Growing up in the South, I never saw any hunters using trekking poles in the woods. So, when I moved out of the state and my new buddies were packing gear for a hunting trip, I was the only one who didn’t have any hunter trekking poles.
Well, that was about 10 years ago and now I am converted to the greatness of using trekking poles – especially when you’re out hunting in the snow or in the mountains. They can be a real blessing to have out there sometimes.
Top 10 Trekking Poles for Hunting 2015 - 2016
| Photo | Model | Shaft | Grip | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles | aluminum | rubber | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
 | Leki Corklite Antishock Trekking Poles | aluminum | cork/rubber | 1 lb. 2.9 oz. |
 | Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles | carbon | foam | 10 oz. |
 | Kelty Range 2.0 Trekking Poles | aluminum | cork/rubber | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
 | Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles | aluminum | foam | 1 lb. 1 oz. |
 | Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles | carbon | foam | 13.4 oz. |
 | Black Diamond Alpine Ergo Cork Trekking Poles | carbon/ aluminum | cork | 1 lb 3.9 oz |
 | PaceMaker "Journey" Antishock Trekking Poles | aluminum | cork | 1 lb. 3 oz. |
 | Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles | aluminum | foam | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
 | York Nordic PRO Collapsible 4 Piece Trekking / Walking Poles | aluminum | rubber | 1 lb. 4 oz. |
These are what we here at Outdoorsman Time believe are the best hunter trekking poles for the money right now. Just to remind you – the aluminum shaft models are more durable as they can take a beating and keep on working like they’re supposed to. And the carbon shaft models are more lightweight but if you kick them or bang them up, then they will crack and not be able to be used any longer. For that reason, we recommend aluminum models for most hunters.
Why Hunters Should Use Trekking Poles
Now before you scoff and tell me that you don’t need to be dragging around no walking sticks or trekking poles while you’re out hunting, let me tell you why you are dead wrong about this.
Low impact – Here’s the thing, I’m not as young as I used to be and the same is probably true for you. And when you’re stalking around in the wilderness with your hunting pack and gear, then you end up putting a lot of impact on your knees. This is especially true if you’re on some steep inclines or really hard ground. And joint pain around the knees after a long day of hunting is no fun. But – if you use trekking poles, then they take some of that impact off your knees, ankles and joints. I know it sounds kind of crazy and like some mumbo jumbo, but I’ve used these things myself and can tell you first hand that they work by redistributing the brunt force of the weight, which reduces the impact on your body.
Better balance – When you’re tracking game over terrain that is unfamiliar, you can stumble or fall. But how often do you see that hunting dog of yours do the same? That’s cause having four points of support on the ground results in better balance. So, using trekking poles out there helps you keep your balance on terrain that is uneven, steep and just unfamiliar to you. And, it’s just a bonus that it reduces muscle strain as well.
Safety – It goes without saying that you can use the poles to test the stability of the ground before you make your steps. But their safety use goes even beyond that. Say you get hurt out in the field- the poles make great makeshift splits. Or, say a wild animal attacks you – these things have pointy ends that you can use for self defense.
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