Walking Poles

[Hog On Ice]

That's a very good offer but I can truthfully say that it was the £70 Leki poles that snapped and my cheapo Lidl ones are still going strong.

cheers,
Toddy

I've had a Leki pole break but the fix was very easy - just stopped at a local outfitter and the broken piece was replaced without cost - does Leki offer the same lifetime warranty in the UK that they do in the US?

WRT flick locks - there are mixed opinions - I am of the opinion that they are not worth the hassle of keeping them adjusted and much prefer the twist lock type.

 

[Shewie]

Elen, I'd be careful of the pacer poles with your joint problems. It's a very raked handle and can put undue pressure on the joints especially if your not on flat ground. Really meant as a pole for fast flat ground walking and not great on inclines at all.

I think the grips on the Pacers could be a benefit rather than a hindrance for Elen though GB. Hand is supported much better in the grip rather than a conventional strap.

If I make it to the Derby meet I'll chuck my Pacers in for you to try too Elen.

Admittedly they're not for everyone but certainly worth trying for nowt.

 

[PDA1]

Elen - Goatboy is totally correct about the straps and their use. This little vid shows exactly how they should be used
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaILfy0MsEI

I might add that for a multitude of medical reasons, my circulation is so poor that I cannot climb hills at all without the use of poles to assist my legs. I also use them fully downhill as my knees are in very poor shape. I never grip the handles. All my weight goes onto the straps as illustrated. Gripping the poles would be extremely tiring, and from what you have said, would not be possible for you.

The least expensive poles are home made from bamboo, with webbing (for straps), cord and duct tape. here's another vidshowing some ideas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erHUhzkFWNE

They're also lighter than carbon fibre poles, and if you do break them, you won't cry. BTW, while most call "standard" poles "adjustable", I think they are better described as "collapsible". Don't in the first place, spend a fortune

 

[Goatboy]

I think the grips on the Pacers could be a benefit rather than a hindrance for Elen though GB. Hand is supported much better in the grip rather than a conventional strap.

If I make it to the Derby meet I'll chuck my Pacers in for you to try too Elen.

Admittedly they're not for everyone but certainly worth trying for nowt.

Certainly give it a go Rich, I'm just worried that the heavily raked handle will cause Elen problems when not on the flat, it can cause a lot of problems for folk on accent and decent.

Cheers and good luck,
Colin.

 

[Trunks]

I have just ordered a pair of these:

http://www.komperdell.com/en/poles/trekking/carbon/194_2307_10.php

If you want my old ones Elen (some old carbon ones from Blacks), I can post them off to you?

 

[resnikov]

I have just ordered a pair of these:

http://www.komperdell.com/en/poles/trekking/carbon/194_2307_10.php

If you want my old ones Elen (some old carbon ones from Blacks), I can post them off to you?

And this is why this forum is so great

 

[Shewie]

I have just ordered a pair of these:

http://www.komperdell.com/en/poles/trekking/carbon/194_2307_10.php

Nice, got a link

 

[woodstock]

Im still using a set of Crane walking/anti shock/poles from Aldi under a tenner for about 5 years and still going strong my Leki poles from Go outdoors one snapped on its first outing in the Scottish Highlands, to tough for sissy poles.

 

[theoctagon]

I have just ordered a pair of these:

http://www.komperdell.com/en/poles/trekking/carbon/194_2307_10.php

If you want my old ones Elen (some old carbon ones from Blacks), I can post them off to you?

Gotta love this forum for posts like this

Be interested to hear what the Komperdells are like. They've just started selling these on the MLD site as they extend to 145cm so can be used for a duomid etc. A friend of mine has a different model but quality looks very good.


PS, I'm with Shewie Pacer poles are excellent, sounds daft but you hardly have to hold on to them

 

[Teepee]

Total cross post with Teepee
Oh well, we can both only say as we find.

Walking poles are very good things, especially when I ache from head to foot.
My advice is don't break the bank while you try them out; the ones sold in Lidl's and Aldi's are very sound, and from personal experience manage everything from Neolithic to Medieval fieldwalking, burn louping, dry stane dyke clambering, and peching up a brae too

The important bits are, (since the poles themselves seem to be securely sturdy enough, if of differing weights) is, do they lock securely to your chosen length? and can you replace the end bits if needed ? It's easier to manage with the wide end bits in snow and slush I find, while wet-wet areas are pretty good with the stabby ends.

cheers,
Toddy

No worries Mary, you more than made up for it by making me google half of your post Stabby ends? Please remind me not to upset you


I have to agree with some of the problems with Leki's-my lightweigh titanium pair are not good. I've bent them numerous times and the bi-metallic rusting of the ally to Ti tube is terrible. Its a real struggle to get them to tighten.

My Leki Thermolites on the other hand are brilliant-very strong, very long lasting, no seizing and will take my full weight. I've been using them for 7 years now, summer and winter.

The Aldidl ( can't remember which one ) poles are good but the grip is terrible IMO.

If I was buying again, I'd get flicklock poles.

 

[Trunks]

Nice, got a link

They're on the MLD site, cheaper than getting them from Germany too!

 

[Trunks]

Be interested to hear what the Komperdells are like. They've just started selling these on the MLD site as they extend to 145cm so can be used for a duomid etc. A friend of mine has a different model but quality looks very good.

I've got them to use with the TrailStar, ill let you know how i get on.

But I mainly got them for the cam lock at the top. I'm sick of twist lock poles, just a faff

 

[Elen Sentier]

What's your budget Elen? If you can stretch to £76 I highly recommend Pacer Poles

What type of terrain will you use them in?

twopence-halfpenny !!! If I do this trip I'll need to buy the GG G4 pack and would dearly love to have PHD down bag (that's serious money!) so the poles are behind those in the money-queue, partly as they'll be in my hands rather than on my back . Gorges du Tarn is the prospect ... paths, but rocky, with shale, and I want the poles to hold up "The One" tent so I don't need to carry its carbon poles. I'm turning into a gram-counter

And hey guys, thanks for all the replies ... am going through your suggestions now

 

[Elen Sentier]

Total cross post with Teepee
Oh well, we can both only say as we find.

Walking poles are very good things, especially when I ache from head to foot.
My advice is don't break the bank while you try them out; the ones sold in Lidl's and Aldi's are very sound, and from personal experience manage everything from Neolithic to Medieval fieldwalking, burn louping, dry stane dyke clambering, and peching up a brae too

The important bits are, (since the poles themselves seem to be securely sturdy enough, if of differing weights) is, do they lock securely to your chosen length? and can you replace the end bits if needed ? It's easier to manage with the wide end bits in snow and slush I find, while wet-wet areas are pretty good with the stabby ends.

cheers,
Toddy

Mary, I got most of that but what, please, is peching up a brae? I've got a fabulous hazel stang which several of you have seen but I need (for once) to be gram counting, both for what I carry and the flight-luggage costs, and folding poles (if safe and not fall apart jobs) will not get confiscated by airport security .

I should have said where I hope to be heading - Gorges du Tarn, it's all s'etonner's fault !!! Along with my passion for cheese and reliving memories

 

[Elen Sentier]

TK Maxx in Maylord Orchards have some sets of walking poles, also try going into "Treasure Island" in Berrington street, they had some last time I was in there.

Wilco - cheers

 

[Dave]

I have a pair of Black Diamond aluminium ones that were around £50, they are still going strong.

+1
I tried some Lekis, and didnt get along with the twist locking system. So I got some black diamond expedition poles, lock flicks closed, like a ratchet, and seems to be far stronger and more reliable. Which is better if you use it to support a tarp. But that could just be my experience.

I dont know if they are any good, but I remember reading andrew skirka's website, about some really cheap carbon fibre poles, here:

http://andrewskurka.com/2012/costco-trekking-poles/

Im sure I saw some on ebay in the UK for under £20!

Yep, here you go.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CASCADE-M...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

CASCADE MOUNTAIN TECH CARBON FIBRE TREKKING /WALKING POLES

 

[Elen Sentier]

I've had a Leki pole break but the fix was very easy - just stopped at a local outfitter and the broken piece was replaced without cost - does Leki offer the same lifetime warranty in the UK that they do in the US?

WRT flick locks - there are mixed opinions - I am of the opinion that they are not worth the hassle of keeping them adjusted and much prefer the twist lock type.

Chuckle ... not sure how many lock-fitters I'll be passing in the Gorges du Tarn . Fortunately I've got best part of a year to fiddle about, try other folks's poles etc.

I'm hoping leg+stitches is Ok for Derbyshire, Paul, fingers crossed ... then I can see yours.

Edit; And from all the other offers at Derbyshire I've got the prayer-wheel going the leg will be OK !!!

 

[Elen Sentier]

Just a thought but if you subscribe to country walking magazine for £35 you get a free pair of fizan poles worth £60 they get good reviews.also I got some karrimor ones that were £15 used them last week on snowden and they were good for my 16 stone I use them going down hill cause of my dodgy knee they really help

The karrimor recom is good, I need them to help me get down (down is most scary!) horrid slopes with the titanium knees and shoulder + reconstructed feet ... a bit of a life-saver really .

 

[Elen Sentier]

Elen, I'd be careful of the pacer poles with your joint problems. It's a very raked handle and can put undue pressure on the joints especially if your not on flat ground. Really meant as a pole for fast flat ground walking and not great on inclines at all.

Antishock inserts add to weight and again unless you are either particularly heavy of going like a rocket not really needed. It's also something else to go wrong and need cleaned. Better to spend the money on a simple better quality pole rather than a cheap one with lots of features.

If grip can be a problem then adjusting threaded poles can be a problem. Might be worth looking at "flicklocks" which are stronger and will outlast all the threaded ones by years. LINK

Good straps are worth it too, you don't want to be gripping a pole tightly all day, you're supposed to hang from the straps so using your skeleton rather than gripping and getting pumped.

+1 advice and things to think of, ta muchley. I've picked an area where steep slopes are what ya do , I'm aiming at 5 miles/day, slow and careful, lots of view-stops as well as village cafes. I need them to hold me up, specially downhill ... and to hold the tent up at night.

 

[Elen Sentier]

I have a pair of Leki traveller poles £65. Anti shock, cork handles. The poles come with a pair of fingerless cloves and a quick release connector on each glove and pole. If your out all day the gloves are a god send, as releasing the hands to do tasks is easy. No effort needed to keep contact with cork grips. No blisters. I would invest the extra few ££ for the benefit of comfort, function and quality. Try before you buy in the shop, if you have to. Hand grip is more important than longevity. You want to enjoy the walk with a free mind, not be focusing on controlling a walking aid.

Yes, I forgot about hand blisters! Even my hazel pole gives me those and in hot, sweaty weather I can see it happening! Glad I've got all this time to work it out.