A close look at two trekking poles buyers cross-shop. The LT5 leans on low weight while the FT3 answers with packability, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Gossamer Gear LT5 | Gossamer Gear FT3 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 80✓ | 77 |
| Weight (pair) | 9.8 oz✓ | 12.4 oz |
| Packed length | 60 cm | 38 cm✓ |
| Max length | 130 cm | 130 cm |
| Min length | 51 cm | 110 cm |
| Price | $195✓ | $245 |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Fold style | Telescoping | Folding |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: LT5 in blue, FT3 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Min length is shown for context and is not scored. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full trekking-pole comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Gossamer Gear LT5 next to the Gossamer Gear FT3 and the trade-offs are clear. The LT5 wins on low weight and price, and the FT3 pushes back on packability.
The LT5 is 2.6 oz lighter per pair and $50 cheaper. The FT3 is 22 cm shorter packed. On the default GearScore the LT5 leads 80 to 77.
Pick the LT5 if you care most about low weight and price, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the FT3 if packability matter more to you, or you are focused on saving space in your pack.
The Gossamer Gear LT5. It is 2.6 oz lighter per pair than the FT3.
The Gossamer Gear FT3. It is 22 cm shorter packed than the LT5.
The Gossamer Gear LT5, 80 to 77 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the LT5 for low weight, or the FT3 for packability. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.