what are the best and lightest trekking poles out on the market today?

with drawn

what are the best and lightest trekking poles out on the market today?
Check out www.backpackinglight.com. They sell fixed length carbon fiber polls called Stix X1 (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00132.html) that weigh 5.4oz per pair for ~$200. They also give instructions on how to build your own fixed length carbon fiber poles for less than $100.

Building your own appears to be fairly simple, finding and collecting the correct parts is the most difficult part. I hope to do it soon (maybe with Xmas money).

BTW, I currently own Leki poles. They are just too damn heavy. My arms are quite sore at the end of a 15 mile day. At 22oz for the pair, I could save almost a pound by switching poles.

My heavy pack and my heavy poles are the first piece of gear I want to dump on some poor sap. :D

what are the best and lightest trekking poles out on the market today?


I have a pair of Leki Makalu Titanium from REI and love 'em. I know they aren't really titanium and don't much like that that word is on 'em. False advertising.

However, they are light, mostly because they have a smaller diameter AND because they don't have those stupid noisy shock absorbing springs in them. They are worth having just because they don't make the same racket of noise that the shock absorbing ones make.

Sorry, I don't know the exact weight, but they are light. I assume the REI web site might give the weight.

Rain Man

I don't know, I thru-hiked with a pair of ultra light titanium lekis and I wouldn't neccessarily recommend them. They broke twice. If I could buy a pair over, I'd go with a more sturdy pair. Maybe I put a lot of wear and tear on them, who knows. Leki does have excellent customer service, but who wants to deal with broken poles on a thru-hike?

With that being said, I don't see why weight should be such a big issue with poles. You don't carry them on your back you just hold them. I never had problems with arms hurting. In fact my arms got into good shape by using them each and every day. Are they really that heavy to hold??!

I don't know, I thru-hiked with a pair of ultra light titanium lekis and I wouldn't neccessarily recommend them. They broke twice.

leki Titanium's are total crap. First, there are not ACTUALLY titanium. They are actually a new alunimum alloy "with strong and lightweight properties" just like titanium... UGH! I also broke a few of these poles, and not during my thru-hike.

I am very happy with the weight, strength and confort of my current poles, the Cascade Designs Tracks Superlight Staff. Actually, 2 of them. There is no suspension, they have a wooden knob rather than a molded grip and you can unscrew the knob and use the pole as a monopod for taking photos.

These poles are fantastic, IMO, a good comprimise between weight, strentgh and price.

While weight, price and durability are important to me, the critical factor for me is overall length when fully collapsed. My present pair from EMS collapse to 21" and let me store them in the pack while traveling. As a section hiker attempting to complete the AT, bus, train and plane travel not to mention hitching are so much easier if I don't have a set of poles strapped to the exterior of the pack. While we're on the subject of poles, am I the only one who thinks that anti shock is basically a useless feature and just adds price and weight to the pole?

what are the best and lightest trekking poles out on the market today?]

Carbon Fiber first, Bamboo second. I got this from a Cross Country Ski Magazine that unfortunately I can't locate. Up until a few years ago ski racers still used bamboo for it's energy return. Now if you mean best status, fashion and marketing ability Leki wins hands down. Lone Wolf is correct on that one.

... While we're on the subject of poles, am I the only one who thinks that anti shock is basically a useless feature and just adds price and weight to the pole?

Not only is the anti shock feature useless, it is WORSE than useless. It is NOISY. YUCK!!!

Rain Man

I think that "best" and "lightest" terms are mutually exclusive. I carried the poles sold by REI called the "Ultralight". They're actually made by Komperdell. They are not the lightest pole on the market but they seemed more durable to me than the titanium alternatives that were a bit lighter in weight.

Went through 1 set of pole tips from Springer to Katahdin, but the poles themselves hung in there and took some pretty bad abuse. Just a little factoid ...EMS, one of the outfitters you encounter as you move further north on the AT, also private labels the Komperdell poles so you can get repair/replacement parts from them as well as REI.

what are the best and lightest trekking poles out on the market today?

The lightest set of poles I've found are the Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo, at 14 ounces/pair. I bought a pair a few months ago and the locking mechanism failed on my very first trip with them! Ergo, although they are the lightest they are not the best.

The next lightest pair I've been able to find from my internet searches is a pair at 18 ounces (4 oz. more than the bad Lekis). Is there something lighter than 18 ounces and more reliable than those Lekis?

I use the Leki Ultralite "Titanium" poles. Before these I used Leki Makalu Anti-Shock Poles, and broke the spring mechanism on one of them. I've yet to have any trouble with my new Leki's, and they double as my tent poles as well. They certainly flex if you put alot of weight on them, but I'm 6'1 230lbs and haven't done anything serious enough to render them busted.

On another realated subject, I never rely on them to keep me up on my feet or brace myself when descending/traversing steep areas. That's just asking for trouble with any poles.

The poles I have weigh 14oz/pr, but add a few ounces when hiking in the fall and you pick up 3" stacks of leaves. :D

Oh and another thing, I always use the carbide tips, as the rubber ones always slip in my experience.

EDIT:

One more thing, if your using them to keep you from slipping in leafy/icy areas, your better off with a pair of basic 4-prong instep crampons. I love mine, and they actually increase your hiking speed because you don't have to be so cautious with foot placement. So ruck right up those icy rocks and descend those 45 degree slopes covered in wet leaves. Combined with carbide tipped poles you can cover just about any terrain except deep powder.

I use EMS Trail Lite Trekking Poles made for Women

They have a smaller grip which are more comforatable for me to use since I have very small hands, and they weigh only 16 ounces per pair. They are easy to adjust and I found they stay put with the locking system they have.

These poles are only $39.00 on sale from $60.00 at EMS. I like having the ability to adjust the pole lengths when going up or down steep areas instead of having non-adjusting pole. I have been using these poles for over two years (mine are light blue, and I actually really like the red ones they have now. I'm sure I'll get some flack on this statement but I'm going to leave it in.) I use them not just for hiking, but to x-country ski with and snow-shoe. The good thing also about these poles is, if something ever happens to them, EMS will replace them free of charge. I know in my area of MA & VT there are some EMS stores available while going through some of the towns.

It's good to know what people are using out there and how it holds up. These kind of forums are helping me out a lot. I hope this helps you in some way, if you are a woman anyway. Sorry guys. ;)

been using Black Diamond, got them for the quick lok but it is not so good since it requires a tool to tighten and the bottom section has the push in pins to release...before that a pair of generic Komperdells-loved the cork....so yes I am very tempted by the Stix...let me go win the lotto then I will report back.

On another realated subject, I never rely on them to keep me up on my feet or brace myself when descending/traversing steep areas. That's just asking for trouble with any poles. .

I never used hiking poles until 1991 when I walked the AT in Maine from Grafton Notch to Katahdin with a clumsy 9-year-old. He kept falling until I found some alder saplings that had been cut at the foot of Dunn Notch Falls by a trail maintainer.

My grandson wouldn't use a pole unless I did, so I fashioned two poles, one for him and one for me. Aside from keeping him on his feet, our poles helped wile away the time on July evenings as we competed with carving decorations. My alder pole proved so habit forming and useful that I carried it on my walk home from Georgia two years later.

During the many raging internet pole debates, I finally weighed it on my trusty postal scale. It came in at 9.2 ounces, equipped with a soft rubber crutch tip, which incidentally is significantly less slippery and amazingly less noisy on rocks than the carbon tips on Lekis that I've experimented with.

I use it all the time to "brace myself when descending/traversing steep areas."

That original pole remains sturdy and unbroken and has never needed repairs. But it has so many memories associated with it that I retired it a couple of years ago and cut myself a couple of replacements. One weighs 7 ounces and shows no sign of breaking.

But my favorite is a 10 ounce version with a 1/4-20 screw appoxied into the top for use as a monopod. When not used as a photography aid, the pole is topped with a Komperdell cork top and strap ($12) from the Komperdell internet site.

When scouting new trails on a land trust preserve, located two miles down the road, this pole has enough heft to break off dead branches up to about an inch in diameter from pine and spruce trees that block my way. I just grap one end of the pole and swing it like an ax. The pole is also useful for pitching small logs out of the footpath without having to bend down.

All I'm suggesting is that what is new and faddish in hiking circles is not necessarily the best.

Weary

Not sure if the BEST are necessarily the lightest ...and for the record, I agree totally with A-Train in that the weight of a trekking pole isn't much of an issue since you are holding them in your hands and not carrying them on your back.

I hiked the AT in 2003 with a pair of ultralight REIs, which are actually made by Komperdell. The poles themselves made it all the way to Katahdin but I did lose the tips, one in Connecticut and the other just south of Hannover. The thick mud was just too much in certain places and the tips just got stuck in the mud and got left behind. In fact, I didn't even know I had lost a tip until I was hiking across a road and sensed the difference in pole length from right to left.

I will say that Lekis are by far more available and well known but for the bucks I really think the Komperdells (REI) are more than adequately rugged for a thru-hike. A lot of the life expectancy of a trekking pole is dependant on how hard you use them. I saw lots of $120 Lekis break long before my $75 Komperdells.

In general, parts for the Lekis, should they break, are more readily available from outfitters along the way. However, what I did learn was that the trekking poles sold by EMS are also made by Komperdell and there are a lot more EMS stores close to the trail as you work your way further north. I was able to get my new tips for around $8 at the EMS stores, for what that was worth.

. As a section hiker attempting to complete the AT, bus, train and plane travel not to mention hitching are so much easier if I don't have a set of poles strapped to the exterior of the pack.

My wooden 9.2 ounce alder hiking pole has never had a problem with any of the transportation modes mentioned. I'm sure it's slightly more convenient with the pole collapsed while traveling, but somewhat less convenient when a pole requires repairs on the trail -- a concern, easy repairs, that seems to be the primary reason for spending a lot of money on hiking poles.

I have used a nine ounce wooden pole for a dozen years (total investment $2) that is still going strong. No! Nary a repair. And should one be required just remove the $2 investment ( a soft rubber crutch tip) and cut another for free.

Weary

My wooden 9.2 ounce alder hiking pole has never had a problem with any of the transportation modes mentioned. I'm sure it's slightly more convenient with the pole collapsed while traveling, but somewhat less convenient when a pole requires repairs on the trail -- a concern, easy repairs, that seems to be the primary reason for spending a lot of money on hiking poles.

I have used a nine ounce wooden pole for a dozen years (total investment $2) that is still going strong. No! Nary a repair. And should one be required just remove the $2 investment ( a soft rubber crutch tip) and cut another for free.

Weary

Problem is, the manufactured poles have a wonderful innovation: adjustable hand straps that completely eliminate hand fatigue. You place all your weight on them, which is distributed along your palm and no grip is required.

I have Lekis, but am not happy with the scraping noise they make every time they touch rock.

Does Leki make rubber tips to replace or go over the metal carbide tips?

Thanks!

Rain Man

.

I have Lekis, but am not happy with the scraping noise they make every time they touch rock.

Does Leki make rubber tips to replace or go over the metal carbide tips?

Thanks!

Rain Man

.
Yes they do. Mick got them for me for Xmas. He got them at a store at Opry Mills, where he got the poles. Can't remember the name, but it has that rock climbing wall there. Not Bass Outfitters, the other one. Less than 10 bucks.

Has anyone tried a fire-hardened rattan shortstaff? - umm..., I mean 'thermosetting multifilament matrix long chain cellular polymer monopedal perambulation and defense system'? There are some very good fighting sticks of the right size that weigh under 200 grams. Nothing personal, but I wouldn't be seen dead walking with a pair of ski poles. What if someone saw me? I may as well be wearing bunny slippers :p

I have some lekis with the spring thing and it already seems to be broken. i don;t really have time to have it replaced, so i'll just use them as is. this realler pisses me off though.

I took some of those REI Komperdells on my Long Trail hike last fall. The handle left one broke on the very first day. Wish I had brought my trusty Lekis instead

I have some lekis with the spring thing and it already seems to be broken. i don;t really have time to have it replaced, so i'll just use them as is. this realler pisses me off though.

If you're in Damascus for trail days, Leki will fix those for free. Are you thru-hiking?

I don't know about the best or lightest but I like the gossamer gear carbon poles. My set weighs less than five ounces and is holding up well.

I just picked up some pretty kill poles at EMS. Komperdell C3 air shock. 3 section, all carbon fiber and 5.5 oz for the pair. The air shock is unbelievable and I have a granola bar in my pack that weighs as much. A little pricy at $150, but I think I'm gonna like 'em.