Best fold-up hiking pole

Hiking poles are not allowed by TSA. You can do a search on "hiking poles in carry on" for several recent questions on the topic, here's just one example: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/hiking-poles-in-luggage

I am confused, because as I was searching the websites for the best pole, I had reviews from people who said they had no trouble at all with getting them through security. I will only be flying from the US to Germany and back home from Switzerland. No Europe flights.

Some people have managed to not have their poles confisticated, but the TSA site clearly states that they are not allowed in carryon.
Nothing to do with European flights.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/hiking-poles

People who have responded to these questions in the past have been very careful to distinguish between hiking poles (sporting goods) versus walking canes (medical devices). Here's a relevant TSA link: canes in carry on

Its OK to check a bag if you need to for hiking poles.

I've heard from some folks that they have been able to take folding poles - not telescoping - in their carry-on bag. HOWEVER, be ready to lose them via TSA (maybe you will, maybe you won't, but it's a definite maybe). You should be able to buy/rent poles at your destination, return/sell/leave them there when you return (or keep them and check your bag). Some folks even order them on Amazon and have them delivered to their first hotel (call your hotel first to confirm this).

As noted above and in the other linked forum question, whether you can get them past TSA is a crapshoot. Regardless if others have had success, there is no way to predict whether you will have the same outcome even taking the exact same poles that others have managed to get through. If you want to take your own poles that you know work for you, then you might as well check them - use a packable duffle bag that you can use to check them on the way home with your souvenirs. Several of the other forum questions and responses listed specific stores to rent or buy poles, that would be my chosen approach if it were me.

PS I just noticed your similar question under "general Europe" - you might want to delete that one so your answers are all in one place https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/lightweight-folding-trekking-pole

The reason I posted in the General Europe Forum as well as this one is that there is no real category for this question.. I posted this under "Technology" which it clearly is not. No good choices. And I appreciated the suggesting of renting them and turning them back in at the end of my trip. This does not work for me since my trip begins in Frankfurt, Germany and ends 3 weeks later in Zurich, Switzerland.

The folding poles you are asking about are call Z poles. They look like this:

https://www.rei.com/product/202396/black-diamond-distance-z-trekking-poles-pair

You can indeed find lots of stories from people who have successfully carried them on the plan in their bag. My sister was one of those—-until the poles were taken from her at the Madrid airport. Those other people who reported success on open or more occasions may have lost theirs too, later, but they did not come back to report that.

TSA says hiking poles are not allowed, regardless what kind of tip they have. And each airport in Europe may or may not have a similar rule. You won’t know if it is enforced until they make you remove them from your bag (or check it).

At over $100 a pair, that is not something I want to risk, so I check my bags when I carry poles, even though they do not have a sharp tip or even a metal one.

I need a walking aid. Bad knee.

I prefer a hiking stick.

BUT when flying I pack the hiking stick in the checked bag and use a regular T-top folding cane in the airport.

I don't want to take the chance of TSA confiscating my walking aid. I need it.

I have noticed TSA agents checking the tip on my cane at screening.

If you want to try getting it through TSA, I recommend taking a cheap one you are willing to have confiscated.

I've also seen hiking sticks on Amazon with descriptions indicating they can go in carry-on luggage. But when you look at the photos, they have the pointy tips that make them a No-Go per TSA rules.

So again, decide if you are willing to have it confiscated.

The poles Lola linked to are the same ones we bought last year for our Cotswold Way hike. They aren't as heavy-duty as our Leki poles (those won't fit in any of our bags--not even diagonally), but we found them to be plenty sturdy both on wet grass and rock inclines. Another benefit is that they fold small enough to fit in one of the outside pockets on my pack, so I could have my hands free when we were walking across dry fields. They do have to go in a checked bag though.

If you are willing to risk TSA confiscating them, Decathlon has them really cheap. My other half just checked hers to France and got them right away at the carousel after the flight.