ok, this maybe a noob question, but..

i have never been a big fan of trekking poles but am considering getting some. i like the Black Diamond poles because they don't have that twist lock mechanism. i also don't want fixed length poles. my question is...

what's good? what's bad?

The black diamond poles are well liked because of the locking mechanism. They are bomber but heavy.

Both titanium goat and gossamer gear make adjustable poles... these are the lightest options, and many people love them.

The other popular choice is the REI Peak UL... mainly because you can sometimes pick them up pretty cheap on sale (eg. just $55 recently at REI). These are actually Komperdell C3 poles rebranded by REI. They are mid-weight between the black diamond and the titanium goat/GG poles, but seemingly not nearly as reliable as either. You'll find more people who complain about these ones not working as intended (I own some and they are fine, there's a bit of a knack to using the locking mechanism properly I think).

If you can afford $150 for poles I would go for gossamer gear or titanium goat.

Wrist straps are a debatable issue -- reasonable people on both sides of that one. Some say that with the UL poles there is no point in a wrist strap; I disagree.

If you do want a wrist strap on UL poles, note that GG has some being beta-tested as we speak. I have a pair and I like them a lot.

You'd have to ask GG about a release date if that matters to you.

--MV

Trekking poles made a huge difference in my hiking comfort. I was against them for a long time until I gave them a shot and now I'd have a hard time leaving them behind.

In case you're looking for votes, I have a pair of the REI Peak UL's and love them. For as many people who complain about them not locking properly, I think I can show you a near equal number of people who didn't lock them correctly. I've never had a problem.

I also have a pair of the new Gossamer Gear Lighttrek 4's. They are also great. Mine didn't have straps. After 100 miles, I decided I personally needed them after my hands started getting blisters. Straps allow you to relax your grip. Without them, you're in contact with the grip 100% of the time. I mentioned my concern to Grant (GG) and he is actually putting on some of the beta strap versions as we speak. (Reading between the lines, Gossamer Gear = Great customer service)

I really like the locking mechanism on the Black Diamond poles. Mine don't weigh more than the older Komperdell poles I had.

Wait till you see the new Komperdells. Think BD type flicklock mechanisms on a full carbon pole with light foam grips and wrist straps weighing only ~4.9 oz per pole. These things look awesome. I don't have any major problems with the conventional twist locks, but I don't care who you are they're slow and cumbersome when compared to flicklocks. Can't wait till these things start selling.

PM sent

4.9oz. per pole! That weight is surprisingly minimal, I'd be curious to see the kind of long term use one could get out of those on the trail. I have never used a carbon fiber product other than a mountain bike, and I remember it being very stiff and the ride felt brittle with a carbon frame. Is this the case with carbon fibre trekking poles, pertaining to the stiff feeling under use?

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/carbon_fiber_trekking_poles_review_summary.html

This might help in your decision making process.

The Black Diamond Flicklock poles are pretty popular; they're also pretty heavy. :-)

New contenders since this review summary are the Gossamer Gear adjustable poles and the upcoming Komperdell poles. The Titanium Goats are worth a look too.

Best, Doug

I too was a resistant convert to trekking poles but, now I will not go backpacking with out them. They revolutionized my backpacking experience. If I am going to do any combination of carrying a load, hiking long distances or hiking over steep terrain, I can't think of a good reason not to use poles.

Can you think of any bipedal animals that live in an alpine habitat? No! O.k., birds, but they have wings... The bipedal design sucks for steep terrain; quadrupeds rule in the mountains.

One of my favorite things about poles is that they give your arms something to do instead of just dangle there like dead hunks of meat. I love the low impact, full body work out I get hiking with poles. Of course, some people use them solely for balance, but I really like putting a little weight into them.

I Own two pairs of poles:

My first pair is a set of killer Leki poles with anti-shock springs and angled cork grips. They are the Cadillac of poles and are super comfy to use, but heavy.

My second pair are REI Peak UL's (which are made by Komperdell). They are three piece carbon fiber poles with simple light weight handles. Carbon fiber is the strongest, lightest, load bearing material available. I take the UL's over the Leki's every time. Light weight poles are a joy to use. I also really like the ability to change the length of the poles for extended uphill or downhill sections of trail and for setting up shelters.

Also, I'm all about using straps. Like others have mentioned, they let you relax your grip while using the poles, which I think is a big plus.

I have been using Komperdell C3 for close to 2 years.
I am very happy with them, the locking mechanism can be a bit tricky once in a while though.
I had one carbon shaft broke without stress just under the handle during my hike last summer in Iceland, it was a good thing my wife recently converted to using poles, as we needed 2 to setup our shelter ( MSR twin sisters)
After sending a photo, Komperdell offered to repair for free my pole wich was past the one year garanty :)

Ill be looking for those pole with flintlock mechanism though if i have to change poles anytime soon.

> Can you think of any bipedal animals that live in an alpine habitat?

Bears?

Cheers

I am on my second pair of REI Peak ULs and really like them. I do have some BDs but just for winter use, the Alpine CF models.

I just saw the new Komperdell’s and want to try those out. They look nice.

Have you seen images online of these poles Raymond?

I am on my second set of REI CF Compact poles. I am 5-8ish and they are long enough. They go high enough for my SMD Luna Solo.
After setting them down to demonstrate route finding skills on the third heated discussion of location, and where the Egypt trail head was on the topo, (d&#n it! We are going the wrong way!) on a cross country section exiting the Escalante river, I forgot to pick my first pair up. They are in the process of becoming archaeological relics in the desert north west of Fence Canyon.
I have found that cleaning them periodically and using Silicone lube, very carefully, on the threads, reduces lock problems. What happens is that the light friction of the expander on the inside of the shafts becomes overwhelmed by the thread friction. This makes the expander rotate with the shaft you are turning, as opposed to gripping the outer shaft and driving the expansion wedge up the thread. I use them strenuously, both up and down hill.

I would recommend them and get another pair, if needed.

edited for that speling thing!

Edited by malndman on 02/27/2009 08:34:04 MST.

Comments from above:

“i also don't want fixed length poles.”

How come? Most people set their poles at one length and do the entire hike that way. They don’t want to keep readjusting the length.

And from others:

“straps…I decided I personally needed them after my hands started getting blisters.”

You only get blisters once. That was a teaching mechanism for me such that I changed my grip for the better and never got blisters again.

“Also, I'm all about using straps. Like others have mentioned, they let you relax your grip while using the poles, which I think is a big plus.”

Umm… the GG 2.4oz poles are so light, that you are allowed to relax your grip. This becomes natural; Use firm grip for the push and relax grip for the carry. This is also why UL strapless poles totally alleviate swollen hands while hiking. And this is why you never will get that yank-back-break-wrist syndrome when the trekking pole gets lodged between rocks. Strapless is one of the best ways to do hand-muscle exercises while backpacking. Use it or lose it.:)

-Barry

>> “i also don't want fixed length poles.”
>
> How come? Most people set their poles at one length and do the entire hike that way.
> They don’t want to keep readjusting the length.

1) I agree that I do not change the length a lot, but it is nice to be able do so for sustained up or down.

2) Even if I never change the length while hiking, my hiking length is quite different from my tent-pitching length.

>> “Also, I'm all about using straps. Like others have mentioned,
>> they let you relax your grip while using the poles, which I think is a big plus.”
>
> Umm… the GG 2.4oz poles are so light, that you are allowed to relax your grip.
> This becomes natural; Use firm grip for the push and relax grip for the carry.

Straps allow me to take the force on my wrists/arms, not my fingers and hands. I never need to have a "firm grip". Doing so works better for me. This does assume you use the straps correctly -- I have seen plenty of folks on the trail who do not.

> This is also why UL strapless poles totally alleviate swollen hands while hiking.

You lost me here -- I have never noticed using the straps causing swollen hands for me.

-- MV

Edited by blean on 02/27/2009 16:01:58 MST.

Barry,

Are you a Nordic skier?

I am just curious because I wonder whether there is a correlation between pro-strap and Nordic skiing background.

Anyone else have any comments on whether or not that correlation exists?

-- Bob

(BTW: the poles I am using wrist straps with are GG Lightrek 4's -- beta test -- I recommend them to those who like straps when they come out. Also, as currently designed, the straps are easily removable if you subsequently decide you do not want them. Better check what actually gets released before depending on that, though.)

Edited by blean on 02/27/2009 16:13:37 MST.

Straps and height adjustments.
To me if you do not use them you are not getting the best out of walking poles, but it is just a personal observation.
Strap and Nordic skiing background.
Someone pointed out that to me after I posted (a long time ago ) about how I was using the strap. At that moment I realised that I grew up seeing folk doing that but had forgotten about it at a conscious level. So when I first used them, I automatically inserted my hand in the strap "the Nordic way". Several family members have been cross country competitors but never had a pair of skis on myself.
Franco

Before switching to SUL poles (I now have both the TiGoat AGP's and the GG Lightrek 4 poles), I firmly believed in straps. When I changed over from the heavy Leki's, I quickly got used to the lighter poles and even tried using straps with the TiGoat's. I no longer want, or use straps since the style of hiking I do doesn't warrant their use. I want a lightweight, maneuverable, quick to plant and retrieve pole. Straps hinder the ability to do this quickly and efficiently due to the hand being in a semi-fixed position.