Pole Snobs "trecking poles" I don't Get You People

[Wannabe Thru-Hiker]

Are you a pole snob?

Yepper just gotta have Leki's or Diamond or some fancy set that cost more than my pack

Now I've tried Leki's in store at and frankly couldn't justify the 84.99 apiece or $145 per set price tag

I ended up with some Brass Pro Shops cheapies that worked fine

Some hikers criticized my cheap poles through Georgia

Pole Problems were abound by Neel's Gap and in every town I stopped

Seems Leki's and Diamonds are prone to BREAKING even snapping

Yep them fancy poles failed atleast a handful of times

But my Brass Pro Shops twenty dollar jobs are still in my basement ready for next time

[hikerboy57]

Are you a pole snob?

Yepper just gotta have Leki's or Diamond or some fancy set that cost more than my pack

Now I've tried Leki's in store at and frankly couldn't justify the 84.99 apiece or $145 per set price tag

I ended up with some Brass Pro Shops cheapies that worked fine

Some hikers criticized my cheap poles through Georgia

Pole Problems were abound by Neel's Gap and in every town I stopped

Seems Leki's and Diamonds are prone to BREAKING even snapping

Yep them fancy poles failed atleast a handful of times

But my Brass Pro Shops twenty dollar jobs are still in my basement ready for next time

who are the you people?

[coach lou]

The Wal-mart telephone poles are in my garage waiting for my BDs to break.

[Starchild]

It's like anything else in hiking/backpacking, You can do OK not spending a lot, sometimes pretty decently. But to get closer to the cutting edge the cost goes up.

Besides the locking tabs, which don't always work well on el-cheapo poles (heck they sometimes don't work well on $$$ ones), a lot of the price goes into light weight and/or compactness. Think that unlike things on your back, these things are going to be constantly swung, a mass at the end of a long stick, that takes energy and the old saying over the miles ounces turn into pounds comes up.

One thing that you can say about the el-cheapo poles is they are most likely stronger then then need to be so can take abuse where the ultralight weight sticks need some consideration that they may not be as robust as a weight savings measure.

What you have is most likely regular aluminum which is heavier then the aircraft alloys that Leki and BD use on their higher end sticks. Beyond that you have even lighter weight in carbon fiber which I recently switched to. The light weight of the CF sticks makes me never want to carry those aluminum telephone poles again - yes they seem that heavy for me now to make that comparison - and no I have never seen a aluminum telephone pole.

Just a side benefit of cold weather hiking with CF poles is that the carbon fiber does not conduct heat away as fast as aluminum so it becomes much easier to hold the shaft when needed instead of the handle - I find that useful in up scrambling/steep climbing and for carrying them on the flats.

Peace

[Wannabe Thru-Hiker]

who are the you people?

You people was in reference to trekking pole snobs

[Papa D]

I often like to hike without poles - - this is why I have the Black Diamond Z-poles - they collapse very nicely and very lightly on my pack when not in use - - they have made it about 600+ hundred miles so far including all of VT, all of CT and 170 miles of VT / NH (VT to Pinkham Notch), the whole Long Trail (separate trip) and a bunch of trips to GA and NC - - they show no sign of breaking - - - I'm not sure why you threw the post out to "you people" - - - I could care less if you like with ski poles or 2 x 4s - - hike your own hike. I like my poles - thanks.

[coach lou]

You people was in reference to trekking pole snobs

I can only hike with HB57, 'cause we use the same poles


....and only use brass, not glass.

[Starchild]

You people was in reference to trekking pole snobs

I took it as those people who have broken their high end sticks

[hikerboy57]

You people was in reference to trekking pole snobs

hey weve got all kinds of snobs.ul snobs, speed snobs,montbell down jacket snobs, wm snobs.
really what it comes down to,is the longer youre out on the trail, the more you look to lighten your load.and that usually costs money. it doesnt have to we have a homemade gear forum and there are sites like backpacking light thatgives plenty of ideas and tips to save weight inexpensively.
sure expensive stuff breaks too. even mercedes benz has a service department.
and if you stay around here long enough to search some of the gear forums. its not all about spending top dollar.
we have frugal snobs as well

[Mountain Mike]

So that's what the mud pie is for...distracting him in case you break one of yours & you can swap it out with his!. Now we know the rest of the story.

[Papa D]

You people was in reference to trekking pole snobs

you'll run across a lot of aspiring thru-hikers in GA and NC for some reason who take on a little bit of a snobby tone - - it's funny because they often have little clue - - it's just that they have spent so much time sitting in front of computers and in gear stores researching whatever they have that they want to expose you to this knowledge - - a lot of these people drop out - - and figure out that their fancy water filter is just junk after all - - don't take offense - - if you like your Bass Shop poles, hike with Bass Shop poles - - its fine

[hikerboy57]

So that's what the mud pie is for...distracting him in case you break one of yours & you can swap it out with his!. Now we know the rest of the story.

diabolical isnt it

[Tuckahoe]

There are alway going to be those people that worry more about what other people have or do rather than themselves, just smile, say "well bless your heart," and enjoy your hike.

[Mountain Mike]

Hikers can be snobs about anything. Hammock vs tent, boots vs trail runners, water purification, stoves, food,...The only right gear is what works for you!

[coach lou]

Hikers can be snobs about anything. Hammock vs tent, boots vs trail runners, water purification, stoves, food,...The only right gear is what works for you!

'Brass verses Glass'

[Lone Wolf]

Are you a pole snob?

Yepper just gotta have Leki's or Diamond or some fancy set that cost more than my pack

Now I've tried Leki's in store at and frankly couldn't justify the 84.99 apiece or $145 per set price tag

I ended up with some Brass Pro Shops cheapies that worked fine

Some hikers criticized my cheap poles through Georgia

Pole Problems were abound by Neel's Gap and in every town I stopped

Seems Leki's and Diamonds are prone to BREAKING even snapping

Yep them fancy poles failed atleast a handful of times

But my Brass Pro Shops twenty dollar jobs are still in my basement ready for next time

i have a sticker on my nagene "**** you and your ****in' leki poles"

[hikerboy57]

i have a sticker on my nagene "**** you and your ****in' leki poles"

and some here dont use poles at all

[atmilkman]

So that's what the mud pie is for...distracting him in case you break one of yours & you can swap it out with his!. Now we know the rest of the story.

If I was him I'd mark my poles, or give up eating mud pies.

[Mountain Mike]

HB is now thinking about the rest of his gear & how much he has in common with Coach! Probably has a permanent marker out too! But pie two days down the trail is pretty hard to pass on!

[hikerboy57]

If I was him I'd mark my poles, or give up eating mud pies.

im still not completely sold on poles, my day hikes i leave em home and i find im much more surefooted without them, my feet instinctively know where to go. with a full pack, though ill bring em, they definitely help on the uphills and take a lot of stress off these old knees on the downs.also help with stream crossings