TrailBlaze Aluminium

When it comes to selecting the best running poles for trail running, Mountain King stands out for its unmatched combination of strength, lightness, and durability. Especially for beginners, aluminium poles are a popular choice due to their accessible price point, but the quality varies. Mountain King redefines the aluminium running pole category with premium-grade materials and expert craftsmanship, making them the perfect fit for runners who want reliability and performance without breaking the bank.

Why Choose Mountain King Aluminium Running Poles?

Whether you’re a beginner trail runner or a seasoned athlete looking for a robust and reliable pole, Mountain King's aluminium poles are engineered to provide an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Unlike other brands, Mountain King uses aerospace-grade aluminium to ensure that your poles not only remain lightweight but also stand up to the demands of rugged trails and tough conditions.

Highest Grade Aluminium: Strength Meets Lightness

When choosing aluminium poles, the material’s grade plays a significant role in determining performance. Not all aluminium is equal—some alloys are lighter but less durable, while others are stronger but bulkier. Mountain King stands out by using the highest grade aluminium available, which has been specifically chosen to deliver the perfect balance of lightness and strength.

What Makes the Aluminium Used by Mountain King Special?

• Superior Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Mountain King’s aluminium poles are made from a high-strength, aerospace-grade alloy. This allows the poles to maintain a low weight while offering outstanding durability. The material has been selected to provide a high tensile strength, meaning the poles can withstand heavy use without compromising performance. Whether you're tackling steep inclines, uneven trails, or dealing with challenging weather conditions, these poles offer the resilience needed without weighing you down.

  • Resilient to Impact: Unlike lower-grade aluminium, which may bend or deform under pressure, the high-grade aluminium used by Mountain King is significantly more resistant to dents, bends, and other damage. This means the poles are designed to hold up even in the most demanding conditions, which is crucial for trail runners who often find themselves navigating rocky, unpredictable terrain. The poles are built to last and take on significant force without failing, making them ideal for runners who are new to the sport and looking for reliability as they begin their adventures.

  • Perfect for Beginners: The combination of strength and lightness makes Mountain King's aluminium poles a great choice for those just starting in the world of trail running. For beginners, having poles that are lightweight yet durable can make a significant difference in terms of energy conservation and overall comfort. The lower weight helps reduce arm fatigue, while the strong alloy means beginners can trust their poles to withstand the learning curve of trail running without the worry of breaking or excessive wear.

Fully Treated and Anodized for Durability

In addition to using the highest-grade aluminium, Mountain King goes a step further to ensure their poles are virtually indestructible. All their aluminium poles undergo a special heat treatment and anodizing process that enhances their strength, corrosion resistance, and longevity. This multi-step treatment process is what sets Mountain King apart from many other manufacturers.

The Treatment Process:

• Heat Treatment: The aluminium poles undergo a heat treatment that hardens the material and improves its overall strength. This process ensures that the poles can handle greater forces without bending or breaking. The increased hardness also improves the poles' resistance to scratches and wear, which is especially important for those who use their poles frequently in rugged environments.

• Anodization: Mountain King’s poles are also anodized, a process that adds a protective layer to the aluminium surface. Anodizing is not just an aesthetic touch—it’s a critical step that increases the poles' corrosion resistance. The anodized finish helps protect the poles from environmental elements like rain, saltwater, and dirt, ensuring they remain in top condition for years of use. The anodized layer also makes the poles more scratch-resistant, which is a crucial factor for maintaining their aesthetic and performance over time.

Manufactured with Precision in Newcastle: Quality You Can Trust

One of the key advantages of Mountain King’s aluminium poles is that all treatments, including heat treatment and anodizing, take place in Mountain King’s Newcastle factory. With a focus on rigorous quality control, each pair of poles is carefully crafted and tested to ensure they meet the highest standards. By keeping the manufacturing process in-house, Mountain King maintains full control over the quality and ensures that every pole that leaves the factory is built to last.

Toughness and Durability: Designed to Withstand Significant Force

• Mountain King’s aluminium poles are designed to take a lot of force before breaking. This durability is essential for trail runners who may be using their poles on challenging, unpredictable terrain. Whether it’s an accidental hit against a rock or a slip on a slippery incline, these poles are built to absorb stress and continue performing without snapping or breaking easily. Even if you happen to knock your poles against hard surfaces repeatedly or place excess weight on them, the strength of the aluminium and the protective anodized layer means that the poles can absorb that force without compromising their integrity.

• For beginner runners, this is particularly reassuring. Starting a new sport like trail running can involve a steep learning curve, and using poles that can withstand errors—such as incorrect plantings or unexpected impacts—is invaluable. Mountain King’s aluminium poles are forgiving and resilient, so beginners can focus on learning the technique and improving their performance without worrying about their gear failing.

Conclusion: The Ideal Choice for Beginners and Beyond

• In conclusion, Mountain King’s aluminium poles, crafted from the highest-grade aluminium and treated through an advanced heat treatment and anodizing process, offer a unique combination of strength and lightness. They are designed to be exceptionally durable, able to withstand significant impacts and forces without breaking. This makes them the ideal choice for beginners who are just starting their trail running journey and need a reliable, affordable pole that can keep up with the demands of the sport.

• The poles' superior strength-to-weight ratio ensures that even newcomers can benefit from lightweight performance without sacrificing durability. The attention to detail in the manufacturing process—carried out at Mountain King's own factory in Newcastle—guarantees that every pair of poles is built to last and deliver the best possible performance in all conditions.

• For anyone venturing into trail running, Mountain King’s aluminium poles represent an excellent investment in both reliability and performance, providing a solid foundation for runners to improve their technique and enjoy their running adventures with confidence.

SkyRunner and SkyRunner Ultra Carbon Running Poles: Performance-Driven for athletes that want the best:

When it comes to high-performance trail running poles, especially for ultramarathons and extreme terrain, the SkyRunner and SkyRunner Ultra Carbon poles from Mountain King represent the cutting edge of design and engineering. These poles are not just for everyday runners—they’re for those who demand lightweight, durable, and responsive poles that can outlast and outperform in the harshest conditions. Trusted by elite athletes around the world, these poles deliver exceptional performance and comfort, ensuring you can go further, faster, and with less fatigue.

For 2025, these poles are the best in the market—a superior choice compared to other brands like Leki—with Toray 800 carbon technology, sleek construction, and superior strength-to-weight ratios that make them the ultimate companion for any serious trail runner.

The SkyRunner Carbon Poles are designed for runners who want a lightweight and high-performance pole without compromising on strength. Ideal for mid-distance trail runners and ultramarathon participants, these poles use Toray 800 carbon—the best carbon available, offering unparalleled strength and responsiveness. Whether you're taking on steep climbs or technical descents, the SkyRunner Carbon Poles are the ultimate solution for runners who demand speed and efficiency.

Key Features of SkyRunner Carbon Poles:

Toray 800 Carbon:
The Toray 800 carbon used in the SkyRunner poles is the best in the market. Compared to lower-grade carbon fibres, like Toray 300, Toray 800 offers an exceptionally high stiffness-to-weight ratio. This means you get a pole that is incredibly light without sacrificing durability or responsiveness. Whether you're tackling a fast-paced climb or a technical descent, these poles provide instant power transfer, keeping you fast and efficient without weighing you down.

Ergonomic Comfort:
The SkyRunner poles come with ergonomic grips made from high-density foam, ensuring a comfortable, secure holdfor long races. The grips are designed to wick away sweat, keeping your hands dry during extended runs. Additionally, the long grip section allows for quick adjustments, so you can change hand placements on the fly, ideal for navigating varying elevations and terrains.

Featherlight Construction:
At just 110g per pole at 110cm, the SkyRunner Carbon poles are ultra-light and won’t slow you down during long runs. With a design built for comfort and efficiency, these poles reduce arm fatigue, helping you go longer with less effort. Their lightness also makes them easy to store when not in use—clip them to your pack or slide them into a side pocket for ultimate convenience.

Best for:

• Intermediate to advanced runners seeking a reliable, lightweight, and high-performing pole.

• Long-distance trail runners focused on comfort, speed, and weight savings.

• Runners who need a versatile pole with good impact resistance but still light enough for long races.

The SkyRunner Ultra Carbon Poles take the exceptional performance of the SkyRunner poles to the next level. Designed for elite athletes and those who demand maximum performance, the SkyRunner Ultra poles feature top-tier carbon technology and are built to withstand the most extreme conditions. Higher Stiffness: Toray 800 carbon fibre is known for its higher stiffness-to-weight ratio, meaning it is incredibly rigid while still maintaining a very low weight. This makes it ideal for poles that need to provide precise power transfer with minimal flex. When using running poles made from Toray 800, every pole plant delivers immediate energy transfer, which is critical when tackling steep climbs or challenging terrain.

• Lightweight Construction: Despite being incredibly strong, Toray 800 carbon fibre is extremely lightweight. This allows manufacturers to create poles that are easy to carry over long distances without sacrificing strength. For ultramarathoners and trail runners, reducing weight is crucial, and Toray 800 offers one of the best strength-to-weight ratios in the industry.

• Enhanced Durability: The high-performance nature of Toray 800 makes it resistant to wear, fatigue, and impact. It’s ideal for high-stress environments, meaning poles made with Toray 800 are less likely to crack, fracture, or break during extended use in rough conditions. This makes it particularly popular in elite-level running poles that need to perform under extreme conditions.

• Robust and Lightweight: The SkyRunner Ultra poles are incredibly light, weighing just 103g per pole at 110cm, making them the lightest carbon poles on the market for their performance level. Despite their ultra-light weight, these poles offer no compromise in strength. The secret lies in their reinforced carbon construction and the use of fully carbon connectors, which ensure that the poles remain rigid and capable of maximum power transfer with each pole plant. This combination of minimal weight and exceptional durability makes the SkyRunner Ultra poles an ideal choice for runners tackling technical terrains, steep climbs, and high-intensity races, where precision and strength are critical without adding extra weight to your gear.

• Ultimate Stability and Precision: The SkyRunner Ultra poles are engineered to provide absolute stability. The stiff construction offers minimal flex, which is ideal for when you need maximum precision and control on steep descents or rocky trails. They provide direct power transfer, reducing the energy loss that can occur with more flexible poles, allowing you to conserve energy and run faster with less effort.

• Designed for Extreme Conditions: The SkyRunner Ultra Carbon Poles are built with long-lasting durability in mind. The added stiffness and carbon construction make them impact-resistant and capable of handling the stresses of long ultramarathons, including extreme climbs, technical descents, and even rocky and snowy conditions. This makes them the perfect choice for serious athletes who participate in multi-day ultra-races or adventure races.

Best for:

• Elite athletes and ultramarathoners looking for the ultimate carbon pole for performance on tough terrain.

• Runners tackling extreme, technical courses that require precision, power transfer, and durability.

• Those who want a pole that can handle long distances, high-intensity ascents, and demanding weather conditions.

Conclusion: Which Pole is Right for You?

Both the SkyRunner and SkyRunner Ultra carbon poles represent the pinnacle of carbon pole technology, each catering to different needs and performance levels.

• The Skyrunner poles are lightweight, versatile, and perfect for runners who want an excellent balance of comfort, speed, and efficiency. They are ideal for those entering the world of ultrarunning or those who tackle less technical trails but still demand high performance.

• The SkyRunner Ultra poles are designed for those at the highest levels of endurance racing, offering maximum durability, stiffness, and precision for tackling the most extreme trails and ultramarathons.

Whichever pole you choose, Mountain King has ensured that both models deliver top-tier Toray 800 carbon technology, high-quality construction, and comfort, setting you up for success no matter the trail or distance. Whether you're starting your trail running adventure or pushing the limits in an ultra, these poles will ensure you have the support you need to succeed.