Pole Position: A Beginner’s Trek with the One Way Sports MTX Carbon Vario

In my 10+ years at Run Oregon, I’ve reviewed what feels like a literal ton of gear. From the basics like shoes and apparel to more specialized items featured in our camping and test kitchen sections, I’ve received a wide range of products.

However, over all that time, there’s one item I’ve never received for review—trekking poles. Honestly, it’s long overdue. But as of last month, that’s changed, as I’ve finally started testing them out courtesy of the One Way Sports MTX Carbon Vario. Read on for a “newbie’s” take on these.

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The reason I haven’t had trekking poles in my arsenal until now is multifaceted. First, I’m a casual hiker at best—which might be considered blasphemy for most Oregonians, but it’s the truth. Additionally, while I’ve done a variety of trail running over the years, it’s been pretty sporadic and hasn’t typically involved the intense, lung-busting vertical ascents that some other bloggers take on.

However, as I’ve hit 40, I’ve found myself gradually seeking out more technical experiences. In the past few months, I’ve been borrowing trekking poles from my local library (shout out to Salem Library for offering this option), and I’ve really started to appreciate their benefits.

The Company

One Way Sports is an interesting company—originally from Finland but now owned by Fischer Sports. Both brands are deeply rooted in the skiing and winter sports world, which gives me confidence that I’m getting a product from a company that really knows what they’re doing in this sphere.

Performance and Functionality

Now, I’ll be honest—these trekking poles are probably not designed like the “truest of the true” running poles. I’ve seen and held those, and they always seem a bit too light and unstable for my taste. As a runner who isn’t particularly focused on speed and weighs around 200 pounds, I need something more solid. On the flip side, I’ve also tried out some hiking poles (thanks to my brother-in-law) that felt a bit excessive.

Based on my experience, these One Way Sports poles seem to strike a nice middle ground. They’re not the lightest on the market, but they’re definitely light enough to carry while running—and much lighter than the ones I checked out from the library. At the same time, they’re stable enough to handle regular use.

Pole Construction

The MTX Carbon Vario trekking poles are made from a 100% carbon shaft, which gives them a solid yet lightweight feel. I especially love that the poles are foldable into three sections and adjustable from 115 to 135 cm.

Once I figured out the mechanism, I found the adjustment process to be much quicker than with other poles I’ve used. There’s a small button at the top that, when depressed, initiates the folding process. It’s simple and efficient—probably not groundbreaking—but it works well. Even beyond the button, the locking system to adjust the length seems really top-notch. It was simple enough to accomplish and held up to my weight like a champ.

However, I do wonder how the button mechanism will hold up over time, especially in harsh weather conditions. I’ve seen similar buttons in other items, like outdoor furniture, that have become rusted or difficult to use due to rain and debris. That said, since these poles won’t be left out in the elements for extended periods, I’m fairly confident they’ll hold up just fine. Time will tell.

Hand Grip & Strap

The hand grip and strap on these poles are pretty straightforward. The only other pair of poles I’ve used for running had cork grips, which worked fine, but my hands would sometimes slip when they got sweaty. Fortunately, that hasn’t been an issue with these poles, thanks to their MT EVA grip.

As for the strap, I have to admit, I’ve never really adjusted one before. I usually just set it once and hope for the best, mainly because I’m not well-versed in how these things work. But with these poles, the strap is super simple to adjust, and honestly, that’s perfect for me. It’s fairly thin but seems durable. What I appreciate most is that I could adjust it even with the poles still in my hand—just pull the wider strap to loosen and the thinner strap to tighten. It’s so simple that I could even manage it mid-run, despite the usual brain fog.

Accessories

These poles come with screw-on baskets, which I’ve learned are designed to help keep your poles from getting stuck in gaps between rocks or other tricky areas, preventing accidental breakage. The baskets on these poles are a bit smaller—around 40mm—compared to others I’ve seen.

I don’t see this as a drawback, especially since I’m not using these poles for intense trekking. However, if needed, it seems possible to find larger baskets that could be added to these poles for more rugged conditions.

Packing

Since the MTX Carbon Vario is a folding pole, it’s great that it fits into a compact package. There have been plenty of times when I’ve had to carry longer poles—fully extended—while running on flat sections, which can be cumbersome. As I mentioned earlier, the folding mechanism with the button release is quick and simple, making it easy to collapse the poles and toss them into a pack (along with their carrying case) when not in use.

This feature isn’t just convenient for running or hiking, but also for packing. We recently took a trip to Hawaii, where I did some trail running (or rather, slow uphill walking) in steep canyons. The folding and lightweight design made these poles super easy to pack in my luggage without taking up much space.

Overall

I have been really impressed with the MTX Carbon Vario poles, especially as someone new to trekking poles. They seem to strike a perfect middle ground in terms of tech and simplicity and are versatile enough for running, hiking, and even light snow use. If you are looking for a solid, easy-to-use option that can handle multiple disciplines, these are an excellent choice.

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