Whats the best to buy?
SmokeEater
Hiking Poles? - Appalachian Trail
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#2
I’m sure you’ll get all sorts of opinions from those recommending a stick to a ski pole. I’ve been very happy with my Leki Mekulus but I’m sure any brand will do. Its not exactly rocket technology…except for the materials (carbon fibre, titanium, etc…)that is.
Stryker
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#3
Leki, They will replace your broken poles, no problem. I was given a leki replacement pole to fit in my black diamond pole. I used it from Monson to Tennessee.
Farsang
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#5
If you are planning to hike the PCT and you choose to go with Leki poles make an effort to obtain at least one extra set of tips prior to your hike. You will most likely go through at least one set of tips and it is VERY DIFFICULT to get replacements along the PCT. They are a great set of sticks and yes, the replacement program is excellent!
Elevator - PCT 2006
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#6
Leki even has a tent at trail days where they will work on your poles - no charge.
The Unknown Hiker
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#7
I’ll chime in on the chorus for Leki and add a couple of things:
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The replacement program is fantastic, and you may well not need it. My Lekis have made it through some major roughhousing unscathed, and they’re generally very tough poles.
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Don’t be afraid to go for lightweight in Lekis. They have a whole range of poles but for most AT thru-hikers you need durable and comfortable in as light a package as you can get (remember, you’ll be swinging these things thousands of times a day, for eight to ten hours.)
My solution to the above equation has been the Leki Makalu Ultralite Ti Cor-Tec. It’s pretty light (the newer models are about 7oz each) and the Cor-Tec grips are fantastic. It’s cork in a rubberized matrix that molds to your hand yet had the kind of support you need (much better than EVA foam.) No shock absorption or other fancy (and breakable) nonsense on these, just the core elements that make them highly functional and comfortable.
Strategic
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#8
Try walking without them. Leki poles are overpriced and overhyped. This is no need to spend $130 on sticks.
Stickless
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#9
poles are great, but i’ll only ever buy the generic adjustable ones. i don’t see how Leki can get away with charging another $100 for their shock system, let alone that it’s never really been proved that shocks really help at all.
0101
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#10
Leki… worth the “premium”… try to catch some on sale.
Cork (or cork composite) grips offer a firm but comfortable hold. The jury’s hung on positive angle vs. straight grip… whatever feels best to you. I actually found the cork to be an effective “brow sweat remover” (albeit with consequences… see ‘anodized’, below!).
IMHO, the shock absorber versions add unnecessary weight, noise and complexity, with no real benefit… stick with plain, 3 piece poles.
Anodized!!! I used Komperdells (Northern Lights w/ cork grips) on my AT Thru in 04… they made it the full distance, but barely. The PAINT wore off of the shafts, my sweat corroded them, and they froze up with a bulge (and splitting!) in the locking mechanism area. I retired them to “day hiking around the farm”, and one finally broke in half during a trek a couple of years ago. Not a pleasant experience… would have been disastrous with a full pack on my back in Maine!
Whatever you get, DO loosen the locks and collapse the poles every so often. Also, take them completely apart and drain out any water from rain or condensation. If possible, swab the insides with a clean dry (NOT OILED!) patch or the like… a shotgun cleaning rod with a .410 or 20 gauge “mop” on the end does fine… many outfitters can do this for you. Fail to do this, and your collapsible poles probably will become “heavier than necessary one-piece poles”!
You WILL need to replace the tips at least once during a thru… sometimes the old ones are a BEAR to remove… having a replacement set in your bounce box is an idea, but you probably will have enough advance warning to replace them at an outfitters. The exception would be where the metallic tip breaks off or comes out… your tip will wear very quickly then, and usefulness in rocky areas will be very poor!
Don’t worry about the “where’s your skis” comments and funny looks from the “tourons”… the poles will help a lot… lengthen your stride… provide balance during stream crossings… prevent (or at least lessen the impact of!) “face plants” and “butt plants”… assist in negotiating under those deadfalls/blowdowns that are barely high enough to go under, and too high/too long to go over/around… and so on. Trekking poles saved my face, butt and ankles sooooooooo many times. And they really do make uphills easier… I could have sold mine to MANY “tourons” along some of the steeper, heavily used sections of the AT and PCT!
Hike on!
TBott
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#11
A different slant on hiking poles! I did 1060 miles on the Trail in '05 with a walking stick. Then got converted to poles. I bought the cheapest I could find. $20 each at REI. REI has twice replaced them at no charge. The first time I bent a pole when I fell. Replaced at no charge. Then I wore out the tips after doing Maine. I asked REI if they could replace the tips. Instead they gave me new poles. No charge. These cheap poles have worked fine for me for about 1200 miles. I don’t know what advantage the more expensive poles have.
swamp fox
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#12
A different slant on hiking poles! I did 1060 miles on the Trail in '05 with a walking stick. Then got converted to poles. I bought the cheapest I could find. $20 each at REI. REI has twice replaced them at no charge. The first time I bent a pole when I fell. Replaced at no charge. Then I wore out the tips after doing Maine. I asked REI if they could replace the tips. Instead they gave me new poles. No charge. These cheap poles have worked fine for me for about 1200 miles. I don’t know what advantage the more expensive poles have.
swamp fox
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#13
IMHO I prefer sticks with the shock absorbers (currently have Leki Makalus with shocks) I’ve used both and don’t care for the vibration thru my wrists on the solid sticks. If you have some knee or ankle issues you will like what they do for you in taking considerable amount of the stress off both. My doctor is a hiker and he’s now convinced!
Al Bishop
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#14
Two Bamboo poles with bicycle grips and a chair foot glued on is all you need. $5.00 Walmart also has a cheap pole for ten. Used it on a climb of Marcy in Sept.
CitySlicker
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#15
I used Leki’s for my AT Thruhike and I really liked them but I got tennis elbow from using them. It took me almost a year to get over it. I’m hesitant to use poles again. Someone recommended I try the ones with shock absorbers. I went for PT and they gave me all sorts of stretching exercises but it did not help much. Only time helped. I like poles but sure don’t want tennis elbow again. Really was painful. If anyone has ideas or had similar problems I would appreciate knowing what you did.
Steady On
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#16
Here’s my take. I used one wooden stick from Springer to Rock Fish Gap, then bought a pair of Leki’s. I am convinced the poles are better than one (or two) heavy wood staffs. They are portable bannisters when going up or downhill, but they can actually make you more unstable in certain situations, e.g., when trying to get down steep boulder faces, they can prevent your hands from reaching a limb, rock, or other handhold if they’re positioned on a rock or a crevasse. AND BEWARE! The Leki replacement guarantee is only as good as the outfitter. Mahoney’s in Johnson City, TN and Back Country Outfitters in Kent, CT are great to work with and will go out of their way to solve your problems. Lahouts in Lincoln, NH, on the other hand, won’t replace or repair your Leki’s, referring you instead to the factory. Heck of a lot of good that does on a Saturday AM or holiday. The outfitter in Gorham, NH gets slightly better marks. They will try to repair bent or broken poles, but they weren’t stocked with new poles or replacement parts. My advice is buy cheapo’s from Wally World and replace them once or twice. You’ll still pay half or less what one pair of Leki’s will cost.
Mango