The Black Diamond Trail is a personal favourite, despite being quite a heavy trekking pole. It’s a 3-section aluminium pole, with instantly readable measurements in metric given on the lower two sections, and a good range of height adjustability. The sections are joined using the flick lock system, and tension-adjusted via a recessed Phillips screw. I always carry a small penknife on anything longer than a daywalk, and I prefer this lower-profile method of tensioning each joint, as they are less prone to collecting dirt or being knocked when in use. The foam handle is well suited for medium-sized hands and comes in a single, long piece, with very basic moulding for the bottom of the palm. This allows the user to move the hand up and down the pole when covering uneven terrain. I never use pole straps, but should you choose to this one has some basic padding and is comfortable. In use, the pole is weighted slightly to the tip, which gives a slight swing in forward motion. The aluminium shafts are strong and do not bend or wobble when under strain.
This new version of the classic Black Diamond trail design is a few centimetres longer when collapsed than my originals, but otherwise this is a tried and true trekking pole whose strength lies in its simplicity. In combination with a reasonable price, the BD Trail gets my Best Buy recommendation.
See more trekking poles in our guide to The best trekking poles for hiking
Tested by David Lintern
