Best Ultralight Telescopic Pole

These three-piece telescopic trekking poles are the more compact version of GG’s famous twist-lock Lightrek (LT4/LT3) poles. Gossamer Gear’s “take less, do more” motto is in full effect with these incredibly light poles, which weigh in at only 10.6oz (300g). With a design that makes these poles easy to unpack and adjust, they’ve quickly become our favorite ultralight telescopic trekking pole.

Don’t be fooled by the grips at first glance – even though they look like cork, they are definitely EVA foam. While there is no traditional grip extension like what you’ll find on all our other trekking poles, the LT5s do sport a decently long grip that should cater to a variety of grip styles and hopefully circumvent the need for constant height adjustments to the shaft. The length of the LT5s is adjusted via a relatively simple internal twist lock system; all you’ll need to do is extend each section to your desired height and then using two hands, grasp both sections and twist them together to tighten.

The LT5s are certainly a competitor amongst the top-end trekking poles on this list, and if shedding every ounce possible is a major priority for you, these lightweight and versatile poles should be at the top of your shopping list. However, in terms of value for money, you may be better off with the slightly heavier but more durable and packable LEKI Micro Vario Carbon poles, which will set you back about the same amount of money, or the Distance Carbon Zs, which will save you enough to buy a couple of freeze-dried meals to boot. It’s worth noting that these were slightly difficult to purchase outside of the Gossamer Gear website; I couldn’t even find them for purchase on Amazon.

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See Our Best Trekking Pole Review 2021 HERE!

These three-piece telescopic trekking poles are the more compact version of GG’s famous twist-lock Lightrek (LT4/LT3) poles. Gossamer Gear’s “take less, do more” motto is in full effect with these incredibly light poles, which weigh in at only 10.6oz (300g). With a design that makes these poles easy to unpack and adjust, they’ve quickly become our favorite ultralight telescopic trekking pole.

Gossamer Gear is the brainchild of Glen Van Peski, a civil engineer and backpacker who was dissatisfied with the heavyweight of his bag and felt he could build a better one. With the help of his wife Francie and other women in the neighborhood, he was able to construct the G1 bag, and by the time they’d reached the G4, the increased demand for his lightweight bags required a larger operation. In 2004, GVP Gear became Gossamer Gear, and the product line expanded into shelters, stoves, trekking poles, and rain gear. The company’s fabrics “are all custom-made and custom-designed with a keen eye on minimal weight and maximum comfort.” They’ve been featured in Backpacker Magazine, MSNBC, The New York Times, and many more publications.

Comfort

Don’t be fooled by the grips at first glance. Even though they look like cork, they are definitely EVA foam. While there is no traditional grip extension like what you’ll find on all our other trekking poles, the LT5s do sport a decently long grip that should cater to a variety of grip styles and hopefully circumvent the need for constant height adjustments to the shaft.

The adjustable wrist straps are soft and easy to adjust. They’re made of a thin material to reduce weight, which does cause you to sacrifice a bit of comfort. Be sure to insert your hand up through the bottom of the strap to make sure you’re utilizing them as intended. They’ll be more comfortable.

Weight

At only 300g (10.6oz) for the pair, the Gossamer LT5s are some of the lightest trekking poles on our list. While that’s already rather light for a folding pole, this is especially impressive for a telescopic pole since these typically require more material. Of the 5.3oz that makes up each pole, the pole alone is about 4.6oz while the strap, screw, and basket combined makeup 0.7oz—just in case you’re interested in removing all the accessories to save on weight.

The LT5s are essentially tied in weight with the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Zs, since the 110cm Carbon Zs are lighter but the 130cm are heavier. The Distance Carbon Zs also cost $25 less, however, I’d prefer the versatility of the telescopic LT5s over the fixed-length construction of the Distance Carbon Zs. I think a more fair comparison would be to the LEKI Micro Vario Carbons, which will cost you only $5 more but are about 50% heavier (5g more).

Packing

You’ll always be compromising your pack size when you opt for telescopic over folding trekking poles, however, at a 60cm (23in) collapsed length the LT5s do pack down smaller than most three-piece telescopic poles. In addition, they can be packed down even smaller if you decide to disassemble. If you take that route, you may want to buy them with their companion bungee cords, sold for $5 on the Gossamer Gear website.

Adjustability

The LT5s are adjusted via a relatively simple internal twist lock system. All you’ll need to do is extend each section to your desired height, and then, using two hands, grasp both sections and twist them together to tighten. There are definitely some pros and cons to consider with the LT5’s twist locks. They’re very light and unobtrusive, however, some hikers find themselves having trouble getting them to work just right. They don’t feel quite as secure as the lever locks found on most poles, and you’ll want to make sure you twist these tightly in order to avoid any slippage. However, they are quite reliable once tightly screwed into place. There’s a common complaint that with no length-adjustment marks on the bottom shaft, it can be difficult to nail down the correct height.

Durability

The LT5s are built more for the ultralight set than those planning to do some heavy backpacking, but they also have a decent amount of flex and will take a surprising degree of punishment. The “cork” handle is hydrophobic and won’t absorb moisture, which should help it hold up long-term.

Price

The LT5s will run you around $195, which means that for almost the same price you could get a pair of the highly-rated LEKI Micro Vario Carbons. If losing a few ounces is the name of the game for you, it’s well worth the price, however, if you’re looking for a light all-around pole, there are certainly cheaper options out there. What you’re also paying for is the quality of Gossamer Gear products, which is well regarded.

Other Features

You won’t find any extra accessories with these trekking poles. Unfortunately, there are no alternate tips, snow baskets, or even a carrying case. I was also unable to find any interchangeable baskets for purchase on the Gossamer Gear website.

The Bottom Line

The LT5s are certainly a competitor amongst the top-end trekking poles on this list, and if shedding every ounce possible is a major priority for you, these lightweight and versatile poles should be at the top of your shopping list.

However, in terms of value for money, you may be better off with the slightly heavier but more durable and packable LEKI Micro Vario Carbon poles, which will set you back about the same amount of money, or the Distance Carbon Zs, which will save you enough to buy a couple of freeze-dried meals to boot. It’s worth noting that these were slightly difficult to purchase outside of the Gossamer Gear website. I couldn’t even find them for purchase on Amazon.

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