I have ultimately bent every +$100 pole in my adventures in Alaska. This past Sept., I caught one Leki in a rock crevice and bent it so far it broke when I straightened it. For the hell of it, I carved an alder sapling, braided on a wrist strap and used it for the last 5 days. It worked just fine and helped me in a couple of steep descents. I couldn't leave it and Delta allowed me to bring it onboard and put it in a closet. It will be with me on my NM elk hunt next month. My guide said he could fill a barrel with all the broken "high end" sticks he sees. Don't get me wrong, one or two are invaluable on a hunt for balance and arresting a fall. Especially great in snow with/without snowshoes.
