Three section telescoping vs. folding poles.

I use telescoping poles.
Fizan Compact 3. Very light.
Though they may not be as strong as folding poles, not sure.
Can folding poles be adjusted for length? (quite important)

I've had the same Fizan telescoping poles since I bought them in Leon in 2017, they've had a lot of use with no problems. They're extremely lightweight and very adjustable. I have used the folding ones.

CaryB said:

What is most prominent on the trail?

Click to expand...

@CaryB, I suggest a better question would be "What, in your experience, is a better type of pole".

You won't get consensus in this Forum but it will help you make a choice perhaps because of a reasons you haven't thought of. It is a frequently debated topic on this Forum with lots of firmly held opinions.

On the trail, in my opinion, most poles are probably used by people who haven't given them much thought and probably don't use them very well either. For many people poles are incidental cheap things to be picked up anywhere and discarded in Santiago, without regard for what is a good pole and what benefits poles can provide.

I have used telescoping poles for 3 years. But 15 days ago I arrived in Santiago and spent 3 days in the same albergue. When leaving, my poles were not in the container anymore...
Therefore, I bought folding poles (Alpin Loacker carbon), in order to be able to keep them in my backpack when staying more than 1 night in an albergue.
According to me, the choice rely upon several factors:
Folding poles are generally more expensive, but could be carried in a backpack. Therefore, if you plan to always walk with poles, choose telescoping ones: they are more sturdy and cheaper.
If you plan to walk sometimes hands free (namely on a flat way), choose folding poles. In order to carry them in your backpack, they should be light (carbon).
My advice is also to prefer cork handles.

@Robo : "Can folding poles be adjusted for length? (quite important)"
Yes they can because there is one telescoping section.
In SJPP, you can buy them somewhere in sports shop:

Further to my earlier post, for those interested in my opinion, there might be 2 of you, I much prefer the PacerPoles for their function, and they are 3 piece telescopic. Not pack-friendly but I don't compromise on my choice re function.

Not cheap but if I spend $6,000 net (+ some updated gear) per Camino of 60+ days every year or 2, the additional cost of my preferred poles which last for years is a rounding-error, as it also is for other occasional new gear. The only alternative to PacerPoles is custom built poles.