Mountain King is the premier brand dedicated to crafting poles specifically for the demands of trail and ultra running. Our ultra-lightweight poles are an essential part of any runner’s kit, engineered to provide explosive propulsion, stability, and total control when navigating technical mountain terrain at pace. Shop our extensive range of mountain running poles and conquer your next peak with confidence.
From the West Coast Peaks to the Laurentians: Mastering the Vert with Mountain King
In the world of Canadian trail and ultra-running, the terrain doesn’t just challenge your lungs; it tests your resilience. From the technical, root-choked climbs of British Columbia’s North Shore to the relentless "East Coast vert" of the Charlevoix Highlands, the difference between a podium finish and a grueling DNF often comes down to efficiency. For the Canadian runner, trekking poles are no longer a "luxury"—they are a high-performance necessity.
Mountain King, a specialist British manufacturer with over 30 years of engineering heritage, has become the gold standard for endurance athletes worldwide. Now making significant strides in the Canadian market, Mountain King offers a range of poles specifically designed to shave grams without sacrificing the structural integrity required for the rugged Canadian wilderness.
The Ultra-Runner’s Edge: Why Every Gram Matters
In a 100km race like the Squamish 50 or the Quebec Mega Trail, you will take thousands of steps. Research suggests that using high-quality poles can reduce the impact on your knees and hips by up to 7–11 kg per step. Over the course of an ultra, that is a literal ton of weight lifted off your joints.
Mountain King poles are engineered with a singular focus: Optimal Strength-to-Weight Ratio. By utilizing aerospace-grade aluminium and premium RDC carbon fiber, these poles allow Canadian runners to maintain a faster cadence on climbs and provide a "quad-saving" tripod effect on technical descents.
The Lineup: Precision Tools for the Canadian Trail
1. The SkyRunner Series : The Peak of Lightweights Performance
For the competitive athlete where every second counts, the SkyRunner Series is a masterclass in minimalism. Crafted from RDC or SRC Carbon Fiber, these are among the lightest poles on the planet, with the 110cm model weighing a staggering 103g (SkyRunner Ultra).
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Why it’s perfect for Canada: The SkyRunner features 4-section construction with carbon connectors, ensuring maximum rigidity. In the high-alpine sections of the Rockies, where wind and lateral force can cause lesser carbon poles to flex, the SkyRunner remains stiff and responsive, transferring every ounce of your energy into upward momentum.
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The "M and N -Fold" Advantage: Unlike traditional 3-section poles, Mountain King’s offers both 3 and 4-section design allows for an incredibly compact pack-size or a race proven fitting for all quivers in the 3 section configuration. Designed to slots seamlessly into the narrow pole quivers of modern race vests (like those from Salomon or Arc'teryx), keeping your silhouette streamlined for fast-moving technical sections.
2. TrailBlaze: The Workhorse of the North
While carbon is the king of the podium, the Trail Blaze (Aluminium) is the unsung hero of the Canadian trail community. Built from high-tensile 7075 aluminium alloy, these poles offer a level of "pardon" that carbon cannot.
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Durability in the "Bush": Canadian trails are notoriously rugged. If you catch a pole between a granite crack in the Whistler backcountry or a thick root in the Don Valley, aluminium is more likely to bend slightly rather than shatter. This makes the Trail Blaze the ideal choice for FKT (Fastest Known Time) attempts or multi-day fastpacking trips through the West Coast Trail.
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Weight that Defies Logic: Even in aluminium, Mountain King outperforms the competition. At approximately 115g to 135g per pole, they are frequently lighter than many competitors' flagship carbon models.
3.Engineered for the Elements
The Canadian climate demands gear that performs from the humid summers of Southern Ontario to the freezing sleet of a late-season race in the Maritimes.
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Tungsten Carbide Tips: Every Mountain King pole is fitted with a heavy-duty carbide wear tip. Whether you are navigating slick limestone or frozen mud, these tips provide "bite" where rubber fails.
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Airflow Grips & Ergonomic Straps: The integrated moisture-wicking foam grips are designed to prevent blisters even during the high-output sweat of a vertical kilometer. The wrist straps are minimalist and fixed-length, removing the "fiddling" often required with adjustable straps when you're wearing gloves in the alpine.
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Winter Ready: Both the SkyRunner and Trail Blaze series come with interchangeable baskets. For Canadian runners who don't stop when the snow flies, the ability to swap in snow baskets turns your race poles into the perfect tool for winter trail charging or snowshoe racing.
The Verdict: British Engineering for Canadian Ambition
Mountain King doesn't make general "walking sticks." They make mountain tools. For the Canadian runner who treats the mountains as their playground and their proving ground, Mountain King provides the stability to go further and the lightness to go faster.
Whether you are training for your first 25km trail race or lining up for the UTHC 125, Mountain King poles are the ultimate upgrade for your kit. They are built in the UK, tested in the harshest fells, and ready to dominate the Canadian wilderness.
Ready to elevate your performance?