Baskets On or Off Your Trekking Poles?

[TexasBob]

I have always used my Leki poles with the baskets on because that is way they came but I wondered how many people remove the baskets. I guess they keep the poles from sinking to far in really muddy conditions but I can't think or any other reason why you would need them.

[brianb2]

Off. Have never missed them.

[isleroyalhiker]

Hi Texas Bob. I have never used the baskets. Never had a problem. The only time I could see using them is if you are hiking in snow.

[Slo-go'en]

Definitely on. Unless you enjoy wrenching you wrist every time the pole sinks in too far and gets stuck, which believe me, can happen a lot.

[tarditi]

Off for me.

[Trance]

On only for snow..... off otherwise.

[Traveler]

On for me. They stop the poles from sinking in soft soil and saves my wrists and knees from the sudden stop it causes. They also help prevent or reduce getting wedged in rocks/fissures (which is how I damaged my first set), and provides a bumper of sorts when moving around things like rocks.

In winter with snow cover I change out the small summer baskets with much larger snow baskets.

[Sandy of PA]

No baskets or straps for me.

[Christoph]

This might have been a good poll.
On for me, especially in mud and on all those darn rocks. haha

[Cheyou]

Yes baskets on . They can sink in the rocks crevices and bend or worse.

thom

[egilbe]

On only for snow..... off otherwise.

This and I need 10 characters

[Kaptainkriz]

I like mine on, easier to attach to my pack loops...

[Scrum]

On, cuz I'm to lazy to take them off.

I find the baskets help in the muddy spots, and certainly are useful in snow.

[One Half]

Off, rain, snow, mud, ice. I *might* still have them somewhere....

[Wise Old Owl]

Strip it - baskets and straps off...

[TexasBob]

8 so far for off (3 of those do use for snow only) and 6 so far for on all the time. I hadn't thought about getting stuck in rocks. One reason I was asking is because when I am off trail the baskets seem to get tangled up in the under growth and it is annoying.

[MuddyWaters]

Small ones on all the time. Weigh only 0.2 oz and keep it from going deep into cracks in rocks, on some trails soupy mud. That and Im too lazy to take them off.

[Just Tom]

Was off, until I had one slip into a rock crevice and get damaged due to my momentum. Now on.

[Alligator]

Mine are the small round baskets and I keep them on to keep from sinking in the mud. If they were the more traditional ones like on ski poles, I would take them off unless it was winter.

[Brup Bup]

On for snow, off for summer.