Trekking Poles

[USMCret]

So what do you recommend? Does it really matter the brand? Maybe does the weight come into play really? What about fixed length vs adj.

 

[madtinker]

I got my wife some nice ones from Costco; carbon fiber and cork grip. She uses them on pretty tame trails. I use some beat-up aluminum, twist-to-lock poles because I use them hard. I like aluminum because when it breaks it doesn’t splinter, and you can bend it back to shape (sort of). If you are at all clumsy like me, you might appreciate not spending too much money because it’s the number one gear item I break.

 

[MntHunter]

Get Black Diamond, mine took a beating in the Yukon. But still work great.

 

[ReddingArcher]

I use them on any backcountry hunt. I used carbon poles for years and ended up buying an aluminum set for my sheep hunt, for the reason mentioned above. I didn’t want to get one jammed between rocks and splinter all to hell. I want to say they are the Black Diamond ones but I don’t remember. I wouldn’t do a sheep hunt without them.

 

[Smoke10]

I use aluminum trekking poles for the same reason listed above. If it bends you can still use it.

I would get adjustable. Travel through an airport and then if/when you put them into your pack(say for a stalk) they are more ergonomic.
- I'd look into cam-lock vs twist lock if you go adjustable length. I personally like the cam-lock style

Mine are the "mountain cascade" brand with cork handles - like $30 for the pair. I am on my second pair and have been using this brand since 2018.
I had zero complaints with them on my AK backpack sheep hunt and don't see a reason to buy a more expensive pair

 

[LostWapiti]

Love the carbon ones from Costco, they are cheap, light, and get the job done. I keep looking at other ones and there isn't really a reason to go another direction.

 

[Truaxdw]

I broke the lower section of a carbon Leki pole on a fall in the NWT. I was able to wear down the carbon to the next joint and still use it as a short pole. I replaced it with set off of Amazon. I haven’t had a chance to put them through their paces yet, but there’s a pretty thorough rokslide review on them.

 

[mtnbound]

Been using the same set of Sissy Sticks for almost 15 years. They are holding up good and have had no problems.


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[LongWayAround]

Fixed length doesn't make any sense. You want to be able to extend them for going down or shorten them when going up.

I use aluminum Leki.

 

[Grant K]

Black diamond Carbon Z are by far the best for me, you can get them fixed or adjustable, they pack far better than collapsible poles and make everything else feel super clunky, FWIW I haven't used adjustable for years, you just grab the fixed length wherever you need to, adjustable just adds weight and is less rigid...
I break a CF pole about every 3/4 years of heavy use, it's not a mystery when its about to happen, they start getting pretty flimsy well before they break. I am a medium-sized human so take that into account, if you weigh 270 you probably want something beefier.

 

[chasewild]

Black Diamond whippet. Metal. Tool screws on and off if you don't need it.