How to Maintain Your Trekking Poles: Tips, Locks, and Replacing Tips/Baskets

Trekking poles don’t need crazy maintenance, but they do need a little respect—especially if you hike in mud, sand, or snow. A 5-minute clean-up after the trail can be the difference between “slides smoothly” and “why won’t this section come apart?”. Here’s a simple, hiker-level maintenance routine.

1. Rinse and dry after gritty or salty hikes

• Pull the sections apart (don’t worry, you can past the stop line).
• Rinse the lower sections with clean water to get rid of sand, mud, and road salt.
• Dry with a towel and let everything air-dry separated before storing.
• Why: grit is what makes locks slip and what scratches carbon/aluminum from the inside.

2. Take care of lever (flick) locks

Most good poles (like Freevane) use external lever locks.

• If they start to slip, open the lever and tighten the tiny tension screw a quarter turn. Close and test.
• Keep the cam area free of mud—wipe with a damp cloth.
• Don’t oil the lock. Oil attracts grit.

(If you uses twist locks, you need dry the inside thoroughly and keep the expander clean—wet twist locks are the ones that slip.)

3. Check your tips

Carbon or aluminum poles are fine, but the tip is a consumable.

Replace the tip when:

• the carbide point is worn flat,
• the tip housing is cracked, or
• the basket thread is stripped.

Most tips are just pull-off / push-on or heat-softened glue types. Do this at home, not trailhead.

4. Baskets: swap by season

• Small trekking basket for most 3-season hiking
• Wide basket for snow, mud, loose ground
  If you hike with the wrong basket, the pole sinks deeper, which stresses the lower section. Swapping baskets is cheap insurance.

5. Storage: poles dry, locks open

• Store completely dry.
• Loosen the locks so the plastic/rubber parts aren’t under tension for months.
• Keep away from car trunks that get hot—heat + moisture = stuck sections.

6. Quick annual check

• Are the length markings still visible?
• Any cracks, deep gouges, or crushed spots on the lower section? Replace the section.
• Straps still sewn tight? Frayed straps can surprise you on descents.

If you need replacement baskets, tips, or a fresh pair of carbon poles, grab them here → Freevane Outdoor Gear”