About Us
Our story · Bozeman, Montana
Built on a trail. Made for every walk.
We're Rory and Emily, two hikers raising our family in Bozeman, Montana. Hiker Hunger began in 2014 with resupply boxes for thru-hikers. A year later we made our first trekking poles, built to last a long trail at a price that makes sense.
Why people choose us
Why 150,000+ hikers and walkers picked Hiker Hunger.
Quality without the markup
Carbon fiber, cork grips and metal flip locks, for far less than the big names.
Everything in the box
Tips, rubber feet, mud and snow baskets, and a carry bag come with every set.
A family business
Rory, Emily and a small team who answer every email themselves.
Built to last
A 1-year warranty, and poles from our first year are still on the trail.
As seen in
It started with tinkering. After every hike we wanted to change something about our gear, so we built our own prototypes and handed them to family and friends. More than 12 years later, that habit is Hiker Hunger.
Our journey
From a resupply box to Big Sky Country.
Hiker Hunger began in California in 2014, sending resupply boxes to thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest, Appalachian and Continental Divide trails. In 2015 we moved to Massachusetts and made our first trekking poles, and for years a lot of you knew us as a New England company. In 2022 we moved our family and the business to Bozeman, Montana.
Swipe through the years →
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1 of 52014California
Resupply boxes for thru-hikers on the PCT, AT and CDT.
Next: 2015 → -
2 of 52015Massachusetts
We make our first trekking poles.
Next: 2017 → -
3 of 52017Pacific Crest Trail
We hike 800 miles of the PCT and meet customers on the trail using our poles. A surreal moment.
Next: 2022 → -
4 of 52022Bozeman, Montana
We move our family and the business west.
Next: Today → -
5 of 5Today150,000+ customers
Still a family business, shipping from Montana.
← Back to 2014
Why we started
Two hikers and a workbench.
Long miles, big climbs, and quiet summits before anyone else showed up. That's what we loved. Our gear never felt quite right, and the good stuff cost a fortune. So we started making our own.
In 2017 we hiked 800 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail together, so we know what a pole has to survive. Our first carbon fiber poles shipped in 2015. Some of that first batch is still out on the trail.
Rory at mile 500 of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017, with an early pair of our poles. He still uses them today, almost 10 years later.
Who found us
Then everyone else found us.
We built our poles for thru-hikers. Then the letters started coming from everyone else: walkers getting back on their feet after knee or hip surgery, people with Parkinson's who stand up straighter with two poles, physical therapists, grandparents, and kids on their first hike.
A two-mile loop around the lake matters to us as much as a 42-mile weekend.
Built to last
Made to last. Built to fix.
If a section breaks, we sell the section, so you never have to replace the whole pole. Every pole carries a 1-year warranty, and our small team makes it right when something goes wrong.
Why our poles cost less
You shouldn't have to choose between quality and price.
We sell online, not through big outdoor retailers. That keeps a full carbon fiber set with every accessory well below the price of the big names.
Letters from our customers
Loved by everyone, from thru-hikers to first steps after surgery.
Check out all the different types of people who use our poles. They're not just hikers.
- Thru-hikers
- Section hikers
- Camino pilgrims
- Travelers
- Hikers in their 70s and 80s
- Hunters and foragers
- After knee surgery
- After hip surgery
- Living with Parkinson's
- Living with MS
- After a stroke
- Physical therapists
- Veterans
- Snowshoers
- Scouts and families
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Thru-hikers
Lasted 575mi on the PCT (2017) with no issues
Verified buyer -
Section hikers
Helped this "old man" keep up with his son during a sloppy and snowy section hike on the AT.
Verified buyer -
Camino pilgrims
I took mine on the 500 mile Camino last year and they were perfect.
Joan B. -
Travelers
They were able to fit in my checked luggage. I used them to hike 70 miles in varied terrain
Connie -
Hikers in their 70s and 80s
I'm in my 70's but still take 8-10 mile hikes on rugged terrain.
Keith O. -
Hunters and foragers
I'm a 70 year old woman and I hunt and forage the mountains of North Idaho.
Verified buyer -
After knee surgery
My physical therapist suggested I search out a pair of trekking poles after I mentioned I missed my morning dog walks.
Verified buyer -
After hip surgery
I got my Hiker Hunger sticks and found confidence in walkibg!
Diane D. -
Living with Parkinson's
i have Parkinson's, i use walking sticks instead of a cane, because i stand up straighter
John R. -
Living with MS
I have MS and it works better than a cane for stability.
Kathleen W. -
After a stroke
With these I can stand up straight and are allowing me to walk more normally.
Llana S. -
Physical therapists
I am a retired Physical Therapist and like to use hiking stix as a tool to get patients past a walker.
Paul M. -
Veterans
I am a disabled veteran and have trouble walking due to bad knees.
Verified buyer -
Snowshoers
Work perfectly for snowshoeing.
Ann H. -
Scouts and families
Perfect for my son's hiking trip with Boy Scouts.
Verified buyer
Swipe to read their stories →
Recovering from surgery or living with a health condition? Ask your doctor or physical therapist whether trekking poles are a good fit for you.
What we believe
How we run Hiker Hunger.
Gear for everyone who moves
A thru-hiker and a walker on the neighborhood loop get the same poles and the same care from us.
Quality you can afford
We sell direct so we can use 100% carbon fiber and metal flip locks and still keep the price fair.
Fix it, don't throw it out
Every section and accessory is sold on its own, so one broken part never ends a pair of poles.
Real people, real answers
Call, text, or email and you'll reach our small team, the same people who test the poles.
We make it right
If something isn't right with your order or your poles, we fix it personally.
Get outside more
Our goal is simple: help as many people as possible keep walking, hiking, and exploring for as long as they want.
Giving back
Giving back to the trail, and the people on it.
By the way, we donate a portion of our profits to the following organizations.
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Mental health outdoors
Hike the Good Hike
We met Jesse, the founder of Hike the Good Hike, on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. Since then we've donated to his nonprofit, which helps people improve their mental health through time outdoors.
Learn more → -
Trail care
Pacific Crest Trail Association
We donated to the PCTA around the time of our 2017 hike. The PCTA maintains and protects the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.
Learn more → -
New Hampshire veterans
Veterans On The 48
We've donated to Veterans On The 48, a New Hampshire nonprofit that leads group hikes for veterans and service members on the state's 48 peaks over 4,000 feet and helps them get hiking gear.
Learn more → -
Kids' mental health
Oishei Children's Hospital
We've donated to Oishei Children's Hospital in Buffalo, New York, to support mental and behavioral health care for kids.
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Montana
Big Sky Professional Ski Patrol
We've donated to the Big Sky Professional Ski Patrol, the patrollers who keep skiers safe at Big Sky Resort, close to our home in Bozeman.
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Fly fishing for women
Casting for Recovery
We've donated to Casting for Recovery, a national nonprofit that runs free fly fishing retreats for women with breast cancer.
Learn more →
"I chose these over Leki or Black Diamond for the price, the included accessories, and supporting a small company. I emailed Hiker Hunger before ordering as I needed my poles on a last minute trip and I heard back within minutes. Emily hand-delivered my order as we lived nearby! I have never experienced this level of customer service. I'm now a loyal repeat customer."
Leslie M.
A note from Rory & Emily
Thanks for walking with us.
We're hikers, parents, and small business owners. We don't take it lightly that you trust our poles on the trail, on the sidewalk, or anywhere else you need to go.
Questions about sizing, setup, or an order? Call or text us. You'll reach our team in Bozeman.