View Full Version : Hiking Poles
Any certain brand suggested to buy or not to buy? I saw some Hammer HP3s on ebay for 26 bucks...cork handle. Any body know much about these or have other suggestions?
I had a pair of poles with cork handles given to me and didn't like the feel of them they were kind of rough on the hands, so I bought a pair of Komperdells with foam handles and love them. I think they were about fifty bucks new.
Wise Old Owl
01-06-2009, 19:41
Uhh I had to look up what you were talking about,
if they hold up and I am sure you can get some mileage out of them, they should be better than a stick. Most here at Wb are addicted to Leki or some ultra light carbon fiber. I use a cheap Walmart pair that I needed to adapt.
SmokeEater
01-06-2009, 19:58
Love the Leki!!!
Blue Jay
01-06-2009, 20:05
Since you asked for other suggestions, I suggest Inviso Poles.:-?
What are Inviso Poles? i Googled and didnt find anything.
bigmac_in
01-06-2009, 20:28
Buy a cheap pair (like the WalMart ones WOO mentioned) and take them along on a hike. Hike a while without them, then a while with them and see if you like them. If you are comfortable with them, you might stick with them. If you think you really need poles, you might decide to buy more expensive one.
I guess what I'm trying to say is - it's best if you just figure it out for yourself. ;) :D
Blissful
01-06-2009, 20:39
I like my leki Makalu ultralights.
But I had a pair of Komperdells from Sierra Trading Post that did well for 5 years.
Skidsteer
01-06-2009, 20:40
What are Inviso Poles? i Googled and didnt find anything.
Because they don't exist. Well, they might, but it's hard to prove it.
It's Blue Jay's way of telling you not to use poles.
garlic08
01-06-2009, 20:41
I used carbon fiber poles and am not convinced they're worth the extra money. I got them on sale and they lasted for my thru hike, but I think I got lucky and didn't break one. They just don't seem very strong. The aluminum poles seem to work fine. Lekis are probably the best for getting spare parts and getting them fixed if they do break.
Blue Jay's "Inviso Poles" were a joke. He doesn't believe in using poles.
Swiss Gear poles have worked well for me. They are less than $20 for a set at Walmart.
TrailDawg '06.... talked me into PacerPoles, I bought a pair and used them in Oct 08 on a shake down hike....love um, love um, love um! Cost about $125...ula.com......Crawl
Alligator
01-06-2009, 21:27
I don't like the internal expander locking mechanism found on Leki's. I've replaced one set of these and still have difficulty with the new expanders, even after cleaning. When I get around to a replacement set, I will buy something different.
Desert Reprobate
01-06-2009, 21:31
I was looking at the Pacer poles too. I am concerned about their warranty and if they back their poles as well as Leki. It looks like they are made in Britan. The do look like a nice pole.
SmokyMtn Hiker
01-06-2009, 21:38
I use the Leki Super Makalu and have enjoyed them very much. They have the cork handles which work well when wet. I done a lot of research before buying and most everyone suggested cork or foam handles which provides better grip when wet compared to the hard rubber ones.
TrailDawg had a small problem on the trail, and they overnighted a new pole to him.... can't beat that! There is no spring to them either, when you stick it in the ground, you don't have to keep pushing to seat them.....Crawl
What are Inviso Poles? i Googled and didnt find anything.Meet 'Blue Jay,' WB's resident trekking pole cynic. He's pretty creative at inventing stories about them being hazardous to your health, the invention of snake oil salesmen, and whatnot! :rolleyes:
I use a $60 pair of REI Summits and have been extremely pleased with them. When and IF they wear out (no signs of that happening so far), I am inclined to try Black Diamond. I like their 'flicklock' vs. the twist locks on most others. These would be what I would get if I didn't already own perfectly good ones:
http://www.rei.com/product/768624
i sorta caught on to blue jays joke after i wrote that. haha! Ill prob go with the cheapo walmart idea to see if i really need em. if i do and want something better guess i could upgrade somewhere. if its even that important to me. thanx for all the info!!
Another cheap "try before you buy" idea is to use old ski poles.
At goodwill or similar, you can often find them for $10/pr (or less).
Rockhound
01-07-2009, 10:53
I will never buy poles. In fact I was given a pair of swiss gear poles that I dont use. I have 2 sticks I found in GA in Feb 07 and have used them ever since. If they ever do break or if I lose them I always know where I can get another pair for free. Ive even been told by hikers that they like the sound of my hiking sticks. Natural sound of wood rather than the clickity-clack of metal.
PacerPoles.
Unique, comfortable, precise, best by far for steep downhill - where I value poles the most.
http://www.pacerpole.com/
Rain Man
01-07-2009, 11:11
... I recommend you stay away from poles with "anti-shock" or "shock-absorbing" hardware built in. It's noisy. It's heavy. It's something else to break and/or adjust.
And it's noisy! Did I say that twice?! Maybe it's just me, but poles are noisy enough as they are, without additional unnecessary noise.
Besides, I think the shock-absorbers are a gimmick. I tried them and felt they made me work more, not less.
But... hike your own hike.
Rain:sunMan
.
flemdawg1
01-07-2009, 17:14
PacerPoles.
Unique, comfortable, precise, best by far for steep downhill - where I value poles the most.
http://www.pacerpole.com/
Ever use those weird handles to setup a tarp? Just wondering how that'd work.
Blue Jay
01-07-2009, 17:25
Besides, I think the shock-absorbers are a gimmick. I tried them and felt they made me work more, not less.
But... hike your own hike.
Rain:sunMan
.
I like air shocks.
Ever use those weird handles to setup a tarp? Just wondering how that'd work.
Yep, no problem at all with a regular tarp. A little fiddle factor when setting up The One, due to the stirrup-like harness that holds the pole handle at the base. Not a tremendous inconvenience, and once it is in place, have never had it come out.
I will never buy poles. In fact I was given a pair of swiss gear poles that I dont use. I have 2 sticks I found in GA in Feb 07 and have used them ever since. If they ever do break or if I lose them I always know where I can get another pair for free. Ive even been told by hikers that they like the sound of my hiking sticks. Natural sound of wood rather than the clickity-clack of metal.
this was my initial thought, "Ill just use a walking stick i find" then i started reading how the use of these super duper neato trek poles will reduce impact on your knees by 25 percent....so my mind naturally started to wander off the original path. If i dont go with the idea of cheapo walmart specials then ill just find one or 2 on the trail. The "natural sound of wood" sold it to me!
jersey joe
01-07-2009, 21:23
Brett, I also advise picking up a couple sticks in the woods. I did this on my thru hike and managed just fine. I will warn you, after about 1000 miles the sticks wore down and were about 8 inches shorter and I had to trade them in for a new set. (also free) One positive thing about using sticks is that if you accidentally leave one at a shelter or on a rock where you were eating lunch, you just keep walking and find a new one!
Straps and the proper use of them is a HUGE differentiator between 'sticks' and trekking poles. When adjusted properly, your body weight transfers to the pole via the ball of your wrist cradled in the strap. You can literally release your fingers gripping the pole and still get the weight transfer to the pole. This is far better and more efficient transfer of energy than having your poor fingers gripping the stick bearing the weight transfer.
Brett, you should still do yourself the favor of trying some Walmart cheapoos first, remembering that better poles have better straps. But play with the strap tensioning until you can bring your weight down on the pole with your grip relaxed, or even your fingers opened up. Then you'll know and appreciate what the trekking pole is doing for you.
Since you asked for other suggestions, I suggest Inviso Poles.:-?
Those of us with bad knees will beg to differ. My wife and I both have the Wal-Mart specials and love them.
gollwoods
01-18-2009, 12:56
cabelas has the trekker pole buy one get one on their site $29 /pair