About this product
The Z-fold design is the whole reason this pole exists. A telescopic pole collapses to about half its length – still 65 or 70 cm, too long for most places you would want to stow it. This one folds in four sections like a tent pole and comes down to around 36 cm, which fits in a running vest pocket, a pack side pocket or a small day bag.
It is a fixed 120 cm rather than adjustable, which is the honest trade-off: you lose the ability to shorten it for a climb and lengthen it for a descent, and in return you get something that packs away to nothing. For trail runners and fast hikers who want poles for a section and stowed the rest of the time, that is the right bargain. If you want to fine-tune length as you walk, the telescopic ST10 is the better pole.
The shaft is pure carbon fibre at around 160 g, with an extended EVA handle that wicks moisture – useful on a humid Tanzanian trail where a slick grip is the usual complaint. The wrist strap is high-density nylon webbing and adjusts. The tip is tungsten steel, with a protective rubber sleeve supplied for hard surfaces, and there is an integrated mudguard above the tip.
It suits fast hiking, trail running, and anyone who wants poles available on Kilimanjaro or Meru without having them strapped across a pack all day. Deploying it takes a couple of seconds – shake the sections out and push them home.
Naturehike ST08 4-Mode Ultralight Folding Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole