Trekking Poles

[Blockcaver]

If you use your poles for shelter poles and cross country ski poles I like to extend them well beyond my normal hiking length.

And if you loan them to someone much taller or shorter than you, adjustable is a good option too.

But I could make do with a fixed 117 cm length I’d just hunting with them. If I could buy 117 cm poles, haha. I set the bottom extension at 115 and the upper at 120, works for me.

 

[MTGrizz]

I love/hate my Leki carbon poles. At 50yrs old, they are a must coming down the mountain heavy. Also nice wading deep/fast water, stabilizing binos, holding up a rain tarp while you glass... I only hate them because they make me feel my age sometimes.

 

[Sneaker]

I have mostly used the round rubber shoe when I have done mountain terrain, curious what others us for the tip. I've seen on youtube sheep hunts where it looks like they are using the pointed carbide tip, but isn't that super loud on rocks and prone to slip on larger rocks? Or am I crazy for not running the hard tip all the time and been missing out?

 

[SloppyJ]

I just went through this and got some BD FLZ that break down a little further. Seem to be good quality but havent put them to the test. The carbon poles didn't seem to offer that much weight savings and I'm a big dude so im afraid I'd snap one off. Only problem is the colors are a bit fruity.

 

[Smoke10]

I use the carbide tips. They can be louder, but I want the grip they provide. You can still be quiet using the carbide tips, just gotta move slower.
Grip on rocks with the carbide tips was actually good. I didn't take the rubber caps along to try them, but I could see the rubber caps on wet rocks slipping...

When I was on stalks, the trekking poles were strapped to my pack.

 

[Meknowy]

There are lots of good options, but I think you definitely want adjustable length so that you can break them down and put them on your pack. Last season got a pair of the Leki Black Carbon that they sell through Kuiu, and they're outstanding - tough and superlight. Only one year in, but they survived two tough hunts last fall with no issues.