Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

These are the best adjustable poles I have ever used or seen!

Building a good CF pole is easy. I have a closet full... Building a great one is hard and this one is Great.

They adjust and lock easy- no twisting for eternity to get them to relock. (The locking design is at least 4X more solid than the early Prototype Lightrek pair I saw last year and should last a very long time and is easy for the user to clean in the field if ever needed.)

The handle is a softer grip that other poles and I find it causes less hand fatigue.

I have a pair with a very very light GG removable wrist strap system that mounts on top of the handle and while simple, is just right as I don't like anything extra that I don't need. ( I think they will be avialable soon.)

The swing weight is noticable lighter than other CF adjustable poles like the REI Peak UL (I lend that pair out to friends- but I keep the Lightreks!)

The bottom part of the tapered shaft has reinforced wrapping that looks like it will take a lot of abuse. Other CF poles I've used with a straight shaft at the bottom don't seem to swing as smooth.

Rating: 5 / 5

These poles are perfect. It's hard to believe they were able to pack so many quality features into such a light pole. The grips are contoured just right and minimize length adjustment on trail if you use the 4 different hand positions. The locking mechanism has been used before on other poles but has been improved by using a longer rubber expander with more surface area. The bottom section is tapered and spiral wrapped with graphite just like the lightrek 3. The tips look like factory leki flex tips that have the steel housing around the carbide tip and come with leki packaged baskets that wont come off without downward pressure while spinning. I let a friend use them recently and he was amazed with their lightness and how sturdy they were. I love the fact that I can have an ultralight adjustable pole that works with my DuoMid. You can't go wrong with these poles.

Edited by Steingass on 05/20/2009 14:27:10 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

And now they come in the oh-so-cool camo color. These are the GOLD standard in best locking, ulta light, super durable, best griped poles on the market that our group has ever used. The new carbon wrapped tip section really takes a lot of abuse. I weigh 185 lbs. and my buddy weighs 210 lbs. and we push these poles hard without ever having one break. Perfect on the fast decents keeping us safe!

Rating: 5 / 5

Absolutely the best trekking poles I have ever used! I've got over 100 trail miles on them including 60 miles this past weekend on the AT from Standing Indian campground to Fontana Dam N.C. This included some of the most brutal climbs & descents I've ever experienced, meaning that I leaned on these babies hard. They are rock solid, easily adjustable, & serve as poles for both my Tarptent Sublite & Squall Classic. They also have the most comfortable grips I have ever used & you really don't miss the grip straps other poles have.
The only negative I have noted is that when hiking into a head wind, the poles are so light that it is sometimes hard to swing them forward to plant them; now that's light!

Rating: 5 / 5

I waited a long time for GG to come out with the LT 4 w/ straps and ti was woth the wait. The grips and locking mechanism are outstanding. Both my wife and I used them and were completely happy.

Rating: 5 / 5

I decided not to buy these when they first came out because fully closed they were too long to carry on my pack in checked baggage on the plane, and I really didn't want to hassel with the mailing tube carrier. Being carbon fiber, I didn't want to risk them getting broken by baggage handlers just strapped unshielded to the side of my pack. The tube is fine for the trip to the trail, but then what to do with it at that point, and I'll want it again for the return. Bottom line - no sale.

The subsequent addition of the new SHORT version changed my mind. At 33 inches long fully closed, they are still longer than either my Leki or Komperdell 3-section metal poles, but I decided the weight savings were worth it. Oh boy, was I right!

I ordered the short black version of these LT4 poles for my JMT trip this summer. I solved the trailhead tube problem by mailing it to myself at the other end, only slightly delaying my return, but necessitating that I end on a day when the post office was open.

The poles were a gift from the Gods. With 18 inches of duct tape wound onto each pole, they weighed a total of 7.6 ounces with the scree baskets installed. That would be 7.4 ounces without the tape; 6.6 ounces without tape and baskets. Compare that to the 19 ounces per pair for my metal poles. The Sierra Nevada mountain trails are very rocky, and I figured to need the baskets to keep the pole tips from sinking in between every rock. I was right.......almost.

The poles performed beautifully, taking my full weight numerous times going up and down steep switchbacks, crossing water, holding up my shelter, etc. The adjustment mechanism was simple to use; just loosen slightly, adjust length, and tighten. Never a slip or slow "creep" shorter.

I put short keeper cords of 2mm line on the loops for river crossings. The swift current in many of the stream and river crossings would have taken a dropped pole out of reach and/or sight in an instant. I was glad to have them secured to my wrists. Fortunately, I never needed to test them.


Then I got careless. Coming down Kearsarge Pass a little faster than I should have, I foolishly planted one pole in front of a tall rock. As I walked past the rock, I lifted my pole as I had always done. Unfortunately, this time the pole tip managed to catch on a protruding rock lip, delaying my lifting it clear in time. Unable to stop my downhill and forward motion in time, I levered the pole over the edge of the large rock, putting the fulcrum at 90 degrees to the axis of the carbon fibers - a definite no-no with CF.

SNAP! My fault, not the pole's. Had I done this with one of my metal poles, I would have severely bent the lower section. CF can't take that mistreatment and I now had three poles, albeit two of them were considerably shorter than the third. I did the remaining 160 miles with a single pole and paid a lot more attention. Lesson learned.

After the trip, I sent the broken pole to Gossamer Gear for what I was sure would be an expensive replacement of the lower section. Imagine my surprise when Grant told me that there was no charge for the first broken section, however from this point on, all repairs would be on me.

I'm sold. They are going on the Colorado Trail with me next summer. Now if only GG would make a THREE section CF pole.............

Addendum: The pretty tan handles will not stay that way very long. They discolor quickly with use as you grind sweat and trail dirt into the soft material. GG sells replacements for when you can't stand it any more. :D

Edited by wandering_bob on 10/01/2009 13:46:38 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

A fantastic product; I do not know how they could be improved - initially I though that 'no straps' would be an issue, but it isn't! The poles are strong, very light, very comfortable.... and unlike all the other poles that I have used the locking mechanism has never failed.

Rating: 5 / 5

I carried these poles for 2000+ miles on the PCT. They got lots of abuse - getting temporarily wedged in rocks, stepped on, tangled in legs, etc. and never snapped. The twist locks are the best I've used. (I've used Leki and REI CF poles.) They slipped a bit once or twice, but never telescoped on me at a critical moment of maximum pressure. I never had the issue where they would not lock and had to be taken apart to fiddle with the expander.

The lighter weight was noticeable even though my prior poles were perhaps only 3 oz./pole heavier. Never had any arm fatigue were I just started dragging my poles. When I weighed them a few months ago, I did find that one weighed .5 oz. more than the other, which I found odd.

I was initially disappointed that the poles did not have centimeter markings for length adjustment. Grant suggested marking desired settings with a silver Sharpie. I was skeptical as to whether the markings would hold up over a multi-month hike, but they did well enough.

In sum, my favorite piece of gear!

Rating: 5 / 5

I don't know what it is, but just like everyone else this would be one of my favorite pieces of gear. Friends and people I meet out on the trail always have the "wow" face when I let them hold them.

With a 6'1" 215lbs body walking down the trail fast I would have thought these things would have broke by now. I hook them on rocks and roots all the time. Getting wedged and feeling them flex always scares me but they keep living thru it with out any problems.

The only thing that I have trouble with is with the straps. I like to have them somewhat tight so I don't really have to grip the handles. Its a little challenging tightening them with them on. It could be just me with my big hands. Who knows...

Over all I would not want any other poles. Another great GG product.

Rating: 2 / 5

It's my first time to use the UL trekking poles, but on the road, it's suffering coz I can't lock it, which is OK at home.
I fasten is to the smallest size within the travel tube to shipping, only for that reason, it can't be lock?
I don't know.

Edited by wifarm on 10/27/2009 02:29:08 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

Just had to get a 5 back up on the board for the amazing GG lt4s, ninja stix!! Just got mine about a month ago from grant.. They arrived promptly with the actual packaging weighing more than the poles... At 3 0zs each it would be hard not to!! At first I wondered if I should have gotten the straps but after recently returning from a light and quick voyage through the 100 mile wilderness in Maine, Im convinced...
They are amazing!!! they are light!! They are strong!!!! they look amazing!!!
THEY JUST WORK!!!!
Thanks to Grsnt snd Gossamer Gear for yet another amazing piece of ul equipment to make my hike lighter and my life easier!!

Peace Love and Trailsmilez
Deadbear

Rating: 5 / 5

These poles come in a short 3.3 oz. adj. 33 to 49 in. and regular 3.4 oz. adj. to 50 in. They have super soft grips with plenty of top cushion that's handy if you want to hold them with the top in your palm which I find is best for steep descents. In short, they do everything I think a trekking pole should do.

I bought a pair when my wife broke one of her Lightrek 3's. She fell and snapped it over a rock.

Yes Lightreks break, however, I think in this case, an aluminum pole would have bent and kinked, and they are a LOT heavier. As it was, I splinted the beak with wood and duct tape and we hiked on.

Anyway, we've both used them think the adjustability is worth the extra ounce. It makes them easier to stow on the pack, store and ship and also easier to use as tent poles.

For my money, there are only two kinds of poles. Cheap Wal-mart poles which I think are an excellent value, and the expensive, but phenomenally light Lighttreks. Everything else is just marketing.