Trek Poles..

[slbirdnerd]

There are places you just would not want to hike without them--great for terrain. I have Black Diamond Trail Ergo's and they were about $100. Worth it. I take two but usually use only 1, at about long "cane" length. Works for me. The spare pole is strapped in tight with my sleeping pad at the bottom of my pack. Lots of other ways to strap and lash them on if you need to. Some pack have loops for them but I prefer them on the back out of the way. I do adjust on the fly as needed and that's why the flip locks are great. The rubber grip tips are for use on rocks/hard/concrete terrain and they were extra, like $5 or something. I got them but have not used them yet. In general you would use the spike tips for normal hiking in the woods, mountains, etc. I think if you were using the poles for Nordic walking you would use the rubber tips.

[jeffmeh]

I use the carbide tips for all terrain, including lots of granite in the Whites. I don't see much utility in the rubber tips, at least not enough to switch them over when terrain changes. I suppose that if I were confining myself to road walking I might go with the rubber tips. All tips will wear out eventually if the pole doesn't fail first, but the carbide lasts much longer than the rubber from what I have seen.

[Grampie]

I am a caretaker at a AMC cabin 1540 miles from Springer. Most of the thru-hikers who stop there are using hiking poles. Quite a few start without them, but most end their hike with them.

[Dharma Dog]

+100 on the BD Alpine Carbon Corks. I've used a number of poles and these are the best. Light, strong, another small grip located under the main cork grip so you don't have to adjust the pole length as often and they look damn good as well.
The flick lock system developed by Black Diamond is far superior to the twist locks and more popular...which explains why Leki started using something similar after BD's patent ran out a year or two ago.

[BuckeyeBill]

These are the tips I got for my poles. They work great on any surface.

[marti038]

I obtained a pair of Black Diamond Trail Ergo Corks last week and used them for the first time this past weekend. This is the first pair of poles I've used, but I loved them. Honestly, I think I hike a good bit faster with them. I'm not sure if it's because I can step more confidently or if the use of poles helps me maintain forward momentum as I walk, but we covered 10.2 miles in 3hrs and 50 minutes (with several ups and downs).

I found that I didn't really use them going uphill very much. It just seemed easier to climb without them. I didn't think I would want them on the flatter stretches, but I used them and was glad that I did. Going downhill they were a huge help for my knees and toes.

The flick locks on these poles are basically a cam-lock mechanism that is adjustable with a small screw. They were rock solid.

I did not use the straps at all and the only time I think I will is when crossing a stream.

I chose cork because I knew I didn't want hard rubber and I have a jogging stroller for my son that has foam handles. They stay sweatty for days after a run and they stink. I'm not sure that trekking poles with foam handles are made of the same stuff, but from what I saw it was close enough to try cork instead. It rained on us all morning, but the cork handles were bone dry the next morning.

One other feature I loved is the extended grips below the angled handles on these poles. If you were hikingg up a steep slope, instead of having to colapse the pole a bit you can just move your hands down about 6"-8" to a secondary foam grip. This was occasionally useful, but like I said I didn't use them going uphill very often.

I am 6'4" and weigh about 200 lbs before a hike. I used the poles at 135cm at first, but finished the day with them at about 130cm. I will probably never go on another long hike without them.

[Ezra]

Hiking poles look great on girls and the more effeminate types....but the song is always the same...clickety clack...clickety clack...I use a branch or stick, call it what you will, I much prefer the Merlin feel and you don't have to stop and adjust them...you simply move your hand to suit the elevation.

I too have used the same 2 sticks for many years and miles now. Only downfall is they won't work in the lightweight tents (as poles) that have developed in the past few years.

[Papa Tac]

I use this http://www.leevalley.com/en/gifts/pa...104,53221&ap=4
Telescoping hiking stick - adjustable, shock absorbing, compass and thermometer, light and a good price.
As to the tip - steel point for winter, rubber for summer.
I usually use just one, but will take the wife's if needed ... great as X-C ski poles, too!

[oruacat2]

I'm having a hard time getting accustomed to trekking poles - I just can't find a good pace/rhythm and the wrist straps annoy the heck out of me. I'm trying, though, because I understand the benefits, especially on longer hikes. For short trips I just use my Gandalf staff (screw Merlin) - you shall not pass! It's just a cheap rake handle I grabbed from a hardware store years ago and wrapped the handle in the cloth tape used on baseball and softball bats. It's heavy as hell, but I like that sturdiness.

[ChuckT]

I'm 6 - 2 ish and leave mine at 135 cm. Sometimes wish they were longer when setting up my tarp in porch mode but have yet to really need the extra length on the go. I started with a single bamboo staff then used found stuff, pick up a green stick, strip off leaves and twigs and go. One time I even had a semi-custom oak(?) pole. I never could find a way to carry them to and from trail heads. Found poles I usually burned up in a last campfire, recycling. So collapsible poles are it for me.

Sent from my Samsung Note 3 using Tapatalk.

[Oak88]

I have the Black Diamond Alpine cork poles. I do recommend them as I saw many people having issue with the twist lock poles. I broke my Alpine corks coming down Mt. Moosilauke. I went to an outfitters and replaced these with the BD Ergo cork. The Ergo cork handles failed in less than 15 miles, the cork peeled off. I had to get out of the whites and back to the outfitter who gave me another new Ergo cork. These failed after less than 15 miles. I used Leukotape to build up the grip and kept hiking. I use my hiking poles for my Solong Lighthearts Design so I have to have the poles. Lastly without poles I could not have hiked a thru as I have osteo arthritis in both knees.
I would only use the rubber tips if your doing extensive road or sidewalk hiking.

[Grampie]

Buy Leki poles. They are a good quality and replacement parts are availavle at most outfitters. Ditch the rubber ends they serve no purpose. The pointed ends make for a better grip when walking on rock and should be replaced when they wear out. Once you get used to hiking with them you realy don't have to adjust the lenght.
I am a caretaker at Upper Goose Pond Cabin, 1540 miles from Springer, and 90% of the thru hikers that get that far are using hiking poles. I found that they help to maintain your balance and prevent falls.
Don't believe the crap folks say about the tips scratch the rocks and erode the sides of the trail. I have observed that the pole tips do disturbe the soil but this leads to grass growing along the trail side. This helps to prevent trail erosen.

[Nooga]

Buy Leki poles. They are a good quality and replacement parts are availavle at most outfitters. Ditch the rubber ends they serve no purpose. The pointed ends make for a better grip when walking on rock and should be replaced when they wear out. Once you get used to hiking with them you realy don't have to adjust the lenght.
I am a caretaker at Upper Goose Pond Cabin, 1540 miles from Springer, and 90% of the thru hikers that get that far are using hiking poles. I found that they help to maintain your balance and prevent falls.
Don't believe the crap folks say about the tips scratch the rocks and erode the sides of the trail. I have observed that the pole tips do disturbe the soil but this leads to grass growing along the trail side. This helps to prevent trail erosen.

I agree. I would add that I prefer the adjustable poles with flip locks vs the twist style.

[Maui Rhino]

I started with the cheap WalMart hiking poles. They worked fine for a while, but the wrist straps failed after a while. I sewed new ones and kept using them. One Christmas, my wife gave me the Cabelas Alaskan Guide pole. I really like the wooden knob on the handle. These poles have lasted me for several years and many miles, and I often scoffed at the overpriced poles on the market. Eventually, the anti-shock started to squeak, and wouldn't stop, so I recently replaced them with Leki Micro Vario Ti poles. I only have a couple of hikes on them but I absolutely love them, and feel they are totally worth every penny. The Aergon grip is incredibly comfotable. The Micro Vario is a folding pole with three fixed lower sections, and 20cm of adjustment at the handle end (from 110 to 130cm). I haven't checked to see how well it fits my Tarptent Contrail, but I prefer not to use my hiking poles on my shelter, so that I can use them if I do short hikes around camp after setting up.

[rafe]

I've got some ancient pair of Lekis, bought around 2002. Beat up but still going strong, they've covered a good 1000+ miles. I hiked for years without poles but once I tried them I was sold.

[5th]

I'm 6'0" and set my poles at poles at 125 cm (49.2"). When walking downhill, even without extending them, I don't feel like I am hunched down. You just reach out with your arms. At 5'9", I don't think you need to worry about any poles on the market being too short for you.

I have to agree with this ^^^.

I'm 5'8" and set mine to 115cm regardless of slope. When going downhill I just extend my arms downward and forward. Mine are REI Traverse Shocklights with twist locks. I have not had any issues with them in the 10 years I've had them. I lost the rubber tip covers long ago and prefer the carbide tips in all terrain, even slick rock. I don't worry about wearing them down - that's why they sell replacement tips.

I like the straps. Adjusted right, they go under the outside edge of my palms just above the wrist. This allows me to swing/plant/push/repeat without really gripping the poles much at all. This makes them feel like an extension of my arms. Going uphill I can get a good push leaning on the strap. Going downhill I can rotate my hands slightly palm-down and lean on the straps to reduce downhill momentum. Because I'm not gripping tightly, my hands don't sweat and my forearms are only used for pushing, so I can go hard all day. People can say all they want about how dorky they look. I could care less. They are worth ignoring whatever annoys people about them IMO. I have had bad knees for 30 years and these things have made all the difference. I won't hike without them.

My 2¢.

[lonehiker]

I like the straps. Adjusted right, they go under the outside edge of my palms just above the wrist. This allows me to swing/plant/push/repeat without really gripping the poles much at all. This makes them feel like an extension of my arms. Going uphill I can get a good push leaning on the strap. Going downhill I can rotate my hands slightly palm-down and lean on the straps to reduce downhill momentum. Because I'm not gripping tightly, my hands don't sweat and my forearms are only used for pushing, so I can go hard all day. People can say all they want about how dorky they look. I could care less. They are worth ignoring whatever annoys people about them IMO. I have had bad knees for 30 years and these things have made all the difference. I won't hike without them.

My 2¢.

The vast majority of people using poles don't have a clue how to use the straps properly (or at least how they are designed to be used). You described the benefits of using the straps correctly, but the explanation of how to insert hand and grip wasn't very descriptive. I will attempt to explain it but if I fall short then hopefully someone with better explanative abilities can chime in.

From below the strap, run your hand up through the strap and then rotate your hand forward gripping both the strap and the handle of the pole. The strap will be in the V between your thumb and index finger. You will want to adjust the length of the strap loop to allow your hand to fit on the pole handle. Usually the strap loop will have to be lengthened to accommodate gloves. Generally, I adjust the pole to fit my hand with glove and then simply leave it alone when bare handed.

[ChuckT]

Fitting hand to strap to pole does ???
I'm in the grap and go crowd. Some ways of grasping the handles are more comfortable than others but beyond that?
Guess I'm just simple.

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[Franco]

The Flick Lock was invented by Gipron not Black Diamond.
If your Black Diamond poles are marked Made In Italy , they were made by Gipron.
http://www.gipron.it/en/

[Franco]

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