What Trekking Pole(s) do you use?

[Irish]

What brand of trekking poles do you guys use? I love using them on sheep, goat hunts, but I rarely get more than one season out of them before I'm buying another pole. I'm always breaking them on rocks or bending them up real bad.

Of course, I've bought cheap ones in the past and am ready to invest a few more dollars, if the pole I buy will last longer than one sheep season.

I know a lot of you don't use them or would rather use a walking stick, so for those of you who own trekking poles, which brand do you prefer?

Thanks-

 

[AK Troutbum]

I use Black Diamond carbon fiber with the "flip lock" (I think that's what it's called). I love 'em. I used to have a pair of Lekki aluminum with the same type of locking system but my problem with them was that whenever you made a adjustment you had to partially unscrew the flip lock to loosen them up enough to extend or retract, then retighten. It was a PTA. The Black Diamond poles were expensive, but I've been very happy with them.

 

[Hayduke]

I bought some Leki's off of SAC last year. They have the twist lock and want to collapse at the most inopportune times. I would for sure get the flip lock style if I was you. I now tape the joints when I am in the field which helps but still a pain in the butt.

 

[stid2677]

I have a pair of Black Diamond Enduro Carbon Fiber trekking poles. They have held up better than I could ask for. A quick search showed they don't make them anymore. Mine have been bullet proof, even survived my roll down the hill on Kodiak last fall, did bend one but was able to straighten it out and keep going. One thing I will recommend is getting a pair with cam-locks, it has been my experience that the twist locks just don't hold up.

 

[LuJon]

Black Diamond with the Flick lock will get you there. I use the "contour eliptical" myself and they are solid but not too crazy expensive. Some guys lose sleep over how much they weigh, I wouldn't pick some that were excessively heavy but at the same time I wouldn't spend a fortune to lose an ounce or two.

 

[EMoss#83]

An old downhill ski pole with camo tape and a rubber end. buy the rubber end at REI and use some gorilla glue.

 

[byrd_hntr]

I have the Black Diamond Expedition Poles and I use them for hiking, skiing (both cross country and down hill) they are a little heavier than the 2 piece ones but they get a lot smaller and are tough as nails. Ive never had a problem with the flick locks. They work all the time. Even at -30 F.

 

[Irish]

Black Diamond seems to be the popular brand.

Do you guys use two or just one? I generally like to have a free hand, but have wondered how two would be in the field for balance.

 

[fullkurl]

Guy, we have Life-links and Leki Makalus. Both are tough as heck.
Almost bought the Black Diamonds but they were substantially more money and honestly the poles we have work flawlessly. The Life links are Amercian made (Wy.) and have a lock-out on the anti-shock mechanism.

I do remember one time when the only thing between me and a hard crash downhill into the boulders was my Leki--it about bent in half with the weight of my 230lb self and a 100lb sheep pack. That pole saved me some major pain and likely a fracture.

Been using 'two poles' for about ten years; the first year used just one. Two is the way to go. Gone are the days of wearing out gloves (in one trip) due to crawling all over the mountains.
Trekking poles revolutionized hunting, imho.

 

[AlaskaTrueAdventure]

During my 27 sheep kills, my trekking poles are produced by the bushes or trees near whatever river I am hiking up. They are inexpensive and reasonable sturdy. If one breaks or gets lost in a river crossing, I grab another perfectly shaped stick, break it to the exact lenght necessary, and hike onward.
Cheap, and without the metalic click while hiking on rocks. Light weight, no guilt when thrown away.
I also use my guide gun, Big Ugly. Recoil pad is well rounded at toe and heel. (not recommended for those expensive rifles, only for guns with a great descriptive name.)
Wear thin gloves.
...whatever gets you where your going....go ugly early..............Dennis

 

[kahahawai]

An old downhill ski pole with camo tape and a rubber end. buy the rubber end at REI and use some gorilla glue.

I use my rifle for one side and some cut willow I find at the landing strip.......

 

[Irish]

I hear ya. I use to use my rifle and other parts of nature, but I like the comfort of using a good pole and I don't like using my rifle anymore for climbing, if I can avoid it. I tend to be clumsy and it ends up getting dinged.

As fora trekking pole, I also like the feel of a nice grip and the lightweight feel of using poles. I know it's just one more way, we get carried away with buying more stuff these days & it's probably not necessary, but I know having a pole in my hand has saved me several times from rolling down a mountain while goat/sheep hunting in the last few years and that provides me one more level of comfort. (And my wife too)

Thanks for all the good input.

 

[blackfoot]

Just take the barrel of that .270 of yours for a trekking pole, or use it as a tomatoe stake. Sorry, just couldn't let that one go!!!

 

[mmusashi2k]

I use any telescoping ski pole as there are always plenty of those around my house. Two years ago we ran into some fellow sheep hunters about 15 miles back and they told us that from across the canyon a couple of miles away, the only thing they could see of us was our ski poles. Now I use camo on them.

They're nice for crossing creeks too.

 

[Irish]

How do I "dislike" Blackfoot's comment on here I'd like to add 100 dislike reps to his profile.

 

[blackfoot]

How do I "dislike" Blackfoot's comment on here I'd like to add 100 dislike reps to his profile.

"You must spread some bad reputation around before giving it to Blackfoot again"

 

[tustumena_lake]

Leki ultralights, but like the other comments here I'm not a fan of the twist locks but I can deal with it. When these go I would probably go with the flip lock. The main thing I found is I don't like hiking poles unless the pair weighs no more than about a pound. The heavier ones went by the wayside for me.



They saved me last year. I had a 40 mile trip planned with my daughter and I had a bad foot. Couldn't have made it without those poles.

 

[BRWNBR]

i don't like the poles at all. i now use a 100cm walking axe from barneys...best thing ever. never bends breaks or moves on me, digs out rocks for campsights, props up my back, stakes down my tent, kills ptarmigan if i'm good use it to hook up high and pull myself up. stab it into the hill and let the clients step on it for a step....
hands down...won't ever own another trekin' pole.

 

[AK Wonderer]

Black Diamond with Flick-Lock. Been using the same pair for four hard years. I've seen quite a few twist lock style poles fail, so I stick with the Flick-Locks. Leki has started copying Black Diamond and has made a similar flip style locking pole. I haven't really looked at them but imagine they would work pretty well. I would go with BRWNBR's ax before you could talk me into twist lock poles.

 

[blackfoot]

i don't like the poles at all. i now use a 100cm walking axe from barneys...best thing ever. never bends breaks or moves on me, digs out rocks for campsights, props up my back, stakes down my tent, kills ptarmigan if i'm good use it to hook up high and pull myself up. stab it into the hill and let the clients step on it for a step....
hands down...won't ever own another trekin' pole.

That's what I use, but Irish didn't like the way mine clanged in the rocks. I'm still sold on them and might wrap some tape around the bottom to quiet it down.