mountain Techs, you won’t get any spare tips or even a travel bag, which can be especially helpful if you need to disassemble these for travel. They are compatible with snow baskets, although they may not be an ideal choice for alpine skiing. I will say, though, that the Trail Sport 3s’ durable structure practically gives them four-season support and wouldn’t be your worst option if you’re going to slip on some snowshoes.

The Bottom Line

A great value but far from top of the line, the Trail Sport 3s make for an excellent pair of poles for beginning or casual hikers. They offer reliable support for day-hikes, treks, and backpacking adventures withFlickLock® adjustability, and a new rubber grip with ventilation channels for better breathability.

Amongst Black Diamond’s Trail series, these still might not be your best option, as both the Trail Back poles, which cost $10 more, and the Trail Explorer 3 poles, which cost $10 less, are both higher rated on the Black Diamond website. However, their telescopic design and aluminum shafts make these poles shockingly durable, while the rubber grips are surprisingly comfortable.

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