Montem Ultra Light 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Review

Overview

Montem’s Ultra Light 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are a direct-to-consumer take on the classic three-section, flip-lock carbon pole — the same basic format you’ll see on poles costing twice as much. They’re aimed at hikers and backpackers who want carbon’s weight and vibration-damping benefits without paying Black Diamond or Leki prices, and they’ve built a genuine following among budget-conscious thru-hikers and dayhikers who’ve put serious miles on them.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Material	100% carbon fiber (not blended with aluminum)
Weight per pole	7.6 oz
Weight per pair	14 oz (397 g)
Adjustable length	24” – 53” (61 – 135 cm)
Sections	3-piece telescoping
Locking mechanism	External flip/lever locks
Grip	EVA foam (cork on some variants)
Tips	Tungsten carbide with rubber tip protectors
Included accessories	Mud baskets, snow baskets, tip protectors, padded wrist straps
Sold as	Pair (2 poles)

Performance

At 14 oz for the pair, these land in genuinely lightweight territory — competitive with poles costing $100+ more. On the trail, that weight difference is noticeable almost immediately; swinging a sub-4-oz-per-pole stick all day is a lot easier on the shoulders than lugging aluminum.

The flip-lock system is the make-or-break feature here, and reviews are mixed on out-of-box tightness. One reviewer’s first impression was somewhat poor and focused on the bulky locking mechanisms, noting the locks seemed a little too big and flopped around when snapped open. He found the shafts started sliding back down after his first hike, but realized the locks were adjustable and it didn’t take long to get them twisted down tight enough that sliding was a non-issue. That’s a fair summary of what I’d expect most owners to experience: a five-minute tightening session with the included hex/screw adjustment fixes the slip issue, but it’s an extra step you shouldn’t have to take on a new product.

Once dialed in, the locks hold up. One long-term tester used them extensively on rough terrain, including hiking and third-class scrambling very steep canyon walls, crossing sloping slickrock, walking over bowling ball-size rocks, and slogging across soft sand, and reported the lever locks performed reliably throughout. He also used them to pitch an ultralight tent, which held up quite well in strong winds in a couple of camps — a nice bonus if you’re running a trekking-pole-supported shelter.

Carbon fiber’s reputation for snapping under stress is the other big question mark with budget carbon poles, and it’s a fair concern — carbon doesn’t bend and warn you before it fails the way aluminum does; it just breaks. The feedback here is generally reassuring: reviewers who are usually not fans of carbon fiber because it tends to snap or break under tough trekking and splinter noted these were some of the best carbon fiber poles they’d tested, and super sturdy despite being very light. That said, quality control isn’t flawless — one buyer noted they were happy with the weight, feel, and ease-of-use but not so sure about the durability after the tip of one pole broke off on the first outing. That kind of report is rare but not unheard-of for budget carbon poles, so it’s worth inspecting your poles carefully out of the box and testing them on an easy trail before committing to a big trip.

Grip comfort gets consistently good marks. The grips are made of dual-density EVA foam, sturdy on the outside and averse to tears but soft and comfortable, with a lower grip area for carrying the poles — handy for choking up on steep, technical sections without stopping to readjust length. Wrist strap comfort is a recurring positive too, with padded, adjustable nylon straps showing up favorably across multiple reviews.

The accessory kit is a real value-add — mud baskets, snow baskets, and tip protectors typically get sold separately by other brands, but they’re bundled in here standard.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Genuinely light — 14 oz/pair is competitive with premium carbon poles costing significantly more
• Comfortable EVA foam grips with a lower “choke-up” section for technical terrain
• Comes with mud baskets, snow baskets, and tip protectors included at no extra cost
• Tungsten carbide tips hold up well on rock and abrasive terrain
• Price point makes carbon fiber accessible to hikers who’d otherwise default to aluminum

Cons

• Flip locks often ship under-tightened and need manual adjustment before first use
• Locking hardware feels a bit bulky/loose compared to premium brands until dialed in
• Occasional reports of tip or shaft failures suggest QC isn’t perfectly consistent
• EVA foam grips (not cork on all variants) run warmer/sweatier in hot weather than cork

Who Should Buy This

These poles make the most sense for weight-conscious hikers and backpackers who want carbon fiber’s weight savings but don’t want to spend $150+ on a pair. They’re a solid fit for dayhikers, weekend backpackers, and even long-distance hikers on a budget, provided you’re willing to do a quick lock-tightening check before your first big outing. If you’re the type who inspects and shakes down new gear before a thru-hike anyway, the risk of a QC miss is manageable.

Verdict

For the price, the Montem Ultra Light 100% Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles deliver real carbon-fiber weight savings and solid trail performance, with the caveat that you should tighten the flip locks yourself before your first hike and give the poles a shakedown trip before trusting them on something remote. I’d put these at a 7.5/10 — not quite as polished or consistent as Black Diamond or Leki, but a legitimately good value if you go in with realistic expectations.