Trekking Poles

Hey folks,

Im seeking some advice on trekking poles. Ive always been a one staff backpacker, using an old aluminum ski pole that worked great. After talking with some older hikers who cant say enough good things about trekking poles, Im thinking of making the switch. Since this is something new to me, my questions are pretty basic.

1. What are the things to look for in a good set of trekking poles?

2. What are some pros/cons of the two pole system?

3. How much money is a reasonable amount to spend on poles?

4. What are some recommended types that ya'll enjoy using?

I've done some online research already and I have a decent idea of what I need but I wanted to consult ya'll to avoid the marketing hype and other things that come with online reviews. Thanks for your help.

Like-em, use-em, have incorporated 'em into my shelter options.

Ideally, you want light, strong, low-vibration. The closest to this ideal would be one-piece carbon fiber. There aren't a lot of options and they need to be the correct length for you. Lack of adjustability makes them a pain to transport and less flexible on the trail and when rigging a shelter. The payoff is as little as half the weight of a light adjustable with great strength.

Two- and three-piece poles overcome the stowing and adjustability issues but are heavier and, theoretically, less strong than one-piece. The section locks--flip or twist--can work loose on the go and are an added potential failure point.

Aluminum and aluminum-carbon combos are cheaper but heavier than all-carbon poles. Carbon are not only lighter, they absorb vibration better than aluminum. Strength is model-specific, and heavy guys need to take a close look at strength because when you're breaking a fall, you can put tremendous strain on the pole.

I use 3-piece CF poles and am happy with them. They're not perfect but have tolerated five years of abuse.

Cheers,

Everything you ever wanted to know about trekking poles

Some more info is located below. For what is is worth, I have used the same pair of Black Diamond poles for years.

Backpacking Engineer - Trekking Poles