Hiking Poles - Lightweight and Durable - What Should I Buy?

[UHFox]

I have always been against the use of hiking poles, but some recent events (a twisted knee, a couple of spills)have convinced me that I should get a pair. I think that, used correctly, the poles will relieve some strain on my knees, and possibly give me more secure footing on sketchy terrain. (On the other hand, I feel like a bit of a traitor!) I know that the Hiking Poles/No Hiking Poles debate ranks right up there with Hang Food/Sleep with Food, or Tent/Shelter as a topic of controversy, and I was hesitant to switch sides.

Anyway, I am thinking of getting a pair of one-piece carbon fiber poles, like the STIX Pro Carbon Fiber poles, or the (adjustable) GG Lightrek4s (I saw ChillyWilly’s recent post about these). I would like something really light. The drawback is that I guess they are less durable than more traditional poles. Does anyone have long term experience (good or bad) with poles like this, or would you recommend something else? All advice welcome!

I am going to be doing a 2-3 day section hike in the next month or two, and will probably buy or borrow some poles to use.
Thanks for your ideas, and I hope to see you on the AT! (I hope to be the one with the shiny new poles)

[tammons]

I got a pair of Black Diamond Ergo aluminum poles for more durability and the flic locks. They weigh about 20 oz.
I dont have a lot of experience with trekking poles. Never have really used poles that much and was going to get a pair of GG LT4 poles for the 8 oz weight but they are expensive.

I figure for $57 I can always sell them and get GG poles later if I want.
Link...........
http://www.sunnysports.com/Catalog.a...k%20ergo&Hit=1

[STICK]

Go with the LT4's...you won't regret it... I love mine...

Then again, I have nothing against my much heavier Leki's either...

[Miner]

It depends on the user whether or not they will hold up and last. My Titanium Goat Poles are pretty much the same as the Gossamer Gear poles and I've used them for over 3000miles including a thru-hike. But other people have broken even stronger poles. If you move aggressively down the trail like a bulldozer, not looking where you plant them, holding them in a death grip so if they get stuck and resist motion you won't be able to let go of them, any pole may bend or break when they get stuck between rocks.

I like these type of lightweight poles (3.4oz/each for mine), since even if I find myself carrying them on flat terrain, I don't wind the weight. As they serve double use as the supports for my shelter, they don't really add any weight.

[Papa D]

These Z- poles are pretty much a game-changer in the world of trekking poles - I used Leki Poles for a long time and then later just skipped carrying poles - now, with these, I'm back with poles - they are super light and fold up so easily that when you don't want them they just tag along on your pack - no sweat. You won't be sorry if you get these:

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com...diamond-zpoles

[leaftye]

The Gossamer Gear poles are very light. I'd definitely go with adjustable poles so that you have a pole that you can use for various shelter setups. Adjustable poles are also easier to put into a car, which is a big consideration when hitching. Also, a nonadjustable pole would be a big hassle if you wanted to use an umbrella.

[mn_scout]

I've not used poles before either, but am practicing now for an AZT trek in a month. I just got a pair of aluminum Outdoor Products poles at Walmart - 9.5oz. each - for $15/each.
I've pounded them up and down a short steep hill every day the past week for about 40 miles and they're doing fine. I figured I'm the guy that would break a super-skinny pole, and I wasn't sure if I'd like them so I'll carry the extra 10oz. and spend the extra $100 on other stuff. After 800miles, that $10/oz. might seem like a bargain. :-)

[Harald Hope]

That's an amazing deal on the BD ergo cork, I'd jump on that if you are even remotely thinking of trying poles. I would avoid the walmart type poles, they are notorious for failing, you get what you pay for, I read their website reviews and everyone noted they were junk quality and prone to failure. The BD flicklocks are really great, the poles weigh about 18 oz a pair. I got a friend a pair of komperdells, lightly used, and one of the tighteners is slipping, and that's much higher quality than the walmart garbage. The flick locks are really excellent, good engineering.

Every thread I've read on carbon vs aluminum always fills with reports, firsthand, of carbon failing catastrophically just when needed most. So I think it really depends on what type of hiking you do, and how much you are going to depend on the pole in critical situations. My personal theory on why carbon fails for some and not others involves the fine chips you get from hitting rocks, that eventually weaken and break the carbon fibers, but I also know that carbon fiber while strong, is used in such small amounts to achieve low weight that the poles, aluminum vs carbon fiber, are really not doing the same job. I noted also the relatively small weight difference between the bd carbon folding and aluminum folding, which I suspect comes to the fact they are using enough carbon to have them not break, ie, they are heavier.

As to knees, they work, but you have to use them correctly, they work very well going up and down hills, flats/rolling not so much, but I find any downhill at all they take pressure off the knees to a really large extent. I found it interesting on a recent simiilar thread on backpackinglight.com, it turned out that a significant number of posters who didn't like trekking poles were using them completely wrong, thus losing a lot of the real benefits. Think cross country skiing in terms of the correct motions and use, but that analogy only works if you learned how to use poles correctly on skis.

[Deadeye]

These Z- poles are pretty much a game-changer in the world of trekking poles - I used Leki Poles for a long time and then later just skipped carrying poles - now, with these, I'm back with poles - they are super light and fold up so easily that when you don't want them they just tag along on your pack - no sweat. You won't be sorry if you get these:

http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com...diamond-zpoles

Just so you have the other side of the story, I bought these, thought they would be great, broke one on the second day of use. BD was of no help, basically told me I was too badass to use lightweight equipment. $100 + down the drain. Last BD product I'll buy.

[Harald Hope]

Forgot, also important: cork grips that are soft vs rubber that gives you blisters, I was lucky and an REI sales guy steered me away from the cheaper poles, and told me why? Cork comes in different hardnesses, too hard, like the rei/komperdell type, and it doesn't adjust to your hands, rubber sticks and blisters over longer trips for many users. Straps, I saw immediately with the cheaper poles, which used just straps of nylon, vs the padded straps leki/bd use. No strap at all to me defeats the entire purpose of using trekking poles, not clear on why anyone even does that to be honest.

Non-adjustable defeats, as noted, another benefit, collapsing the poles, so you can transport them. This was the actual reason I got mine at first, I've always used a hiking stick, but carrying it on buses / trains was getting to be a real pain, that's worth thinking on.

Another thing the REI guy pointed out to me, which is a subtle thing, but he's right there too, is that cheaper poles have this shiver when you plant them, which you might not notice at first, but after a few miles, you really start to feel it, it's a vibration that is annoying.

I've never tried carbon poles, just like I've never tried a carbon framed bike vs real steel, for pretty much exactly the same reason, steel/aluminum is much stronger, especially over time and wear and use. One poster on bpl noted he dumped his carbon poles when he saw how much they were flexing holding up his tent, that's the same exact flex that leads to lateral snapping failure, ie, when you lean on them really heavily to save yourself from falling down a cliff or into a raging river you are crossing. the weights of the light carbon are of course appealing, but to me is not enough to override the inherent weakness of carbon tubing when it's that thin, especially with chips happening from rocks. But each to their own, everyone has different styles, and accepts different compromises.

[ken209]

When I was younger I thought poles were status symbols, at about age 60 started having knee problems, got a set of poles, still hiking at 70. Stay away from walmart poles, have seen them discarded along the trail.

[Harald Hope]

deadeye, I'll take that as another first hand account of why not to use ultrathin carbon fiber poles, I see these on every single thread. I am however very surprised that black diamond reacted that way. What did the warranty say? Were there any extenuating circumstances, your weight? something else? Usually companies like this have great customer service and support. Or do they simply not warranty these poles in the same way?

[Harald Hope]

ken209, your point is the key one. When you are young, you feel you are indestructable, and so begin the slow process of destroying your knees. Starting to use trekking poles before the knees start to wear out from abuse is far better than waiting, like you, or me, until the damage is largely done. This is a hard point to get people to see, certainly couldn't have argued myself into it 15 years ago - UNLESS... someone had given me a pair, showed me how to use them, then sent me down a mountain with 50 pounds on my back. At that point, I would never have stopped using them. Also for climbing it.

This is not unlike the people who walk through poison oak, claiming immunity, and thereby remove their resistance piece by piece, until one day they have lost it, and now get poison oak.

[kevperro]

When I was younger I thought poles were status symbols, at about age 60 started having knee problems, got a set of poles, still hiking at 70. Stay away from walmart poles, have seen them discarded along the trail.

I've been using trekking poles going on 25 years. I've not used every new brand but started with the Leki used on over 2000+ miles of hiking including a 1200 mile trip, 500 mile trip and several approx. 100 mile trips. They were long-lasting but over the years due to a number of reasons I replaced them a couple times.

Now I use only the Walmart poles. They are not as high of quality as the Leki but I find them perfectly acceptable, especially considering the price. I've only damaged poles by slipping and falling in the snow with a pole planted. The slide/fall down hill with the pole stuck 12" or so in the wet snow can cause you to bend a pole. I did this just two weeks ago but I've never damaged them in non-snow conditions. The Wally-world poles have never let me down and they are a great choice if you are experimenting to see if poles are for you. Personally... I know poles are for me and I still use them rather than pay the big dollars for more expensive flavors.

[moytoy]

I very seldom see them talked about here on WB but I use Exped Alpine 125 poles. 13 oz for the pair and they seem to be strong and durable. The biggest reason I went to a trekking pole vs a stick is the ability to callapse and carring on my pack when not being used.

[QiWiz]

Hey neighbor! I'm a big fan of both the fixed length and adjustable GG poles. Two winters ago, I did break off a tip when it went down between two rocks under the snow. I was able to repair this good as new. That's the only problem I've had in >800 trail miles.

[Deadeye]

deadeye, I'll take that as another first hand account of why not to use ultrathin carbon fiber poles, I see these on every single thread. I am however very surprised that black diamond reacted that way. What did the warranty say? Were there any extenuating circumstances, your weight? something else? Usually companies like this have great customer service and support. Or do they simply not warranty these poles in the same way?

I brought the poles back to the retailer I bought them from - that may have been my mistake, and I may have had better luck dealing directly with BD. This is the first time that retailer has let me down, but they said BD wouldn't replace for the reason stated, i.e. I shouldn't expect lightweight equipment to hold up to heavy duty use. My weight shouldn't have been an issue at 185#. I'll get myself a new pair of Lekis (I left mine at a parking lot, that's when I got the BD poles) if they still make all-cork grips. The Lekis held up for 8 years, and would have held up longer if I didn't #%@$#% lose them! Overall, I was disappointed with my retailer (Outdoor Gear Exchange, Burlington, VT), Black Diamond, and I sure won't put any stock in Backpacker gear reviews, either.

[jakedatc]

"I've never tried carbon poles, just like I've never tried a carbon framed bike vs real steel, for pretty much exactly the same reason, steel/aluminum is much stronger, especially over time and wear and use."

That is why thousands of cyclists use carbon frames, wheels and even more forks every day without incident. Many of them pros riding them 10-20,000 miles a year.

Also, failures will always get more threads than oh... hiking with nothing happening. how many thousands of poles go thousands of miles without any issues. Carbon poles will flex and return when aluminum poles will just bend and be bent forever. i highly doubt small chips in the outer clear layer have anything to do with the structure of the pole. Carbon hockey sticks take a beating and a whole lot of force is need to snap them.

Irrational fears.. that is a great way to make purchase decisions.

BD Alpine CF flick locks for me. light and adjustable for my tarptent. Also don't use the straps. i don't need straps to balance myself going downhill or balancing across/through whatever. it's hiking not cross country skiing.

[TOMP]

Its kinda funny that a lot of people wont try carbon because they dont think it is as strong. The reason I switched to carbon was greater strenght. My aluminum poles were flexing under my weight and if I continued to use them I know they would have bent. My carbon poles never flex or show signs of stress. The difference is instead of bending they will snap, either pole would be useless after breaking or bending so Id rather have my lighter weight higher strenght carbon vs aluminum.

[BrianLe]

I've done a lot of miles with carbon fiber poles and was a fan until I slipped on a patch of ice in the Smokies and snapped my pole in 2010. I ultimately replaced these with the lightest titanium collapsible poles I could find with no built-in springs ("anti-shock" or whatever it's called). When I bought my current (Leki) poles, Leki offered a lifetime guarantee on all poles except for their carbon fiber poles, so another way of saying it is the lightest poles I could get a lifetime guarantee on.

Catch is, they keep changing their models --- looking on their site now I don't see anything off-hand like the ones I bought just a couple of years ago.