Best affordable trekking poles

[sam1000000]

Hi,
I'm looking to SOBO this year on the AT. I'm looking into getting a pair of lightweight (not necessarily UL, just know if they're two heavy I'll get arm fatigue), affordable poles. I want a pair so that in rare instances if needed, I can set up my hammock. I'd prefer not to spend much more than $100. I'd also like it if they were collapsible. Maybe I'm asking for too much haha :o

[Gambit McCrae]

Hi,
I'm looking to SOBO this year on the AT. I'm looking into getting a pair of lightweight (not necessarily UL, just know if they're two heavy I'll get arm fatigue), affordable poles. I want a pair so that in rare instances if needed, I can set up my hammock. I'd prefer not to spend much more than $100.

Dont completely understand your post. "I want a pair so that in rare instances if needed, I can set up my hammock."

[sam1000000]

You can in a pinch use two poles as stakes and hang your hammock from them. It's not ideal and your butt is still on the ground a little, but better than nothing. I don't think I'll ever have to, but better prepared than not

[D2maine]

Dont completely understand your post. "I want a pair so that in rare instances if needed, I can set up my hammock."

i believe he means to ground camp his hammock for cases where there are no trees to hang the hammock from.


to answer the question look these guys over great poles for the price...

https://cascademountaintech.com/collections/hiking-trekking-poles

[Gambit McCrae]

You can in a pinch use two poles as stakes and hang your hammock from them. It's not ideal and your butt is still on the ground a little, but better than nothing. I don't think I'll ever have to, but better prepared than not

I am not a hammock guy but IMO this is not realistic nor would i try it.

[TNhiker]

i believe he means to ground camp his hammock for cases where there are no trees to hang the hammock from.




careful there------believe OP is a "she"...

[TNhiker]

I am not a hammock guy but IMO this is not realistic nor would i try it.



likewise, no hammock....

and likewise, i don't see how sticking a thin pole into the ground a couple of inches is going
to support a person who weighs between 60 pounds and 200 pounds........

at most, and this still wouldn't work i believe, one would have to have guy lines staked out to give it some
support.....

i wouldnt even waste the time trying this knowing that the end result will be sleeping on the ground...

[Odd Man Out]

Check out the Fizan poles on Drop. Probably the lightest aluminum poles on the market. Their unique locking mechanism is simple, reliable, and easy to many brain. The mechanical nism is entirety inside the pole so the outside surface is completely smooth.

[Venchka]

Back in the Dark Ages, I scored a pair of Komperdell telescoping poles from Sierra Trading Post.
More recently I scored a pair of Komperdell Carbon Folding poles from Moosejaw. Both products have served me well. At reasonable prices.
Done correctly, a pair of trekking poles should support a human in a hammock. Correctly being the operative word. It helps if you have sailing or heavy lift rigging experience.
Too bad Sierra Trading Post is no longer the same company.
Cheers!
Wayne

[Gambit McCrae]

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/106769/

HANGING A HAMMOCK WITH ADJUSTABLE TREKKING POLES.



https://dpcr19kltm61a.cloudfront.net/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1441662825_131602.jpg https://dpcr19kltm61a.cloudfront.net/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1441662873_131603.jpg https://dpcr19kltm61a.cloudfront.net/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1441662939_131604.jpg https://dpcr19kltm61a.cloudfront.net/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1441662968_131605.jpg

[Slo-go'en]

Well, the above looks like a lot of trouble and prone to tip over if not guyed real good. I could see using poles to hold up the ends of the hammock to get the bug net and tarp off your face, but you'd be on the ground. Not much different then supporting just a tarp. Still, it would sort of be a pain to set up, but if there ever was a situation where you need to, you could.

Don't cheapen out too much on poles or you'll end up buying two sets before the end. Get a quality pole like Black Diamond or Leki. Their low end poles are a little on the heavy side, but that also makes them sturdier.

[Deacon]

This is exactly why I am no longer a hammocker. I tried hammocking for three years and always spent too much time finding trees to hang from. Too big in diameter, too small, too far apart, too close together, too dense, no trees at all. I found this to be true especially on the northern half of the Long Trail where the trees are really dense.

I’m sure there are those who will say they’ve never had a problem. Good for them.

I’ve seen this method of hanging discussed over on hammock forums, and is just not realistic.

I’ll stick to my tent.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[TNhiker]

Well, the above looks like a lot of trouble and prone to tip over if not guyed real good.




and if one thinks it's a lot of trouble now------think about it after a long day of hiking..........

[Nanatuk]

Well I don't know anything about hammocking, but I swear by the cheap amazon poles that are less than $30. I have bought 4 pair. Use them for hiking. snow shoeing and X-country skiing. I destroyed a pair on my first PCT section hike walking thru the lava fields of Oregon. They are durable, reasonably light and cheap. Can't imagine spending more on treking poles.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GESLVOU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sam1000000]

This is one of the handful of videos I had seen on the setup https://youtu.be/GOoKpAXTyjE

As I said, probably won't have to, but it would be nice to have the option. I'm pretty sold on hammocking as I have really poor circulation and end up waking up every hour when tenting because somethings gone numb. When I've hammocked, I haven't had this issue. I also kinda just want to have a pair instead of a staff ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I checked out the cascade mountain tech ones and they seem like a really good option!

[Gambit McCrae]

I think the disconnect here is that everyone is considering that the poles will be used to support bodyweight if you look at all of the videos- not the case. Just using the poles for the fly and hammock as a bug net. But that one guy i posted above is indeed using his fancy contraption to bear his weight load. I love my tent.

[TNhiker]

Just using the poles for the fly and hammock as a bug net.



do you mean then sleeping on ground under this?

i read it as OP wanted to use poles to support the weight-----" if needed, I can set up my hammock".......


that's where my line of thought resides....

[cmoulder]

do you mean then sleeping on ground under this?

i read it as OP wanted to use poles to support the weight-----" if needed, I can set up my hammock".......


that's where my line of thought resides....

Yep, the OP's video link shows ground setup with hammock as a bivy. In that case any kind of trekking pole or found stick will work.

The issue isn't really the poles (unless there are literally no found sticks to be had) but carrying an air mat or CCF pad for the ground.

[Traveler]

Given the photos, the complexity of this looks time consuming to set up and prone to failure with little margin of error if just one of the guy line is improperly set up. I cannot imagine setting this up in 25 mph winds or driving rain. However, adventures are made from such things as expertise grows.

I would not go cheap on poles and get a set of Black Diamond aluminum poles, flick locks, and composite material grips. You should be able to find a decent set for around $100 from REI or other vendors. Given the lateral load on the poles with this set up, carbon poles should be avoided, they would break if the guys were not exactly right. Aluminum would be more forgiving.

[Gambit McCrae]

do you mean then sleeping on ground under this?

i read it as OP wanted to use poles to support the weight-----" if needed, I can set up my hammock".......


that's where my line of thought resides....


Yes sleeping on the ground. And maybe the OP did mean suspended off ground but that is just not realistic. Out of all of the Appalachian Trail I cant think of anywhere within reason that you could not find 2 trees to hang a hammock from even in a pinch.

-The roan highlands - Trees in between the balds and only a 10 mile stretch-Grayson - Trees. -Chestnut mountain, VA - Walk another .2 either direction and you have trees-Nebo road, VA- Private land anyways
-Osborne Farm, TN - Walk another .4 either way-The whites? Probably more hammock opportunity then tenting through there




I would not go cheap on poles and get a set of Black Diamond aluminum poles, flick locks, and composite material grips. You should be able to find a decent set for around $100 from REI or other vendors. Given the lateral load on the poles with this set up, carbon poles should be avoided, they would break if the guys were not exactly right. Aluminum would be more forgiving.

I agree, I would not go cheap on poles - you are either using them everyday and need them to be durable, or your carrying them on your pack to only use for shelter setup and want them to be light.




Back in the Dark Ages, I scored a pair of Komperdell telescoping poles from Sierra Trading Post.
More recently I scored a pair of Komperdell Carbon Folding poles from Moosejaw. Both products have served me well. At reasonable prices.
Done correctly, a pair of trekking poles should support a human in a hammock. Correctly being the operative word. It helps if you have sailing or heavy lift rigging experience.
Too bad Sierra Trading Post is no longer the same company.
Cheers!
Wayne

I have used Komperdell's for the entirety of my hiking over the past 10 years and AT completion - Customer service is top notch and they make a good product

[CalebJ]

Cascade Mountain Tech may be cheap, but they're well made poles that have been used by a lot of us. I have no concerns about their quality.

[colorado_rob]

Another vote for those bargain Cascade Mtn. poles. Super light carbon fiber.

I have broken TWO of them now since I started using them, but both times were on fairly extreme terrain and I have a solid history of breaking carbon fiber poles. After I broke the first pole, I bought a second pair, then broke another, but still have two complete poles PLUS lots of spare parts all for $60.

I like everything about them, including the handles, straps and locking mechanisms. Well, the tips do wear out fairly quickly on rocky terrain (like out here in the west), but one set would last an entire AT I would think.

[Deadeye]

This is one of the handful of videos I had seen on the setup https://youtu.be/GOoKpAXTyjE


So this isn't "hanging a hammock", this is using a hammock as a bivy. Your but is more than touching the ground, you are entirely on the ground, and your poles are only holding up the ends of the hammock and the tarp. Any poles will do the job, as will stout sticks.

[Gambit McCrae]

So this isn't "hanging a hammock", this is using a hammock as a bivy. Your but is more than touching the ground, you are entirely on the ground, and your poles are only holding up the ends of the hammock and the tarp. Any poles will do the job, as will stout sticks.

Agree and this was my explanation but deadeye explained it better then I

[TNhiker]

Yep, the OP's video link shows ground setup with hammock as a bivy. In that case any kind of trekking pole or found stick will work.

The issue isn't really the poles (unless there are literally no found sticks to be had) but carrying an air mat or CCF pad for the ground.





ok.........thanks...

twenty five years of watching/shooting/editing video all day long for work has taught me
not to watch but the rare, occasional video......

i will watch tv and movies but i consider those "different"......

and mainly i have those on while im reading a book (usually watching a hockey or football game)......

[bamadog]

Hiker Hunger makes some really good poles at a great price.I used them on my thru hikes of the A.T. and the Pinhoti trail.

[cmoulder]

ok.........thanks...

twenty five years of watching/shooting/editing video all day long for work has taught me
not to watch but the rare, occasional video......

i will watch tv and movies but i consider those "different"......

and mainly i have those on while im reading a book (usually watching a hockey or football game)......

As a hammock person myself, when the OP said "set up my hammock" my first thought was hanging the hammock between 2 trekking poles. Which is in fact possible but IMO not practical, and certainly not with "affordable" (i.e. "cheap") trekking poles. Seems that people sometimes see a video or an article somewhere and think it's a common thing.

[Five Tango]

I have been hammocking in the South East for about 20 years and never been forced to ground yet but am always prepared with a groundsheet and a very light pad.No way I would suspend a hammock off a trekking pole,even if it was made of steel.

Here's Shugs video on using poles and a hammock to set up tarp and bivvy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j54vMKGhiQ

[AT98VIKING]

Check the Zpacks poles - Only $99 for a pair of carbon fiber at 7.2 oz each