Are carbon fiber touring poles worth the extra cost, or should I save money with aluminum?

Carbon fiber is worth it if you tour frequently or tackle long ascents. The weight savings of 50-100 g per pair compared to aluminum translates to noticeably less fatigue over thousands of pole plants on a big day. Carbon also provides better vibration dampening for comfort on the descent. However, carbon poles can snap under sharp impacts (like hitting a rock), while aluminum bends. If you ski rocky, variable terrain or are hard on equipment, aluminum-carbon hybrid poles offer a good compromise—durable aluminum near the grip where impacts occur and lightweight carbon in the lower sections where swing weight matters.