Gossamer Gear FT3 Folding Trekking Poles Review
A fast-deploy folding pole for thru-hikers and fastpackers who want the lightest, secure, easy-to-lock poles
July 9th, 2026
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Our verdict
We think the new Gossamer Gear FT3 trekking poles are the best trekking poles for thru-hiking, especially on trails like the Pacific Crest Trail or Tahoe Rim Trail, where ultralight poles are a must. The Gossamer Gear FT3 poles have all the ultralight features we loved of the older Gossamer Gear LT5s but with the speed of a quick-button system. These quick-button deployments are common in heavier poles, but a first for poles this lightweight.
I'm a thru-hiker, fastpacker, former Appalachian Trail FKT-holder, and former board member of the American Long Distance Hiking Association. I've used every iteration of Gossamer Gear poles for literally thousands of miles over the past decade. When I first tried the Gossamer Gear FT3, it was like a lightbulb came on. I immediately knew these poles were Gossamer Gear's best poles yet.
While there are lighter twist-lock and lever poles out there, the FT3s are miles ahead in terms of usability and adjustability. They never slip, they never lose their lock, they don't require fiddling midday. This is a given with most heavier trekking poles, but as an ultralighter, for years I've accepted that with twist-locks, my poles will slip some throughout the day.
The Gossamer Gear FT3 folding poles are a three-piece carbon pole that can, with the click of a button, become a sturdy, full-length trekking pole. This is convenient while running/trail racing and fastpacking when speed is of the essence. It is also so appreciated during thru-hiking, when patience fiddling with locks on poles can turn a meh day into a bad day. In my many years of thru-hiking, I've seen multiple thru-hikers throw poles in frustration. After testing, I’m confident that is not going to happen with the FT3s.
With the easy fold-in, deploy out system, the Gossamer Gear FT3 are easy to put away for sections of a peak that were cliffy where hands were needed. At 15” (38 cm) when folded, you can easily reach them while wearing your pack. For thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers, the printed on marking showing the height to set up your trekking pole shelter is the simple design feature we have been asking for.
Gossamer Gear FT3 Folding Trekking Poles
Another tester and I took out the FT3 trekking poles for four months from the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon to coastal bluffs in Big Sur, California. I tested in the California Redwoods as well as peaks in Southern California and in the Eastern Sierra. We tested these poles on hikes with significant elevation gain on the PCT on well-maintained, well-graded trail. We also tested on other abandoned trails on extremely steep and loose terrain leading up to summits. We tested while hiking and ultralight backpacking as well as off-trail scrambling.
Ultralight carbon fiber trekking poles (from any brand) are an investment, but if you want something ultralight that folds down easily and is designed especially for ultralight hikers and backpackers, this is it. Carbon fiber poles aren't for everyone, either. If you really lean into your poles, are mostly off-trail or on snow or talus, trip and fall a lot, go with an aluminum pole. But if you use poles for fording rivers, setting up shelters, or for extra stability on downhills, these are the poles for you.
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Gossamer Gear FT3 Folding Trekking Poles specifications
Price: $245
Weight per pole: 6.2 oz | 178 g
Rubber boot weight: 0.32 oz | 9 g each
Folded length: 15" (38 cm)
Minimum deployed length: 45" (115 cm)
Maximum deployed length: 51" (130 cm)
Top section diameter: 16.3 mm
Middle section diameter: 12.7 mm
Bottom section diameter: 12.7 mm
Shaft: Carbon fiber
Grip: Cork-like EVA foam
Wrist strap: Built-in nylon webbing
Tips: Carbide
Locking mechanism: Push button deployment design with aluminum lever lock adjuster
Baskets: Minimalist baskets included
Carbon fiber breakage covered under warranty: No
Carry-on friendly: Maybe with rubber boots on, check with your TSA agent
Best for
Hiking with the FT3 trekking poles in the Sierra.
Thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers who want secure, folding carbon fiber poles
Trail runners who want lightweight trekking poles that can be put away quickly
Ultralight hikers and peakbaggers who want lightweight poles that can be put away easily during scrambling
Anyone setting up an ultralight trekking pole shelter, especially Gossamer Gear shelters
Fans of the Gossamer Gear LT5 who want something without a twistlock function
Fans of the LT5s who want to be able to reach back and grab their poles without taking off their pack
People who want the lightest folding carbon fiber trekking poles
Comparison table
| Trekking Poles | MSRP | Weight per pair (ounces) | Collapsed Length (cm) | Max Length (cm) | Shaft | Grip | Locking Mechanism | Packing Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gossamer Gear FT3 | $245 | 12.4 | 38 | 130 | Carbon Fiber | EVA foam | Lever lock | Folding |
| Gossamer Gear LT5 | $195 | 9.8 | 60 | 130 | Carbon Fiber | EVA foam | Twist lock | Telescoping |
| Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ | $240 | 10.7-12.8 | 34-40 | 110-140 | Carbon Fiber | Foam | FlickLock Pro | Folding |
| Leki Makalu FX Carbon | $230 | 17.8 | 40 | 130 | Carbon Fiber | Foam | Lever lock | Folding |
| Zpacks Minimalist | $130 | 9.8 | 61 | 132 | Carbon Fiber | Foam | Clasp | Telescoping |
What we liked
Stability and strength despite the weight
Ease and speed of deploying poles
Ease of adjusting poles
Weight
Clear lengths on edge of pole that are pre-calibrated for setting up shelters
What could be better
Price
Durability (though this is true for all carbon fiber running poles we tested)
How we tested
Testing the Gossamer Gear FT3 poles at a hike to an alpine lake in the Eastern Sierra.
Another tester and I took out the FT3 trekking poles for four months. Both of us have used every iteration of Gossamer Gear poles for the past decade for literally thousands of miles.
Testing the Gossamer Gear FT3 poles on snowy trail near the PCT in Oregon.
To test the Gossamer FT3s, we used these poles from the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon to summiting Mt. Ashland and on foothill trails in the Rogue Valley. We then took them for four days of hiking in the California Redwoods where we had to fold them up to crawl over and under redwood-sized blowdowns. From there, we hiked coastal bluffs in Big Sur California and Ventura, California, where trails are steep and loose and occasionally overgrown and we used the poles to push poison oak out of our way.
Testing the Gossamer Gear FT3 trekking poles on wet and muddy trail in Redwood National Park.
We also tested on extremely steep and loose peaks on abandoned trails in Southern California. These "trails" had burnt-out blowdowns and bushwhacking that required putting the poles away and then reactivating them once the trail got "good" again.
We also tested the FT3 on trails in the Eastern Sierra. There, we tested hiking and ultralight backpacking as well as off-trail scrambling, taking them up steep trails to alpine lakes as well as to lower elevation sagebrush and juniper forests. This is also where we tested setting up ultralight shelters with these poles including the Gossamer Gear Whisper Tent and the Slingfin Mid.
Testing the FT3 trekking poles at the summit of a loose and unmaintained peak in Southern California.
In addition to hundreds of miles of testing the FT3, we tested them side by side with other hiking and running poles, including carbon-fiber three-piece models like the Zpacks Minimalist Poles, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ, and the Gossamer Gear LT5s. Learn more in our Best Trekking Poles guide.
Performance in the field
The Gossamer Gear FT3 are easy to adjust so you can lengthen or shorten your poles depending on whether you are going uphill or downhill.
Deployment speed
The FT3 folding trekking poles deploy quickly. We timed it and it took less than 6 seconds. If you're unfamiliar with button-based trekking pole deployment, it is worth watching the video to see how to do it. It's quite a departure from Gossamer Gear's LT5s (or the LT4) twist-locks. Black Diamond and Leki have been using similar button-deployment systems for a while, but their poles are heavier.
Stiffness and load under use
As a long-time user of the LT5s and the LT4s and LT3s before them, I feel so much more secure with the stiffness and load under use of the FT3s than any of my other Gossamer Gear poles. These poles can really take some weight without slipping, buckling, or shrinking.
Grip
Close-up on the cork-like grip on the Gossamer Gear FT3 poles.
The cork-like grip on Gossamer Gear poles is legendary. I actually thought it was cork until looking it up. It's EVA foam that molds to your hands, doesn't get sweaty, and doesn't degrade with UV or use over time like most foam grips. It doesn't feel cold on chilly days. Leki (and some other pole manufacturers) use natural cork, which stands up better than most foams. In fact, we have Gossamer Gear poles made of this EVA foam that are over twelve years old and have thousands of miles of hiking on them. The same cannot be said of the foam on other poles we have tested.
The EVA-foam handles (the same as on other Gossamer Gear poles) mold to the hands, don't degrade over time or with UV like foam, and don't feel hot or sweaty after a long day.
Wrist straps
I really like the wrist strap on the FT3s. Ultralight pole straps tend to come in two flavors: overbuilt for an ultralight pole (in which case, I remove them to save weight) or underbuilt and can cause chafing and digging in. The wrist straps on the FT3s make sense and tread the line between ultralight and comfortable. And if you want to make your system even lighter, you can remove them.
Easy to adjust ultralight wrist straps allow you to really dig in and use more of your body, similar to ski poles.
Shelter setup
The inside of an ultralight shelter set up with the Gossamer Gear trekking pole.
I don't know why no brand (to my knowledge) has thought this up before, but the FT3s have marks on the poles that show what height to set up a trekking pole shelter. For decades, ultralight hikers have been marking the spot with duct tape or paint pens.
Despite all the warnings to set up your shelter at home each time before going on trail, I constantly find myself looking up on my phone from some ridge the exact height of poles needed or just going on what "looks right." While adding the trekking pole notch on the shelter is an incredibly small detail that probably doesn't cost Gossamer Gear much to add, it speaks to their core audience: thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers who use trekking poles during the day and then set up their ultralight shelters with the same poles at night.
Packability
We found the FT3 poles to be quite packable, fitting inside a minimalist daypack as well as adventure travel packs with ease. With the fast pack, we found they were easy to stow and retrieve mid fastpack thanks to a Velcro that keeps the poles together but doesn't get in the way when you're using them. With adventure travel packs, we found they weren't too tall to fit in side pockets for times when you're moving between locations.
Durability
The FT3 are surprisingly durable for ultralight carbon fiber poles (which, as a genre, aren't going to be as durable as aluminum poles). With other ultralight poles, like the Zpacks Minimalist Poles, we found the clamp wear would loosen over time and constantly need to be re-tightened with pliers or other tools we were unlikely to have in the field.
The shaft condition is in great shape after our testing, showing minimal scratching. The rubber tips (which often fall off of poles) have extra traction and are staying on better than we've seen on many poles.
Carbon poles are at risk to break with lateral stress, such as if you get a pole stuck between a root and a rock and twist it (we've seen it happen with other carbon fiber poles). Best to let go and then retrieve your pole, though that is easier to say than do at the moment.
Ease of use
The Gossamer Gear FT3 poles unfold with the push of a button (where my thumb is about to hit it). A lever lock allows you to adjust the length further.
The Gossamer Gear FT3 trekking poles are the easiest to use lightweight poles we tested. A simple button springs the three segments into a durable shaft. A lever lock allows you to adjust the height further. This mechanism is similar to what we found in the Leki Makalu FX Carbon and Leki Cressida FX Carbon, but the FT3 are more than 5 oz lighter. For more tips, check out our How to Choose Trekking Poles guide.
Ease of storing
With a length of 15", the Gossamer Gear FT3 poles are easy to reach behind and stow or pull out without having to take off your pack and without requiring a lot of dexterity in your shoulders.
We tested many models of poles that fold down into three pieces, but the Gossamer Gear FT3 folded to one of the shortest lengths. This is convenient for fitting in a fastpack or running pack, which has less room for longer items. This will also work with ultralight packs for thru-hiking like the Pa'lante V2 pack, which has minimal room for fitting poles.
Marked for setting up ultralight shelters
The Gossamer Gear FT3s have a marker showing length in cm and also the length of pole needed to set up a shelter.
We also like how the FT3 trekking pole has marks on it specifically to show you the length to set up trekking-pole supported ultralight shelters. On thru-hikes, it is easy to forget the exact height of the pole you need for set-up. Many hikers mark their poles with duct tape, which is sticky and messy. Gossamer realized hikers want that height and printed it right on the pole.
Features
Comparison of length of ultralight poles. Left to right: Zpacks Minimalist, Gossamer Gear LT5, Gossamer Gear FT3. The FT3 are the shortest poles when stowed away at 15" in length.
Carry-on friendly 15" folded length
This is among the smallest folding trekking pole sizes we tested. Recent TSA regulations allow you to once again bring trekking poles as carry-on (previously, you had to check them). This is if you have "blunt tips" (the rubber tips that the poles come with may or may not qualify), and it is subject to your local TSA agent. But the 15" length is huge in making it easier to fit these poles in a carry-on. The LT5s, for comparison, only break down to 23.5", which makes them difficult to pull out of the pack without taking off the pack.
Carbon Fiber Shaft
For its weight, carbon fiber is considered the strongest material for ultralight trekking poles. The maximum diameter of this shaft is 16.3 mm, and it tapers to 12.7 mm in the middle and bottom sections. These are thinner than some other hiking poles but not as thin as some running poles.
Cork Grip
The EVA-foam-molded faux-cork grip on Gossamer Gear poles is considered among the best in the industry. Although less angled and featured than a Leki cork trekking pole, these are extremely light and extremely comfortable.
Wrist strap
The minimalist but still comfortable nylon wrist strap is built in.
Carbide Tips
Underneath the rubber tips are strong carbide tips. We've found we usually get years of thru-hiking out of carbide tips on similar Gossamer Gear poles. They are sharp, so use the rubber tips if you are going to take them on a plane and hope to carry them on. TSA won't let sharp tips through. As always, the local TSA agent has final say on whether your trekking poles will be allowed on the plane.
Rubber boots included
Close-up of the rubber boot on the Gossamer Gear FT3 folding poles.
The FT3 poles come with rubber boots. The rubber bottoms can help protect rock from getting scratched, though. These scratches are pretty noticeable on red rock like in the Grand Canyon. Usually, these fall off new poles pretty quickly (for example, on another carbon fiber pole, these lasted us less than 25 miles), though we haven't lost our Gossamer Gear rubber boots yet. Each one weighs 9 g, so if you're looking to cut weight, remove them.
Locking mechanism
Close-up on the lever lock system on the FT3 trekking poles.
The Gossamer Gear FT3 uses a quick-deploy button to lock the length of the shaft. A smaller section lets you adjust the height with a lever lock that is secure.
Shelter icon
Clever marks along the poles’ shafts show how many cm in length you should arrange your poles to set up a certain shelter.
Carbon fiber breakage covered under warranty:
The warranty does not cover carbon fiber breakage.
Similar trekking poles
Gossamer Gear FT3 vs Gossamer Gear LT5
Grip material: Cork
Weight: 9.8 oz (pair)
Maximum length: 130 cm
Shaft construction: Carbon fiber
Locking mechanism: Twist-lock
Adjustable wrist strap: Yes
Packing method: Collapsible shaft
The LT5s have been my go-to trekking poles for years and are our pick for best ultralight trekking poles. They are the same brand and are also three-piece poles. However, they don't fold. The LT5 uses twist-lock mechanisms to adjust the height of each segment. The LT5 are more lightweight but the twist-locks take some getting used to and can feel less secure. The twist-locks also take more time.
Since they're also three-piece, you can put them away for scrambling sections of trail. However, since they don't fold, each segment is separated and it is possible to lose a segment (shout-out to Ken who found and mailed me my lost segment during my Arizona Trail thru-hike!).
Choose the LT5s if you want the lightest poles possible, don't put a lot of weight on your poles, and are willing to put up with some slippage. Choose the FT3s if you are tired of the twist-lock slippage and are ok with a few extra ounces.
Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles
Gossamer Gear FT3 vs Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ
Grip material: EVA foam
Weight per pair: 10.7-12.8 ounces
Maximum length: 110-140 cm
Shaft construction: Carbon fiber
Locking mechanism: FlickLock Pro
Adjustable wrist strap: Yes
Packing method: Foldable z-design
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ are running poles that are most similar to the FT3s. They weigh less than half an ounce more (for the largest size) and are priced similarly. Their clamp is reliable, and their stow speed is comparable. They’re our pick for best folding trekking poles.
The big difference between the two is the grip and who they are designed for. The Gossamer Gear FT3, despite marketing that they are for trail runners, is really a great pole for thru-hiking. They are designed for thru-hikers who are out in the backcountry for a week or more without easy access to the tools to adjust poles. The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ are designed for trail runners, who are putting in extreme miles and faster speeds, but usually people get back to their car at the end of the night and can access a tool kit.
We found the foam grips and wrist straps on the Black Diamond poles comfortable on long days and even more so over weeks. The grips are firm, inflexible foam that grow slick with sweat and aren't the best in high humidity.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ
Gossamer Gear FT3 vs Zpacks Minimalist
Shaft construction: Carbon fiber
Locking mechanism: Clasp lock
Grip material: EVA foam or cork handle
Weight per pair: 14.4 oz
Maximum length: Fixed length. Sizes go up to 137 cm (142 for tent pitch)
Adjustable wrist strap: Yes
Packing method: Folding
The Zpacks Minimalist poles are similar to the LT5 trekking poles — they are both three-piece carbon fiber models. However, the Minimalist poles use clasp levers instead of twist-locks to secure each segment. It isn't folding, so it is possible to lose the segments.
In our experience, the clasp locks are not very secure, similar to those on the Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber trekking poles we got at Costco. The Zpacks trekking poles are a great weight and an even greater price for poles of that weight. However, they aren't as secure as we'd like, and come with foam grips and an uncomfortable nylon webbing wrist strap.
Zpacks Minimalist Trekking Poles
Should I buy the Gossamer Gear FT3?
The author on a rocky hike in the Sierra with the FT3 trekking poles.
Buy if:
You're an ultralight thru-hiker who uses a trekking pole tent and wants poles that are easier to use and more secure than the Gossamer Gear LT5s
You want the lightest folding trekking poles available
You want ultralight poles for the 14 reasons you can use trekking poles
You are a fastpacker or runner who wants to stash your poles quickly, pull them out of your pack, and deploy quickly
Skip if:
You put a lot of weight on your poles or carry a heavy load. In that case, go with an aluminum pole
You want the most ultralight poles and are willing to put up with some inconvenience to save a few ounces—go with the Gossamer Gear LT5 instead
You need race-day running poles–opt for something like the Leki Neotrail Pro FX.One Superlite that is even lighter and has a smaller diameter
Where to buy the Gossamer Gear FT3
The Gossamer Gear FT3 poles on crumbling trail in Redwoods National Park.
The Gossamer Gear FT3 poles are popular gear items, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
Gossamer Gear
Sometimes, purchasing directly from Gossamer Gear can make it easier if you need to make a warranty return due to a defect.
Garage Grown Gear
Pros: Small ultralight cottage focused retailer
FAQs
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The FT3s fold and use a quick-deploy button and lever lock to adjust. The LT5s use twist locks to adjust and are slower to fully extend. FT3s fold to 15" whereas the LTs fold to 23.5".
While similar, the LT5s use a twist lock to adjust, and the FT3s use a quick-deploy button to lengthen and a lever lock to adjust. Both are three-piece, carbon fiber running poles made by Gossamer Gear. The FT3s are folding, so the pieces stay together for fast stowing and pulling out of a quiver while running or fastpacking.
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Yes, depending on your TSA agent. The newest TSA regulations state that poles can be carried on if they have blunt tips, not sharp tips. The FT3s come with rubber tips and fold to 15", an airline carry-on friendly dimension. However, the TSA agent may ask if the rubber tips are removable, so you could be forced to check them.
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Yes, Gossamer Gear tents are almost all designed to be set up with trekking poles. The FT3s come with length markers etched on the side that show the length of pole you need for the height of your tent.
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No, carbon fiber breakage is not covered under warranty for the FT3s.
Why you should trust us / About the author
To test the Gossamer Gear FT3 trekking poles, Liz Thomas spent 4 months testing these poles on hikes and backpacking trips up and down California and Oregon. She tested on everything from well-maintained PCT trail in Oregon to loose and abandoned steep burnt out trail to summits in Southern California. In addition to Liz testing, another tester used these poles on hikes in Redwood National Park, Big Sur, and the Central Coast of California. Lastly, Liz backpacked and hiked with these poles in the Eastern Sierra for a month, using them to set up a trekking pole shelter where she slept.
Liz is an award-winning Los Angeles-based writer and Editor-in-Chief of Treeline Review. A former Fastest Known Time (FKT) record holder on the Appalachian Trail, Liz came to Treeline Review from the New York Times/Wirecutter, the New York Times’ product review site, where she was a staff writer on the outdoor team.
Liz has talked gear on Good Morning America (TV), in The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Men’s Journal, Women’s Health, Gizmodo, and Outside Magazine.
You can read more about Liz at her Wikipedia page or on her website. See all her Treeline Review articles on her author page.
