There are many good commercial poles produced. Aluminum, lightweight steel, wood. My preference is wood, but I now use aluminum the most. You can be creative, also, but choose wood with caution. Overly soft woods will disinegrate from the bottom up.
Hardwood is the best.
There are several choices one can make, when using ski-pole type hiking poles. Plastic is lifeless, cold, hard, and slippery. Foam isn't durable enough. Hard rubber and cork seem to mold to the hand well and are very durable. Make sure the finger grips fit your hands well.