Trekking Pole-- Swiss Gear

[Old Grouse]

At that price, just buy another new pole with basket.

[horicon]

Some times I use "old" down hill ski poles as treking poles as back up. They work when you are in a bind.

[Shutterbug]

I use the SwissGear poles and have not had many problems with them. But, I lost a basket this weekend on a trek across the Presidential Range in New Hampshire. I bought them at Walmart but they do not carry replacement baskests. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The replacement basket problem is easily resolved. Just keep your eyes open. I have lost several, but I have also found several on the trail. It all evens out in the long run.

My Swiss Gear poles have lasted two years and several hundred miles. I gave them away after I completed hiking the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. I met a guy who was just headed into the canyon without poles. I gave him mine.

I bought some more expensive poles to replace the Swiss Gear, but I certainly got my money's worth from the original pair.

[Doc_of_the_bay]

I use the SwissGear poles and have not had many problems with them. But, I lost a basket this weekend on a trek across the Presidential Range in New Hampshire. I bought them at Walmart but they do not carry replacement baskests. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Contact customer service at Wenger. (I found the contact info on their web site.) They'll sell you replacement baskets for $1 apiece. Rubber tips are also $1.

[dessertrat]

I am taking a pair of these with me next week for a weeklong hike on the AT. I will give a full report on how they hold up.

(What ever happened to the olden dayse, when you just used a stick until it broke, and then found another?)

[Appalachian Tater]

If you keep your eyes open, you will find plenty of baskets and a few tips along the trail.

[scouter603]

Just received a pair of these for Christmas. They are the model with cork grips and anti-shock. They seem fine so far, but I can't figure out how to turn the anti-shock feature off. The poles have a "LOCK and UNLOCK" arrows beneath the Anti-Shock logo, but so far - no luck. Any guidance is appreciated.

[jhick]

Just received a pair of these for Christmas. They are the model with cork grips and anti-shock. They seem fine so far, but I can't figure out how to turn the anti-shock feature off. The poles have a "LOCK and UNLOCK" arrows beneath the Anti-Shock logo, but so far - no luck. Any guidance is appreciated.

That only unlocks the pole length adjustment, not the anti-shock. I've had a pair for almost a year. I haven't had any problems other than getting stuck in some PA rocks and bending the end some. I bent it back in shape without a problem. They are great to see if you like using poles without the $$$$$. If you move on to better poles, you have a backup to throw in the trunk.

[Pedaling Fool]

Just received a pair of these for Christmas. They are the model with cork grips and anti-shock. They seem fine so far, but I can't figure out how to turn the anti-shock feature off. The poles have a "LOCK and UNLOCK" arrows beneath the Anti-Shock logo, but so far - no luck. Any guidance is appreciated.

I don't think locking the anti-shock mechanism is a feature, but will have to take a look at mine. I hate the shocks, if I can lock them that would be great.

[Shutterbug]

I use the SwissGear poles and have not had many problems with them. But, I lost a basket this weekend on a trek across the Presidential Range in New Hampshire. I bought them at Walmart but they do not carry replacement baskests. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Keep an eye on the trail. There seem to be a lot of the SwissGear baskets along well used trails. I have picked up several of them.

[SunnyWalker]

I used a pair of the Swiss Gear poles you are talking about for a week on the AT in GA this last July. I came away with all parts intact (on the poles). Tips were a bit blunted or not as sharp but I expected that with use. I feel I can get new tips. I plan on keep using them. Good buy. -SunnyWalker

[alverhootzt]

I was so surprised to find this thread here. I saw those poles at Wal-Mart but put them back on the shelf when I saw the tag that said they were not made to withstand your full weight. Yikes. But maybe I should reconsider...

[sofaking]

i like mine. i threw the baskets in my junk drawer, they're for snow anyway. i promptly took off and lost the rubber end caps- those are for crutches and canes-, and have had no complaints putting miles on them. no hiking poles are made to support your full weight, again those are crutches and canes.

[KnowledgeEngine]

I like the rubber tip for 2 purposes.

• 1) protect tip from asphalt & concrete
• 2) Protect the trail in sensitive areas from tip scrapes.

I hiked 20 miles on my swissgears. Both the baskets now lost in woods. On second hike, completed the process of bending both poles in mid-section. I plan on buying a pair of oblong black diamond poles(much less likely to bend). I found the SwissGear poles to be very wobbly, and did not trust them completely fording streams.

[Captain]

i have had one of these break on me , i was able to fix it with a small phililps head screw driver im assuming it broke becuase it was turned too much to LOOSEN the pole and allow it to extend when you loosen it it twists a plastic piece up the thread " like a nut on a bolt" and doing it too far again i assume twisted off the screw and washer that was supposed to hold it into place i pulled the pole and the thread assembly out re attached it and it " works" again , reason i say " works" is cuase its really rough telescoping not smooth like it used to be HOWEVER i attribute this to me wiping off the lube in order to work with the assembly...wow i actually made a meaningful post.. thats a first for me

[atraildreamer]

My local Walmart has them in a 2-pack for $14.97.

What do you think of the Ozark Trails equipment that they carry?

[sofaking]

My local Walmart has them in a 2-pack for $14.97.

What do you think of the Ozark Trails equipment that they carry?

it's generally crap of a lower quality than even swiss gear. but damn, if i had waited i could have saved $5 on my swiss gear sticks...

[OwlsRevenge]

what's the purpose of the "basket"....

snow?

eggs?

flowers?



seriously though....

thanks

[Captain]

the "basket" keeps it from sinking too much into soft soil

[sofaking]

the basket is for taking off and playing frisbee...then you leave it on the trail so that it can re-join the herd and start the annual 'swiss gear pole basket migration'...an arduous and epic journey back to their homeland...