Log onto the Cotswold walking pole buying guide.

Mountain king poles are brilliant. Lightweight and retractable. Bit pricey but worth every penny. 👌

For plain walking here in the UK any poles will do. If they need to fit in luggage on flights or in the rucksack when climbing or scrambling then you need folding instead of extending ones. For use in rocky terrain I would go for aluminium instead of carbon fibre - much more durable, less prone to snapping, and cheaper as well.

PS I've got some spare used pairs of extending poles in the loft. Happy to donate them to you when we meet at an invite.

Hello everyone thank you I will look into all the above, Mike that is very kind thank you

Hi, I'm not a fan of walking poles and seldom use them. However, they are very useful in soft snow if you have set that you can fit large baskets to.

E bay. Loads of choice at far lower than shop prices.

Lazlo Woodbine: Even cheaper are hedgerows. Cannot beat a good stick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-jnrLGjImw

I have a dodgy knee and have tried expensive Leki's cheap chinese knock offs and everything in between. I now use the cheapo Decathlon Forclaz ones. £6.50 each. So good I now have four. They don't bend under my weight (many light poles do - I'm 95 kilos), they're light, fold small and don't stick up like aerials on your rucksack. Also so cheap that if you lose or break one you won't be weeping into your beer. https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/1-affordable-hiking-pole-mt100-blue/_/R-p-122861?mc=8807204

Get poles with latches to fasten the sections together, not screw threads: you can take it apart for stowage or drying.