The teenage boy I hang out with has managed to bend a couple trekking poles. I went to replace them and found they support BLM, and not the land managers:

https://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en_US/experience-story?cid=blm

This company will get no more of my money. Ever. So what are you guys liking for non BD trekking poles?

Leki?

I have purchased two sets of trekking poles from Costco. They're not the best, but they cost only $40/pair.

Nobody likes it when I say it, but leki is junk in my experience. Sample of one, or two technically, but they break, and easily. Id much rather cascade mtn tech and don't think too highly of them either.

Komperdell I guess? Black Diamond has that market cornered IMO, but you gotta vote your conscience.

My leki carbons are about 8 years and still going strong. Hunting, hiking, back packing. They’ve been on a lot of trips and have been through hell and I haven’t had any failures.

There seem to be some good options with leki and Komperdell. Investigation will continue after the rut.

Rope/perlon-wrapped handle walking stick, staff, cane or cudgel.

Hickory, ash, mesquite or yucca or equivalent.

Thanks, but if a stick would work I wouldn't ask what kind of stick do you guys like, because I can go pick up my own stick.

I have two sets of Leki. No issues yet with either. Im amazed I havent broke the lighter set.

I bought a cheap pair from Costco for $29, I think they were call Cascadia or something like that. 121 miles in Colorado and many more in Montana the summer before and I haven't manage to break them yet, super light and durable so far.

Cascade Mountain Tech are the poles sold at Costco I believe. I was about to buy a set of BD's when I found out they were avid supporters of the BLM Org, aka defund police movement. So, I bought the next step up from the poles sold at Costco, the Cascade Mountain Tech 3K from Amazon for less than $60. I just finished using them pretty hard for 6 days on my elk hunt and they held up fine. I realize 6 days isn't much of a longevity test, but for $60 they will sure serve you well for your next hunt.

LEOs don't call their truncheons or batons "rabbit sticks", but that is what they are.

You are permitted to call sticks, "poles", if it makes you feel more fuzzy.

True enough, I should give the kid a length of fencepost to use. I'm pretty sure he bent one of them angrily beating a devils club that got him.

Never bring a fence post to a Devil's Club fight!

I field tested a set of Alpine Summit trecking poles from Amazon

Very nice

Black Diamond was founded by Yvonne Chouinard - also founder of Patagonia, sponsor of "Earth First!"
They sell BD at REI - which is about as left as retailers get, though I don't quite get how a member-owned cooperative can have such a liberal conscience unless other-minded people just avoid it in protest and its polar characterization becomes self-fulfilling.
Where BD really ran into trouble is because parent Clarus Corp manufacturers the OC / tear gas used against the anti-police protesters through its Safariland division. That resulted in Safariland divesting the tear gas/crowd control business in June.

To be fair to BD, it was bought out by employees at one point and later bought by Clarus. Clarus Corp. which also owns Sierra Bullets and Safariland were recently bidding on some of the Remington assets. I think it was the Barnes assets IIRC (both BD and Barnes are based in Utah). BD hasn't had anything to do with founder YC for a long time (who left to found Patagonia), but some of my equipment still has the old "C" logo for Chouinard. Furthermore, their equipment is generally top-notch. I haven't bought any of it in 20 years, but I still use their crampons, ice-axe, back-pack, gaiters and more. Their protection equipment (carabiners, nuts, pitons, cams, ropes, etc.) are all top-notch, and their ski gear (backcountry ski's, boots, gloves, bindings, snow shovels, etc.) are also good stuff.

To be as sympathetic as possible, understand that YC was and is basically a rock-climbing/surfing bum. He started hand-forging pitons for climbers in Yosemite in the 60's. That old style of 60's liberalism wasn't as off-putting to me as some of the present activism. It shouldn't be too surprising that Yvonne attracted other radical liberals and the culture around him and the organizations he built polarized that way. As far as I know, he's mostly into surfer activism in his late life, protesting plastic in the oceans and garbage at the beach. The difference is that back then the hippies and bums just wanted to be free/liberated from the man. Nowadays, the liberal agenda seems to have swung to promote the big state enslaving the masses so the liberals can get free/gratis stuff. There's nothing that fits into the liberals big-state socialism agenda that is anti-police except that they need to disrupt a functioning society to replace it with their alternative.

His NAME is Yvon.

REI concentrates its marketing efforts to the Liberal West Coast where each state is populated by 60% or more urban forest, no specific gender pussy population.

Chances are YOUR young child KNOWS more about the Wilderness than the average "clerk" in any REI outlet.

Yvonne's name? Seems unlikely.

You OBVIOUSLY know nothing about the climbing world.

Listen to Rinella's podcast with Yvonne. Yvonne states that technology, and high tech equipment, clothing ruined climbing and the outdoor rec world.

Yet he became very rich selling the same using Chinese slave labor after he pulled Patagonia's manufacturing out of the US and move dit to third world countries so he could exploit the local populaces. . And he flies around the world in his private jet lecturing others to reduce their carbon footprint. And he donates millions to anti hunting groups. He's an old fool.

I met Yvonne in the mid 80's in San Fran and he was a different guy then.

Costco poles are ok for the price. Ive broken 2 pairs. Ill use on day hikes.

I just use used or lost goode ski poles from the ski area I used to work at. That was 25 years ago and the poles still have not broke.

They work for me as well. My backpacking days are behind me, but after two knee replacements I need a little help navigating uneven terrain while deer hunting. I found a used pair of aluminum ski poles at a local thrift shop for $5. They work well for my limited needs. The snow "baskets" keep them from sinking out of sight in the mud.

I’m going to try a pair of zpacks poles next they are $99 for the pair.
MSR also has some for $150.

Nothing beats the Ultimate Direction FK Carbon for me. Light and strong. After using a couple other brands I love it even more.....except.....it's a one piece pole. Sucks when not in use, best when in use.

Can't recommend these highly enough. I've packed at least par of 8 bulls on these poles the last couple of years. One of the lower legs broke (my fault) on my most recent hunt. Just stopped by their shop at lunch and they gladly gave me a new section to replace it with at no cost.

Dave

S&S Archery trekking poles

I haven't used this enough to evaluate it but it's another one to consider. It's an Alps Conquest folding pole. They sell per each, not as a pair. It folds to 15" and extends to about 5'.

1 review I read complained because the lock lever allowed it to come apart in mud. I guess he never heard of tightening the lock nut on the lever.

Edited to add: never mind. I just found out that they've been discontinued.

I used Ascent carbon fiber poles last month for an elk hunt. Cabelas brand. I'm sure they are just rebranded, made by whom, I don't know. I couldn't justify the big brand names either, not for a set walking sticks. Had to save that money for my Sitka gear...LOL

I like my COSTCO Cascade Mt poles I bought here in BC for $20C when they were closing them out a few yrs ago...have two pair. I've used them for 3 seasons of backpack hunting in BC and the NWT without breaking them yet. I have Black Diamond aluminum poles from 2011 that stay home now as they are heavier and not as comfortable as the cheap carbon poles.

Camofire has decent poles - we’ve broken few, but we loan them out, and they get used hard by some guides I know.

With the sale prices - it works out.