Stay active and steady on your feet with the best walking poles for seniors

The TrailBuddy Walking Poles are excellent all-rounders for older walkers as they are lightweight, robust and reasonably priced. Constructed from lightweight yet strong aluminium shafts, they contain aircraft-grade 7075 aluminium, which can hold more weight than many other models, plus each pole only weighs 0.27kg.

Customers like the stability the poles provide and one in particular shared that they helped them learn how to walk again after suffering a cardiac arrest. They said; "My walking has been quite slow, only being able to walk short distances without taking a rest. I have experienced some unsteadiness, backache and knee pain during this exercise. Since using my new poles, I have been able to achieve so much more. I have been able to walk in the previously inaccessible countryside, up hills, across grassy fields and for much further."

They are also highly versatile, with an adjustable range from 137cm max., down to just 62cm long, so whether you are five-foot or six-foot, you will find the perfect length for your height. You can also lock them into place with the lever locks (which do not require any twisting to lock into place), and are also easy to work if you have gloves on. Plus, the padded straps and moisture-wicking cork handles will adapt to the shape of your hand for a secure and comfortable grip on each walking stick, ready for Nordic hikes to hill walking.

The Explorer 3 Trekking Poles are adjustable and packable, designed to provide stability and security for walking, hiking and trekking. They are built with FlickLock technology, comfortable foam grips and easy-to-adjust straps. These trekking poles were tested and reviewed by Kylie Rowan and she said: “I never thought I'd be a ‘pole person’ but ever since being diagnosed with arthritis of the hips and recovering from a knee injury I thought I'd try them.”

“They were very easy to adjust to my required height, I'm not sure if you're meant to have them at a specific height for your own height. But I just adjusted them until they felt comfortable. They were easy to get used to whilst walking and I do feel they made a difference to the impact on my knee, especially coming downhill which was my struggle area.”

“They could do with a clip to keep them together as I know I'll probably misplace one of them. I do also find the noise they make whilst hiking on harder ground like rocks a bit annoying, which made me wonder if a hard wearing rubber bottom would work better.”

“Also, I found they are not ideal whilst you have a dog on a lead as I kept hitting mine with the poles accidentally. But overall they did make a difference to my hike, so I would recommend them.”

 The 1 Anti-shock Hiking Pole is perfect for tackling rough mountain terrain. It is collapsible, has a foam handle and the shock absorber reduces the impact on joints as you walk. These hiking poles were tested and reviewed by Karen Gilbert and she said: “The walking pole was really helpful for downhill sections, particularly on steep parts of the route. It aided balance and took some of the strain off tired knees. For uphill and for flatter sections of trails, I would have benefitted (in hindsight) from having 2 poles, to help with rhythm.” 

“The product itself is great quality, well made and a nice design. The hand grip and wrist support were both comfortable. I chose this product because of the anti-shock system, which is useful for longer distances to absorb the impact on wrists and arms. They definitely reduced pressure from my quads and knees on the downhill / stepped sections, so I was comfortable for longer, with less stress on those high-impact areas. I imagine this would be even more noticeable were I carrying a heavier pack.” 

“Having an extra point of contact on the trail was really helpful and the poles would certainly give me greater confidence in slippery / steep conditions to prevent accidents. The pole also came with a useful basket to stop sinking into softer ground butI didn’t need it during the summer. The pole can also be extended for a range of heights – easy to achieve with simple twist of the shaft.” 

“However, there were not any real product instructions to show how to use the pole or wrist strap. I’ve used poles before and I’m comfortable with them, but as a suggestion, instructions would be useful.”

Frequent walkers will benefit from a premium pair of walking poles, and these adjustable Komperdell Carbon C3 Cloud walking poles are up for anything. These walking poles were tested and reviewed by Lorraine Anthony who has been walking with poles for a number of years now. “I mainly struggle with downhill walks and I like to have the poles to help me feel more secure and confident. These poles gave effective support and improved stability whilst walking. They were easy and comfortable to grip as well,” she said.

They are compact and weigh 221g each, and have an adjustment range from 105-140cm. The section at the bottom can be extended to one universal point, while the top can be changed to match the height of whoever uses it. Each section is set in place with the Power Lock 3.0 system, made with forged aluminium, which is robust and rock solid. It also features padded wrist loops that are straightforward to adjust and comfortable to use, and the foam grip is ergonomically designed to feel good in the hand. 

“The poles were easy to assemble and lightweight but strong. They were particularly useful on flat and uneven terrain. They are very well made and adjustable too. They provide good support and help prevent sprains or slips, although I would not use them on terrain where some scrambling is required or on steep descents because of their length.”

“However, because the poles are not telescopic they fold down into quite a cumbersome form when collapsed. This means that they take up a much larger space than telescopic poles when stored. They also take up much more space in luggage when packed and they are a bit awkward to collapse down (this has to be done after every use). The ferrules are non-standard and would have to be replaced from a specialist retailer.”

But apart from these observations, these are premium poles with a price tag to match, but every component is top quality.

The Decathlon 1 Easy Adjust Hiking Pole is designed to help you navigate uneven terrains with confidence. The longer handle and simple push-pin adjustment system makes it perfect for those who are looking for an easily adjustable pair of walking poles. 

The Decathlon 1 Easy Adjust Hiking Pole was tested and reviewed by Lorraine Anthony who has been using walking with poles for several years now. “The walking pole gives me effective support, improved my stability whilst walking and helps prevent sprains and slips. It helped me keep my balance. It was easy and comfortable to grip as well,” she said.

“The pole was easy to extend and it is quite strong. It easily collapsed down into a short, convenient sized pole for transportation. It was very useful on uneven and slippery terrain and on steep descents. The pole is also well made and easily adjustable to the required length,” she added. 

The only negative feedback she had was that although the pole is of good quality, it came packaged in a loose box when dispatched and that there is no ferrule provided along with it.

The Foxelli Carbon Fiber Poles are the most lightweight option on this list, weighing in at just 0.21kg per pole - making them perfect for storing in your backpack when not in use. Customers agree too, with one saying; "They are easy to adjust and lock, light and comfortable in use, and pack easily to throw in my travel bag".

Made with a carbon fibre shaft designed to have flexibility and additional shock absorption, they are excellent for use on the pavement as well as for walking around the neighbourhood and mountain walking.

Retractable from 61 cm to 140cm, they are versatile and work for a wide range of different heights, including children. Plus, they're available in a selection of different colours, which is fun.

These TREK-Z Trekology Walking Poles are lightweight and adjustable, so you will have no issue fitting them into your bag on walks. The poles are equipped with cork hand grips and foam pads below the main hold.

Crafted from strong 7075 aircraft-grade aluminium, you won’t have to worry about them rusting after exposure to moisture when out on a wet or snowy walk. The poles can be adjusted from 100 to 120cm. They also come with five tips depending on your trail conditions; these include: carbide tips, rubber tips, mud stops, snow baskets and rubber tips.

Customers like that they are portable, with one saying; "I am really impressed by these cheap poles. I usually use expensive poles, but I wanted something small enough to go inside my rucksack if I’m scrambling or rock climbing".

Others pointed out that the handles provided much-needed grip and stability. One commented; "The cork style handles were comfortable and not unduly sweaty even in high temperatures".

This excellent pair of Vango Basho Folding Walking Poles have a tungsten tip and an ergonomically shaped foam handgrip for comfortable holding. The wrist strap is padded and easy to adjust, and the three sections come with complete suspension, which can easily be turned on or off by twisting.

The foldable design makes for easy transportation, collapsing down to 38cm. They have a height range of 115cm to 135cm and weigh 223g.

Some customers said that it took time to work out the length that they needed, with one saying; "I used it maybe 10 times so far; once I got the length and the all-important grip right, I made some great progress". They also liked that they have a decent quality build and fold down to fit in the rucksack, not forgetting the shock-absorber.