Thread: Hiking poles, whos uses them?

These are pretty good if you are a summit club member at Kathmandu.

Outdoor Clothing - Camping & Travel Gear - Kathmandu

They used to also stock a carbon fibre one that folds real small - like 25-30 cm for about $30.00 on special that I bought a mate for xmas a couple of years ago and he thrashes it and was so impressed bought a mate for it!!!

Also uses them a Fly poles for his tarp tent. Can't lose!!

Yep I do, make useful shooting stick too. Easier on the ole knees

Originally Posted by GravelBen

I use them, especially for long trips with heavy packs. As said 2 can be a pain in thick bush, but the rest of the time they're great for reducing load and impact on the legs. My knees are solid downhill but I definitely go up hills with a heavy pack faster if I'm using granny poles, lets the arms do some work too.

I have a pair of macpac carbon fibre ones which weigh bugger all, they're tougher than I thought too - fell over once and sat sideways on one with the end stuck between rocks, felt it bend like a banana and it sprung straight again when I took the weight off it.

Make sure you get ones with external clamps for the telescoping adjustment, the twist-lock mechanicanisms you get on some poles are rubbish.

As far as pole height goes, set them so your elbows are at a right angle when the pole is on the ground and you'll be about right. Some people shorten them a bit for steep uphills and lengthen them a bit for steep downhills, but I don't really bother with that.

External clamps are the way to go. Some of the cheaper ones with twist lock just let go when you put weight on them. Usuall story you get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by ryanm

External clamps are the way to go. Some of the cheaper ones with twist lock just let go when you put weight on them. Usuall story you get what you pay for.

Leki have internal locks and they are great. Don't get caught in shit like those clamps.

I expect their twist locks are better than most, but you may notice the more expensive Lekis have external clamps

I haven't any trouble with the clamps getting caught, just the baskets on the end. They ripped off eventually, but they aren't so good in snow after that.

Used to have some twist lock macpac poles but they used to loosen themselves off sporadically (worst in tussock) and then let you down (literally) when you went to lean on them on something steep.

A shoulder length lancewood staff for me, great for descents and moving thick, wet bush out the way, bit heavier than those new telescopic jobs though!

All of the above.
I have been using them for a few years now.
Don't piss around with one. Once you've used 2 you will never go back.
Collapsible and easy to store out of the way when you don't need them, great for crossing rivers and a huge help up hill and down. As others have said, vary the length depending on what you are doing. Handy fly poles too.

Macpac carbons are only $140 atm

Originally Posted by 199p

Macpac carbons are only $140 atm

For a pair?

Originally Posted by 199p

Im getting a pair after using a single pole a few times on the tops

Seen you use one in the bush too

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Originally Posted by Nibblet

For a pair?

Yip

Originally Posted by HNTMAD

Seen you use one in the bush too

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Yeah mate thick horrible shit and worked a treat

I endorse the two pole trick. Did a steep ascent/descent day way a couple of years ago, my fitness wasn't 100% and they made the difference. I was not sore the next day either and absolutely attribute that to how they share the load over your body

Yep. Poles are great.

just bought a pair of aluminium ones from macpac for $60ish, only 60 grams heavier than carbon according to the stats