Pilot Range in Nevada

Trekking Poles

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I am a big fan of trekking poles…or any poles. One year I used my wife’s ski poles during all my trips. Of course, they weren’t adjustable so it was a bit awkward. Trekking poles collapse, fitting nicely onto your pack while not in use (instead of high above the pack getting tangled in branches). I’ve had several pairs over the years, most eventually broke, and one pair was stolen from my campsite.
If you do any off trail hiking or climbing, I can’t express enough how helpful these are for uphill balance efficiency, downhill stress relief on the knees, helpfulness side hilling, during stream and difficult talus crossings, snake probing, cougar threatening, bear scaring and so much more.
Using trekking poles over water
Not only did these poles come in handy to cross this stream, on the same trip I had to bang them together to scare off bears during two separate encounters!
Here are the conclusions I’ve come to about Trekking Poles:

LEKI Thermolite Trekking Poles

These are the poles I’m finally satisfied with. Super lightweight and durable, they have lasted longer than all the other pairs over the years….and I’ve had quite a few fail me. I no longer think about poles being a weight issue on long trips, I’ll bring them along without a second thought.
Leki Thermolite Trekking Poles

Leki Thermolite Trekking Poles

These heat treated all Aluminum 7075 Ultralite poles are the Adventure Racers' poles of choice. No bells and whistles here, just a compact size with Foam Grips and comfy Straps. The 360 turn back security of the Super Lock System (SLS) was proven to be the strongest by TUV, an independent testing lab. The reduced weight is because there is no Antishock mechanism but this pair of poles sure can take you where you want to go. Carbide Flextips are added security on rock and ice.
Using trekking poles on snow
REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair

REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair

Made in Austria exclusively for REI, these aluminum trekking poles sport great features. Strong three-section 7075-T6 aluminum alloy shafts extend to 55 in. and compact to 25 in. to fit in your pack. Soft rubber hand grips are comfortable and give a sure hold with wide, padded, buckle-free straps. Trekking baskets promote stability on soft terrain; baskets easily twist on and off. Rubber tip protectors extend the life of the tips, plus protect your gear when poles are stowed in your pack.
REI Summit Trekking Poles
Any poles are better than no poles at all so if you are debating whether to spend your money on poles or something else, I would suggest just to by the cheapest REI pair. As long as you are not relying on them every weekend, they should last several years. If you learn to love them, buy some more expensive (LEKI) ones down the road.
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A cheep brand will break the first year. Even the REI brand just won’t survive countless trips. Leki just uses better components inside.
The fancy ones with the springs (or shocks) are heavy and the springs can be more of a danger when needing something rigid to lean (or fall) against. Plus, the more components they have the more that can go wrong.
The lighter the poles the longer you can use them without getting sore muscles. I will never buy anything but ultra-light poles again. After 8 hours of climbing, most of us will feel the effects of heavy trekking poles.