Trekking Poles
The history of the trekking pole, like most of history, is widely debated. They can be traced back to all sorts of variations of canes, walking sticks, skiing poles, and the Nordic walking tradition. What we can generally agree upon now is that usually they are all expensive trekking poles are adjustable for height and have a fancy grip.
As a family of six, we have tried and complained about many different brands and styles of trekking poles and we still aren’t even close to having experienced a quarter of those available on the market today. So while we are not experts in any way, we will be reviewing 6 unique poles that we have in rotation. I will be relaying the information and insight from each of the pole’s main users and what we collectively find as pros and cons of each. Now some of these poles are older, we cannot speak on the latest versions of each, but we can tell you roughly what they once cost if they are no longer available, and/or what they will cost now. Another fun fact, our bag weighing device is not that specific. It’s a mounting scale slammed into a beam in our bedroom’s ceiling and is not the most accurate device. Do with that what you will.
Swiss Gear Trekking Poles - Discontinued - roughly $20 in 2004, still available via consignment
antishock twist lock/unlock - in my opinion, this opens you up to more user errors as you can collapse your pole/support just by implanting it into the group and twisting your body or just wrist. I prefer sticks that have the outerlock height adjustment because there are more steps to change the height and therefore, are harder to accidentally change or collapse.
.66 lbs each
handle is rubber feeling, if your hands sweat a ton, this will lead to slipping.
these were purchased for Derek to use as a scout. They collapse small, are sturdy, and strong, but the grips leave a lot to be desired. The tips are less pointy than others but because of their age, you have a good chance of finding a used version for cheaper.
Outdoor Products - Walmart, Dunham’s, or Amazon Product - $27-35 presently dependent on color
these come in both black or lime (which is more of a greenish bronze). They are outerlock adjustable and a good value
.66 lbs each
handle is again a weird plastic rubber feeling and doesn’t seem to hold up to sweat. The 11 year old carries one of these with ease. The tip is stubby but the longer hand hold makes up for it.
Ozark Trail Outdoor Equipment - Walmart - About $27 currently
another outerlock adjustable pole. This one has more specific measurement markers and is a rich green and orange color. Although it is only a year younger than our Outdoor Products stick, it seems to be in better shape, with less scratching visible while adjusting.
.66 lbs each
the handle is foam feeling and longer to allow you to drop your hand and swing along with it when applicable.
this stick is mostly used by our young teenager. She finds it to be comfortable but hard to put in a pack when she no longer needs it because of how much the adjusting screws stick out.
Montem Trekking Poles - Amazon or Montem’s site - Now $75 (5 years ago, they were around $55)
these come in hot pink, what more do you need to know? Okay if you must know more, they also have the Outerlock (OLS) height adjustment mechanism.
.56 lbs each
the handle is equipped with a soft bamboo/cork feeling grip and an extended foam underside. They don’t slip with sweat but I do find that I need to tighten screws up more than everyone else in my family. I might hike more or use my poles more, but either way, I’m not mad. Once again, they are hot pink, I will never lose them.
the tips are Carbide tip, which is basically standard, but they are more pointy, making them a danger to use as a tent setup, and a gift to use as a threatening pokey pokey stick.
Mountainsmith Basalt 7075 - Out of Stock, similar ones still exist - Now around $65
mountainsmith no longer carries this exact version, as far as I can tell, but they have similar ones with the Tellurite and Pyrite 7075s. These seem more mechanical than the others, but we’ve still used simple knives and screwdrivers to adjust them.
.56 lbs each
with soft-touch wrist straps and a molded cork and extended EVA handles, these work to eliminate hot spots and pressure points, via their website. The handle is a sturdy cork feeling with a long gray foam beneath it for relaxation points.
the tip is also pointy, which we kind of love
Leki Spirit Lite Compact - Leki’s site - $99.95
ever purposely lose one of your hiking poles? Derek’s done it, twice, with different sets, and now because of tragic circumstances, the only poles we could get were these over the absolute top Leki sticks. They are beautiful and ergonomically stunning, but omg, it’s a stick, and it’s hard for my brain to understand that these are well worth the price. Technically, they are designed for women and people of smaller frames, so he’s putting them through the ringer, but when it’s all you can find at an outfitter before climbing one of the tallest mountains in the GSMs, you take what you can get. And pay over $115 for it. These things happen….to us.
.56 lbs each
by far the most visually attractive out of the lot, these poles have a more firm handle. The thumb piece is more pronounced, but it lacks the extra foam at the bottom on the handle for you to just casually carry your poles.
the tips are carbide and again, pokey pokey. Love that for us.
In conclusion, not all trekking poles were created equal. Not all hikers are the same build, size, whatever. We all have different gaits and hand sizes and needs when it comes to a hiking stick. That’s part of the beauty of being six people, with 12 poles, just trekking.
What poles should we try next? None of us have ever used the kind that break down into folding parts, is it worth the hype? Should we all just sell everything we own and buy the world’s prettiest or brightest poles? Let us know! We’re gearing up for our next 100 mile challenge and honestly, we need to buy more stuff for the morale. Send us your thoughts and we’ll see you out there!
