The Foxelli Carbon Fibre poles from the lesser known brand Foxelli is possibly the cheapest carbon/cork combination pole in the market.
Because carbon fibre and cork are expensive materials to use in a pole, Foxelli opted to use slightly cheaper materials in this pole to deliver a product in the $50-$100 range.
Have a look at our review to see if this pole works for your next adventure.
Foxelli HOG1 Carbon Fibre Trekking Poles
While we were impressed by the cork handles and the comfort they delivered, the carbon shaft left much desired and let the pole down in a few categories.
The pole gave us the feeling that durability was compromised in order to deliver these otherwise expensive materials at an affordable price.
Apart from the issues surrounding quality, we enjoyed the many attachments that came with the set including some great snow baskets for all season use.
All in all, you get what you pay for with the Foxelli Carbon Fibre poles, which is a great-looking, comfortable, lightweight pole that lacks others in durability and performance but can save you a lot of money if you're on a really tight budget.
What we like
What we dislike
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Key Features
Durability
The HOG1 Carbon Fibre struggled the most when it came to the durability and longevity of the pole. The carbon used in the shaft is noticeably thinner than in the other carbon poles we tested and this can result in a pole that is under reinforced. Thinner carbon poles are more susceptible to cracking, especially during heavier, off-trail usage.
We didn’t encounter any problems in our test hike, but we definitely got the feeling that the pole is not designed for off-trail use and a few of us raised questions about its potential longevity after repeated use.
Typically, cheaper poles are made from aluminium which is naturally stronger but heavier than carbon, so the HOG1 Carbon Fibre brought something new to the market.
Comfort
The Foxelli pole made up for its lack of quality carbon fibre with a great pair of cork handles. The grips felt great in hand and, like all other cork grips, will mould through use. Foxelli even included a lower foam portion beneath the cork, similar to those we have seen in most premium cork grip poles this year.
The pole wasn’t the best tested in terms of its ability to absorb shocks, and this is likely down to the cheaper carbon once again. That being said, the cork grips provide great comfort for first time hikers or for those looking to save money and make the pole worthy of a spot on the top 10 list.
Weight
At just over 450g, the Foxelli HOG1 Carbon Fibre is lightweight, even for a carbon pole and is by far one of the cheapest poles under 500g. We did feel the pole could do with a sturdier carbon shaft, even if it meant adding a few grams onto the pole, but as a category of its own we couldn’t fault the weight of this pole.
The pole is light enough to be carried on climbs or even multiday hikes and is most suitable for people willing to give up a bit of durability for less weight.
Portability
As a 61cm long telescoping pole, the HOG1 Carbon Fibre is not very portable given the length of some of the poles we have seen in this year’s line-up. It is too long to fit into most backpacks, but luckily Foxelli include a carrying pack with the poles, although we doubt this will be useful while on a hike.
The poles are portable enough to fit into most baggage so should not be a problem when travelling and the carrying pack may even come in handy for fitting all the attachments and for protecting your poles from the other contents of your bag.
Versatility
As mentioned above, the pole comes with a handful of attachments such as two sets of interchangeable baskets including one for snow. This boosts the pole versatility and allows it to be used in a variety of seasons.
The pole is limited by its durability in that it can’t be used in off-trail conditions or for bushwhacking where we would recommend a tougher aluminium pole, however you shouldn’t encounter any problems for on-trail use where this pole performed well.
For a little over $50 you can get a lightweight carbon pole that is comfortable to use and that competes with the lower end of the premium poles on the market with a score of 3 out of 5 stars and a place on this year’s top 10.