Nothing else deploys this fast or disappears this completely. The Distance Carbon Z weighs roughly 280 g per pair in the 120 cm size — barely half the weight of a standard aluminum pole — and its Z-fold design collapses to 33-44 cm depending on size, short enough to slide inside a running vest or daypack. Shake the sections out, they snap into a single rigid column, and the pole feels impressively solid for the weight. For trail runners, fastpackers, and ultralight hikers who count grams, this has been the benchmark folding pole for years. The compromises are the point, though. Length is fixed: you buy 100, 110, 120, or 130 cm and live with it, with no way to shorten for climbs or lengthen for descents. The thin carbon shafts trade durability for weight — they tolerate honest use but not being levered sideways between rocks, and a snapped section mid-trip is not field-repairable the way an aluminum bend is. The minimal EVA grip and thin strap suit fast movement more than heavy pack loads. At around $200 it is an investment in a specific style of hiking. If that is your style, nothing at this weight is more proven.
Roughly 280 g per pair, about half the weight of aluminum poles
Folds to 33-44 cm — genuinely packable in vests and daypacks
Fast, one-shake deployment with a solid locked feel
Proven design used widely by trail runners and thru-hikers
Fixed length, sold in 10 cm increments with no adjustment
Thin carbon shafts can snap under sideways loads
Minimal grip and strap are not ideal for heavy pack loads