Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
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- douglas
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
Another endorsement for the Black Diamond folding carbon poles (Distance Carbon Z Trekking). I've had mine for many years and they're going strong. I frequently get them jammed in rocks while I'm hiking and they have never bent. Yes they are pricey (I actually got mine on a great deal) but will probably last a long long time.
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I have the Black Diamond flip locks. They work very well and are light. You can find them on sale. Having said that; if I wanted a new pair I would go with the Amazon carbon fiber.Schmidty_Bob wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:37 pm Hello friends,
I'm in need of recommendations for trekking poles! Looking for a durable, lightweight pair that would preferably collapse (telescoping).
Please learn how to use them correctly to get the most out of them. It saddens me to see people with poles bent over as they come down the mountain ---- make the poles longer!
Also, if you have the handles in a death grip you are using them incorrectly, your weight goes on the straps.
- 9patrickmurphy
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I know this is completely personal preference, but I've never understood why people go for fixed-length poles. Long-distance backpacking, sure. But for peakbagging, I find it an absolute necessity to have an adjustable length. Sometimes they have to be super short if going up really steep stuff so I don't have to reach up super high and tire out my arms, and I often have to make them quite long to provide stability while descending without having to stoop down with every step. If all poles were fixed-length, I'd probably never use them.
All that being said, it really does come down to personal preference at the ned of the day. Would love to hear why some people prefer fixed-length though!
Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I found that the only time I was adjusting my telescoping poles when I was putting them away or taking them out. If going uphill I have them more for lateral balance and if you hold your arms out instead uphill, the length isn't really any issue. If it is more steep, I can slip my hands out of the wrist straps and hold the pole below the dedicated grip. Going downhill is the same with more lateral stability and holding out your "Wings" instead straight ahead. And slipping your hand on top of the grip in "cane style" gains you a couple more inches. The weight, reliability (no more slipping on a worn out locking mechanism), and pack-ability beat out any advantage having variable length on the fly can offer.9patrickmurphy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2020 2:20 pmI know this is completely personal preference, but I've never understood why people go for fixed-length poles. Long-distance backpacking, sure. But for peakbagging, I find it an absolute necessity to have an adjustable length. Sometimes they have to be super short if going up really steep stuff so I don't have to reach up super high and tire out my arms, and I often have to make them quite long to provide stability while descending without having to stoop down with every step. If all poles were fixed-length, I'd probably never use them.
All that being said, it really does come down to personal preference at the ned of the day. Would love to hear why some people prefer fixed-length though!
I thought the same way you did, and then we forgot my wife's poles when heading out for the arctic circle trail. She picked the z poles out at the REI in chicago and she loved them. Like you, I thought the telescoping was too important a feature to ditch, but I somehow ended up using her poles at some point and I loved them. And I have never looked back.
That's me of course.
- mtree
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I barely use mine in summer conditions. Maybe for balance crossing a creek. Otherwise I just carry them to keep my fingers from swelling! Plus, they make me look like I'm a serious hiker. Kinda like carrying an ice axe.
- I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was blaming you.
- nyker
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
After using the original aluminum Leki Makalu for years and at least 1500 miles of hiking I found they were solid and took a beating. They were on the heavy side and on the long side while collapsed and a little tricky tricky to assemble/tighten. I would recommend them though especially as you can find them pretty cheap now and it would be tough to break them.
In quest of something lighter I tried the much lighter and folding Black Diamond Z poles. One pole broke on my first hike. Very disappointed and assuming it was a defect I brought back to the store and got a new pair. This new pair lasted maybe 6-8 hikes and then broke too. Giving it one last college try I got a third pair which subsequently broke on another hike not long after. That was it for them.
Still seeking a light folding pole I got a pair of Leki carbon folders and have used them since on maybe 60 mountains so far and they are great. That's what I'd recommend first.
My friend used a set think it was called komperdell and it fell apart after a few months of use so those don't sound too reliable.
In quest of something lighter I tried the much lighter and folding Black Diamond Z poles. One pole broke on my first hike. Very disappointed and assuming it was a defect I brought back to the store and got a new pair. This new pair lasted maybe 6-8 hikes and then broke too. Giving it one last college try I got a third pair which subsequently broke on another hike not long after. That was it for them.
Still seeking a light folding pole I got a pair of Leki carbon folders and have used them since on maybe 60 mountains so far and they are great. That's what I'd recommend first.
My friend used a set think it was called komperdell and it fell apart after a few months of use so those don't sound too reliable.
- nyker
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
9patrickmurphy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 17, 2020 2:20 pmI know this is completely personal preference, but I've never understood why people go for fixed-length poles. Long-distance backpacking, sure. But for peakbagging, I find it an absolute necessity to have an adjustable length. Sometimes they have to be super short if going up really steep stuff so I don't have to reach up super high and tire out my arms, and I often have to make them quite long to provide stability while descending without having to stoop down with every step. If all poles were fixed-length, I'd probably never use them.
All that being said, it really does come down to personal preference at the ned of the day. Would love to hear why some people prefer fixed-length though!
If the poles have extended cork grips you just choke up on the grips going up and hold them higher going down. One plus with some fixed length poles is they are usually lighter and have one less moving part that could break.
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
About a decade ago I heard a seminar at REI (free) on how to properly use and buy poles. I did not realize there were that many details. There was an optional followup field seminar. There are probably some howto youtubeson this.
- WanderingJim
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I usually used a walking stick before 2017, but when I was planning my Salkantay to Machu Picchu trip trekking poles were highly recommended.
I started out with a pair of fixed length Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles (120cm). I chose the Z folding poles since I'd have take them on the plane. But the folding design has come in handy many times since (including the flight to Africa and stowing them in my backpack for scrambles and pulling myself up Half Dome's cables).
They worked well enough on level ground, but I found going up or down significant slopes was uncomfortable (even with adjusting my grip up or down on the handles.
So I decided I had to switch to adjustable length poles.
It would cost more, but to keep the weight down with the added weight of the adjustment locks, I choose the 105cm to 125cm Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles.
After using them for a while, I discovered that 115cm was the sweet spot for me on level ground. So I pretty much needed an adjustable pole to get that height. And from Machu Picchu to Mt Kilimanjaro they have been very reliable (except for the one instance below) and helped me greatly as I hike.
I did break one of them on Mt Shasta, but Black Diamond replaced it under warranty. It looks like they modified the design of the area where the little lock piece pops out (which is where it broke) to be a little more sturdier. Haven't had issues since.
But in the end, everyone's needs are different. Hope my experience helps someone.
I started out with a pair of fixed length Black Diamond Distance Z Trekking Poles (120cm). I chose the Z folding poles since I'd have take them on the plane. But the folding design has come in handy many times since (including the flight to Africa and stowing them in my backpack for scrambles and pulling myself up Half Dome's cables).
They worked well enough on level ground, but I found going up or down significant slopes was uncomfortable (even with adjusting my grip up or down on the handles.
So I decided I had to switch to adjustable length poles.
It would cost more, but to keep the weight down with the added weight of the adjustment locks, I choose the 105cm to 125cm Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles.
After using them for a while, I discovered that 115cm was the sweet spot for me on level ground. So I pretty much needed an adjustable pole to get that height. And from Machu Picchu to Mt Kilimanjaro they have been very reliable (except for the one instance below) and helped me greatly as I hike.
I did break one of them on Mt Shasta, but Black Diamond replaced it under warranty. It looks like they modified the design of the area where the little lock piece pops out (which is where it broke) to be a little more sturdier. Haven't had issues since.
But in the end, everyone's needs are different. Hope my experience helps someone.
- XPLSV
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
This!yaktoleft13 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 16, 2020 9:45 pm Cascade mountain tech poles from Costco for 30 bucks. By far the best poles I've ever had. Broke two more expensive pairs, got the cheap Costco ones, and they've lasted two years. Lightweight, durable, and strong
Bernie
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Re: Looking for Trekking Pole Reccomendations
I just bought a pair of these 60 dollar Foxelli carbon poles after using BD vanilla aluminum poles for 6 years: https://www.amazon.com/Foxelli-Trekking ... ast_sto_dp. I have only used them once but they worked great and are much lighter than aluminum. And there are 3,000 reviews with over a 4.5 star rating average. They have 35 dollar ones that are aluminum too: https://www.amazon.com/Foxelli-Aluminum ... ast_sto_dp.