Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best Bang for Your Buck | Best Overall Trekking Pole | Outstanding Value in a Lightweight Pole | ||
Price | $45 List $44.99 at Amazon | $169.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods Compare at 4 sellers | $139.95 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $30 List $29.30 at Amazon | $39 List $39.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | These affordable and fully-featured trekking poles are a great value | This versatile trekking pole is the best option for most users | This is the best value in a lightweight pole, though it lacks the ability to adjust its length | Incredibly inexpensive, these poles get the job done for casual hikers | These inexpensive poles get the basic job done, but there are better options out there, even for the price |
Rating Categories | Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 | MSR DynaLock Ascent... | Black Diamond Dista... | Cascade Mountain Te... | TrailBuddy Gear Alu... |
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Weight (20%) | |||||
Versatility (20%) | |||||
Locking and Adjustability (15%) | |||||
Packed Size (15%) | |||||
Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
Specs | Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 | MSR DynaLock Ascent... | Black Diamond Dista... | Cascade Mountain Te... | TrailBuddy Gear Alu... |
Measured Weight Per Pair (Size Tested) | 26.0 oz (size: 100-120 cm) | 17.0 oz (size: 100-120 cm) | 12.5 oz (size: 110 cm) | 18.5 oz | 20.0 oz |
Measured Collapsed Length (Tested Size) | 15.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 14.3 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 14.0 in (size: 110 cm) | 26.0 in | 25.0 in |
Measured Max Length (Tested Size) | 47.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 47.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 43.3 in (size: 110 cm) | 55.0 in | 54.0 in |
Shaft Material | Aluminum | Carbon fiber | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Pole Design | Foldable | Collapsible | Foldable | Collapsible | Collapsible |
Grip Material | Foam | Rubber, plastic, foam | EVA foam | Cork, foam | Cork |
Locking Mechanism | Snap button extension and metal lever lock | Metal lever lock | Snap button extension | Plastic lever locks | Plastic lever locks |
Included Baskets and/or Tip Attachments | Trail baskets, snow baskets, carbide tip, rubber feet, rubber tips | Trail baskets, snow baskets, carbide tip, rubber tips (sold separately) | Trail baskets, interchangeable carbide and rubber tips, snow baskets (sold separately) | Trail baskets, snow baskets, tungsten-carbide tip, rubber feet, rubber tips | Trail baskets, snow baskets, tungsten-carbon, rubber tips |
Sizes Available (Size Tested) | 2 Sizes: 115-135 cm, 100-120 cm (tested) | 2 Sizes: 100-120 (tested), 120-140 cm | 4 Sizes: 100, 110 (tested), 120, 130 cm | One size | One size |
Advertised Weight Per Pair By Size (Per Manufacturer) | 19.0 oz / 22.0 oz | 16 / 17.0 oz | 11.2 / 11.6 / 12.1 / 12.6 oz | 20.8 oz | 19.4 oz |
Advertised Collapsed Length (Per Available Size) | 15.0 / 15.0 in | 14.3 in / 17.5 in | 13 / 14.6 / 15.7 / 17.3 in | 26.0 in | 24,5 in |
Advertisd Max Length (Per Available Size) | 47.2 / 53.1 in | 47.0 in / 55.0 in | 39.4 /43.3 / 47.2 / 51.2 in | 54.0 in | 54.0 in |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Foldable poles are taking over the trekking pole market, and the Trekology Trek-Z is the first truly affordable pair that uses this design configuration. It scores well across almost all of our metrics and comes with powder and trail baskets, boots, and narrow tips.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The Trek-Z features a soft foam grip that is lightly contoured and very comfortable to hold. The top of the grip handle is rounded and coated with rubber, making these poles easy to grasp in any configuration. The wrist strap is silky and soft, for added comfort when carrying heavy packs or hiking up steep hills. This pole ticks all of the boxes for a modern, comfortable pole.
The only downside to the comfort of these poles is their weight. It isn't a deal-breaker, but our experienced testers noticed the heavy weight after just hours on the trail. They are both heavy to pick up and heavy to swing forward with each step. If stowed in a backpack, they add considerable heft to the user's load. Still, these are comfortable poles overall, thanks to their grip design.
Weight
Tipping the scales at 26.0 ounces per pair, the Trek-Z is one of the heaviest pairs of poles that we've ever tested. This weight comes from the solid aluminum construction of the shaft sections, additional metal reinforcements at the shaft joints, and a vinyl protector for the inner tightening cord. These touches add to the product's durability, but also make it an unwieldy pole to use for more than a couple of hours.
At more than twice the weight of some lightweight poles on the market, the Trek-Z feels heavy to experienced users and isn't suitable for missions where light weight is important. We wouldn't carry these up and over an alpine climb, or take hiking when trying to move quickly. But to inexperienced users or those who spend all of their time on trail, the additional weight might not be noticeable.
Versatility
With a foldable design, small packed size, comfortable grip, and a plethora of tip and basket attachments, this pole is relatively versatile. However, some uses like alpine climbing and mountain running require a pole that is lightweight, rendering this pole unsuitable for these activities. Long-distance speed hikers and thru-hikers will also find this pole too heavy to be used for day after day.
The Trek-Z strikes an interesting balance between durability and versatility. Most foldable poles are designed for lightweight missions and versatility in mind. This pole retains the foldable design but sacrifices some versatility for extreme durability gains. Most users won't be affected by the pole's heavy weight, but users on the extreme sides of the spectrum, like day-mission alpinists and month-or-more thru-hikers will certainly want a lighter pole.
Locking and Adjustability
The Trekology Trek-Z extends easily and then locks into place with a satisfying click as the snap button pops out through the shaft sections. The aluminum lever lock is easy to adjust and manipulate, but the pole only affords 7 inches (17cm) of length adjustment, which is less than other products on the market. In general, however, we like the locking mechanisms on this pole.
When it is time to disassemble the pole, the shaft sections can be released by firmly pushing on the lock button. This intuitive design is what we prefer. The length adjustment lever is easily tightened by hand by spinning an aluminum dial. As previously mentioned, the length of the Trek-Z can only be adjusted by 7 inches, which is low compared to other poles on the market, but still enough to cover most lengths that users want.
Packed Size
The Trek-Z packs down to 15 inches when folded and collapsed completely. This is about average for the foldable poles and much shorter than the packed size of all of the telescoping collapsible poles on the market. This makes it suitable for use when traveling, scrambling, mountaineering, or for winter snow travel.
We also like how the Trek-Z comes with a drawstring bag. This helps you keep the poles tidy and folded when packed, and prevents the sharp tips from damaging other items in your pack or from snagging and unfolding when you pull them out of a pack. The bag is also nice for keeping all of the included tip and basket attachments together.
Construction Quality
The Trek-Z stands out for durability. All shaft sections, reinforcements, and locking mechanisms are constructed with aluminum, which makes this pole bombproof. In our testing, we couldn't get it to show any sign of weakness. We backpacked with heavy packs, crossed streams with slippery rocks, and used it to pitch lightweight tents, and this pole never gave us cause for concern.
Aluminum construction comes with the major downside of heavy weight, compared to carbon. This pole takes durable construction to the extreme, and we aren't sure that the pole needs to be as robust as it is, except for use in rugged trekking to remote destinations. If you need a durable pole when venturing to parts of the world where a replacement pole will be hard to find, this pole is a great choice. But for most casual uses, this pole's durable construction is overkill.
Should You Buy the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0?
The Trek-Z 2.0 offers an incredible value, making it one of our top choices, especially for users on a budget. For a fraction of the price of the best poles on the market, you'll get a small packed size and enough comfort and adjustability for any hiking trip. Even our discerning testers don't mind the added weight for most uses. Mountain runners, alpine climbers, and lightweight through-hikers might want to spend more money for a lighter pole, but most other trail users will find exactly what they need in the affordable Trek-Z 2.0.
What Other Trekking Poles Should You Consider?
If you like the foldable design of the Trek-Z but want a better grip and lighter weight, the MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon is our top choice. Even lighter is the Black Diamond Distance Z, which doesn't have any length adjustment, but still boasts a comfortable grip and a reasonable price. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is one of the lightest poles on the market, at a fraction of the weight of the Trek-Z 2.0, but it's a lot more expensive. If you're looking for a women's-specific foldable pole, the Leki Cressida FX Carbon is the best option, but it's also astronomically expensive. If you're looking for a similarly durable pole with more refinement, the Black Diamond Pursuit is a great choice.