I'll be picking up a set thisbyear, but I don't know much about them. Is lighter always better? Are light ones as strong as heavier ones? Is there a certain height I should look for, I'm 6'2.

Any info or suggestions would be great.

I've been happy with a flick-lock model from Black Diamond.

I got the three piece model so they easily pack into luggage.

No shock absorber feature on mine so I can't comment on that option.

I am 6' 2" also

I picked up a pair of Leki folders off of Amazon this year and so far I have no complaints

Mine are aluminum not carbon fiber

I have a 3 section aluminum set I like as it is easy to strap to your pack when not in use. I have a buddy who is a big guy like you who had one of his snap while on a backpack Coues hunt in the Charouleau Gap area. He wasn’t hurt too bad, but it could have turned ugly quick. I’d stay away from the lighter duty ones…

I prefer the non-shock absorbing models.

Any particular reason you chose aluminum over carbon fiber? Pros/cons? Weight? Price?

The weight savings for the carbon is not much but I found mine used for about half the cost of the carbon ones.

I like that they are 15" folded so they fit anywhere I want to pack them and they deploy fast and rock solid

What length did you get, or is the length pretty much standard?

I carry 1 pole when hunting to use for hiking and for an improvised gun rest. I find that aluminum is too noisy in rocks. Every ding is echoed for 400 yds. Carbon is much quieter. A rubber tip is also much quieter than the steel point.

They are one size that have an adjustable upper section.

This is the set I have....cork handles

https://www.leki.com/us/trekking/poles/2487/micro-vario-ti-cor-tec/?c=708

Black diamond z poles are the only way to role. No parts to fail exempt a small push button by the handle, and if for some reason it did fail, you could tape it up. For your height you would want the 130mm height.

I personal run the aluminum and they weigh nothing and are rock solid

Costco. 3 piece carbon fiber, 29.00 for the pair.

I too use the flick lock model from Black Diamond. I've used them for the past 5 years elk hunting in CO and once hunting deer in SD. Unless I'm training or just hiking, I seldom use both poles. Mine have held up really well.

I really like shock absorbers -- they eat a lot of fatigue. Hard for me as well to justify the cost of the carbon fibers.

I've used Walmart/Bass Pro Specials, to Lekis. I use Lekis now for most my hiking needs, Mine did not extend where I wanted them for pitching a tarp so one small hole in each and Viola, It's set!

In Maine, I lost one on a river crossing so that night I cut a sapling and rigged another pole - once you get used to them you won't feel right without.

Also, you shouldn't put all your weight on them so they don't snap. I run mine to just at palm length and keep my hands on top, I may extend them slightly on a downhill, just to check my speed or stability.

I recently acquired a pair of Black Diamond 3 piece that I'm anxious to try out.

This from the Black Diamond Literature:

WARNING: For hiking and trekking only. The strength of carbon fiber is compromised if the trekking poles's surface is dented, frayed, gouged, scratched, fractured, chipped, or otherwise damaged, which could result in structural failure.

I like the Black Diamond Z Pole. I have tried both carbon and aluminum. I have broken the carbon poles in rocks (scree) but I still prefer carbon to aluminum. I originally thought they were just extra unneeded gear, but for crossing streams, hauling out a load, or for an improvised gun rest, they are very useful. I am 6'2" and prefer the 130cm, but 120 cm works also. I now use them with my SL3 tent so I get double duty out of them.

I got my carbons from Costco for about $30. They aren't fancy but they are flip lock and work very well. For hunting, they're far quieter than Al.

My favorites are the BD Flick Locks. I've been using the same pair since 2013, although the tips are gone from both poles.

I've had several cheaper sets and they did not hold up for me.

I avoid anything with holes in the tube wall as my experience is that they create weak points that can become significant at the worst times.

I have only had one pair of carbon poles - they broke before I ever got to take them hunting, so I have avoided carbon fiber. Given the above warning from Black Diamond and the millions of scratches in my AL poles, I won't be looking at carbon fiber in the future either.

Most decent quality aluminum poles have held up well enough, until the tips start to break down (break off). The difference is in the locks, and twist locks have a tendency to collapse when you put a lot of weight on them.

I think you need to go hang out on the daily workout thread......

I got mine from Costco four years ago. They are aluminum and they do make some noise and they have twist locks, which do occasionally slip. But they have been pretty durable and the cost was right. Since they have upgraded to carbon with flip locks, they might just be the best value available.

KC

You may have a point there...

JK, you seem to manage just fine.

I used a pair of twist locks from Cabelas for years in aluminum. They made some noise. Finally gave up the ghost and I cached them for the last time waaayy off road in a place I hope no one's dumb enough to go again.

I put more weight more times on those aluminum sticks than I care to admit, and they held.

Then I took the wife's carbon Costco pair out. Really missed the shock absorbers.

Carbon ones make noise also, and are not much better than aluminum in that department. But neither one makes much considering you're there as well, floundering about on rough trail.

Noise not a factor to me.

After watching "How to Use Trekking Poles for Mountain Hunting by Randy Newberg " I decided I would try them this year and take a load off my 62 year old knees

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8Ux_MKKihw

As you get older, balance get worse. I'll be 68 in a couple weeks and I know my balance isn't what it was just 5 years ago. Poles really help with that.
My Costco carbon poles do make some noise. The lower section will rattle inside the middle section even when the lock is very tight. My cure was to run the top section as high as it will go then extend the bottom section just enough to fit me which is only 3 or 4".

Old Willys, thanks for posting that link. Always good to watch/listen to Randy.

Trekking poles have been on my radar for a while...

Got a pair with some snowshoes I bought on Craigslist. I'll be breaking them out this fall for sure!

I use carbon Komperdell poles with flip locks. I've owned aluminum Lekis which are OK but I hate Leki's twist locks. Eventually they all fail.

No suspension shocks for me. Way to noisy and annoying.

Looking back, I've posted more about trekking poles than other gear items. It's because they are such a game-changer.

When you need to go up steep hills, they yield 4WD in a 2WD world. And where they really excel is rough, uneven or rock-strewn ground. The first time you start to loose it, which is when many injuries happen, and the trekking pole takes you from ass-bust to instant stability, a believer is made.

The older you are, or the heavier the pack, the better trekking poles are. And I like suspension shocks. Noisy and annoying? No more than I already am. Every ounce of shock they absorb would have been born by my joints otherwise. Take a long ride behind a quad in a simple axle-to-bed trailer for a painful illustration.

And for stream crossings ....

+1 Except that I prefer no shock absorption. I like to have a firm, positive feel of what's under the pole when I place it down. Similar to a car without power steering- you get a much more sensitive feel of the road.

+2
I definitely prefer the solid feel with no shock absorption although my brother prefers shocks. I really want to feel if the rocks beneath the pole start to move. You'd have to try both to know...

Personally, I can't stand trekking poles. I don't like both hands filled, and I don't like having my arms elevated to pole height.

I'm a cane user, set at a tall ice-axe height. Komperdell makes a good one... also, no shock-absorber.

Black Diamond Flick Locks here too. Used them extensively on a couple hunts including a solid Goat Hunt.

They rock.

black diamond 2-pc aluminum ski poles with flicklock. I figure less is more when it comes to joints on poles.

another plug for the flip locks
I have saved my arse more that once going down steep or side hill on loose or wet rocks with a heavy pack.

Same when climbing over dead falls

I don't go in the field without them

Big plus when you get older and they help your knees when descending

For hiking I am undecided on trekking poles. I have a set of the Gossimer gear LT-3 poles I use from time to time, they are a fixed pole made from carbon fiber and very light.

The two places I find poles required is when freighting a load, the more irregular the terrain the more I need them. The other instance is when using showshoes. For these I use some old lekki's

Poles don't have to be expensive to help balance a very heavy unruly load.

These deadfall pine poles helped me beyond measures

I use hiking and ski poles a lot - maybe 250 days of the year. I both hunt and backcountry ski here on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Anyway, I consider hiking/ski poles essential, and don't leave the road without them! I own numerous pairs.

For hunting purposes (and most purposes) I actually like light weight carbon fiber fixed length poles with hiking baskets. For skiing I put on bigger baskets. Light weight, high end carbon fiber poles have a fast swing weight which means the pole is there to plant quickly. I generally like a 115 cm length pole and don't change it much even if I have variable length poles.

However, I do like the variable length poles for use when setting up tarp shelters. A big bonus of hiking poles is that you do not need to bring along a heavier traditional style tent - you can bring a tarp tent and use the hiking poles in lieu of tent poles. This is HUGE.

And for this reason I actually own a pair of Black Diamond flint lock extendable carbon fiber poles. Set at 115 cm pretty much all the time except when setting up the tent.

And I too have never had a pair of twist locks ever last more than a season.

Patrick

I've had twists locks freeze so I couldn't adjust them until they thawed out.

Because of this thread, I ordered Black Diamond flip locks last week and could not be happier with these poles. As I get older, 68 now, I was having more trouble staying off mt butt while on snowy trails in CO. This weekend I went to a Moderate trail close to the house, (Cumberland Trail 9.7 Miles) and was shocked at how much easier it was to walk on a rocky trail. Especially downhill. Thank all of you for the information on this thread. Can't wait for 3rd season to get here.

+1 on this. I got the Black Diamond Carbon Corks. The one feature you should absolutely get is the flick lock, the screw/barrel locks suck. Carbon fiber and cork handles are are just nice additions, I've had barrel locks that have froze up and I couldn't collapse in a situation when I really needed them to. I saw the shock absorber models and ergo grip handles, for me, it was just more weight and cost. BD or Leki both make good stuff, if you can, handle several before you buy and balance cost with feel.

For when you get a little older......

https://www.getupandgocane.com/?utm_source=Bing_TM&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=CPD1

Started using trekking poles or walking sticks after an ankle injury about 3 years ago. I now use them every trip Into the Woods. Whether I'm walking the dog or hunting, I always have a stick/pole with me. It is one of the most helpful piece of equipment I have whether it's stepping over Deadfall or climbing up a hill with a pack on. The benefit of using a pole is amazing. Unlike some others though I only use one pole And I never have my hand in the wrist strap. If something happens I want my hand instantly free not wrapped up with 4 foot pole attached to it!