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Imported.
Item 759466
Specification | Description |
| Weight (pair) | 20.6 ounces |
| Shaft material | Aluminum 7075-T6 |
| Maximum length | 55 inches |
| Minimum length | 25 inches |
| Shock absorbing | No |
| Grip material | Rubber |
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Reviewed by 21 customers
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
First, let me admit that I didn't know too much about trekking poles, and after two years of use, I admit I still don't. I can't tell you that these REI Summit poles are any better than other models, makes and brands out there. There was no well reasoned approach to my getting these poles in particular. I just happened to be at REI when they were on sale and I happened to have a dividend voucher. I just know now that THEY DO WORK and have greatly improved my enjoyment of hiking these past years.I used to be a walking stick person (who'd find a suitable deadwood branch somewhere whenever I hiked). I thought trekking poles were for those serious Everest expeditions and such. I actually scoffed at those trekking pole weirdos who appeared to be land skiing through the woods. Little did I realize what I was missing out on!I guess the first noticeable benefit is just stability. Using trekking poles is like having a hand railing that moves along with you wherever you go. I KNOW it has kept me from stumbling over roots, slipping on loose terrain, and twisting my ankle many times already. The outdoors is not smooth, level and obstruction free. The trekking poles largely compensate for this.Next, the trekking poles have noticeably given me a more "full body" workout. I feel like I am really using my arms and upper body more, and this in turn, noticeably takes some of the workload off of my feet/legs. Consequently, I am able to take longer, less stressful hikes, and my upper body gets a workout also!Probably the best thing of all though is the effect on ascents and descents when using trekking poles. They are now indispensable to me! Trekking poles allow me to power up hills, much like climbing a ladder or a staircase with a railing. Both my arms and my legs are working in tandem, I am more stable, and simply feel much less fatigued. Similarly, on descents, the trekking poles serve as shock absorbers for my knees, while providing stability, and, in a way, testing the stability of the ground in front of me. I wish I had discovered the benefits of these trekking poles much sooner. The fact that they telescope and collapse to a nice compact size is convenient. I have had not problems with the durability of my REI Summit poles. The tips are solid and still sharp. Just the paint is superficially scratched. The grip on these REI Summit poles are very comfortable. I understand that it is common to wear gloves or half-gloves when using trekking poles, but I have been fine without them. Maybe there are lighter, stronger or more feature packed trekking poles out there, but for what I paid for these REI Summit trekking poles and the great benefits that I have gotten in return, I couldn't be happier. Note: I am a geo-cacher, and I have found the poles very useful as a probe when searching for a cache. Sometimes you just don't want to stick your hand under a rock or some web-strewn crevice. Additionally, I have strapped an Ultrapod [...] and an Ultrapod Adaptor [...] onto my trekking pole, which makes it a convenient monopod for my digital camera.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I bought these poles in 2005 mainly because of the price. But since then they have seen nearly 2000 miles of use. I've had to replace one tip that broke when it got lodged between two rocks. I had problems with slippage too at first but figured out if you take them apart and give them a quick wipe down every once in a while, they hold pretty good. Also don't over-tighten like was mentioned previously
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I got my pair at a used gear sale for [$]. I originally got them to use as tent poles. Then I started using them. Had never used trekking poles before. The drawbacks I found were that the grips were hard and non-absorbent. This seemed to be less of an issue when I used the straps correctly by using them as a sort of sling between my hand and the grip, rather than as just something to slip my hand through.I was leery of the compression fittings as I've seen many poles on the REI shelf which are non-functional before they're ever used. Have never had a problem with these.They have collapsed on me twice. And in both cases, it was a slow, controlled collapse, when I slipped and put my full weight on them. The controlled collapse prevented me from ramming my kneecaps into the ground. I don't know if they're actually designed to do this, but they've done it twice, in critical situations.There are foam grips on other poles that seem to be more comfortable, and provide a better slip-free grip, but these guys just work.Poles are great for uphill and downhill. They're readily functional on gravelly downhills, and they also help keep your knees from taking all the stress from stepping down off of rocks when going downhill. On the flat, they're for show.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
My pair is over 3.5 years old and they have seen many miles of backpacking and dayhikes. A little scratched up but they still work well. There is sometimes a little gradual slippage over the course of a hike, but they never seem unstable. A good bargain.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I wanted a pair of trecking poles, but didn't want to spend a lot of money due to the minimal use they would get, but at the same time - I did not want to sacrifice quality. Enter an REI product. These trecking poles fill the gap perfectly. They are strong, light and feel carefully balanced in your hand. I am sure they will last forever.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I purchased these poles on the merit of REI's name, history of great products, and good price. I used them on a mountain day hike in NH a week later. They performed OK on the way up the mountain, but when I was almost to the summit I had to strap them to my pack to use my hands as it was getting icy. One of the poles would not tighten no matter how much I twisted. Eventually I got it to stay collapsed and continued my hike. On the way down, I took them off my pack and extended them. On a 3.5 hour descent I had to stop several times to adjust the same pole as it kept collapsing slowly. I went to store them the other day and the same problem persisted with the tightening/loosening problem so I had to return to REI and get a refund (which they were more than happy to give I must say). I purchased the Black Diamond Trail Back poles in their place as they have great reviews but have no used them yet. Bottom line: Spend the little more to buy a intermediate set of poles. I would be hesitant to buy very expensive poles because I have seen/heard of plenty of people getting trekking poles wedged in between rocks and bending or breaking their poles.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I don't usually give just one star to a product unless it truly lets me down where I need it the most: out on the trail.
These poles worked fine for me in light summer hiking, only collapsing occasionally.
But this winter I got the snowflake baskets for them and took them snowshoeing. What a mistake! They collapsed any time I put any reasonable amount of weight on them, including once that collapsed so violently I pulled a shoulder muscle. No matter how much I cranked them down, they would continue to collapse.
I am going to get some of the Black Diamond poles with flick-lock mechanisms instead.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
I have two pairs of the 7075-T6. I use them year round from hiking and trekking to snowshoeing. I took my first pair along the Kungsleden in northern Sweden and used them for hiking and climbing stabilization as well as extra tent and pack bracing. I hike and trek year round here in the Aleutian Islands, the terrain is mostly rocky mountain and the trails usually side hill. The tips work well for getting in between the rock. With the baskets they work really well on the tundra in the valleys and the snowflake baskets work great for winter. These poles are reliable, light, easily adjustable and compact nicely.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
For the price, these are great poles.
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Comments about REI Summit Trekking Poles - Pair:
They might be heavier, but they get the job done. No bending, no slip, great poles for the price. I did notice a bit of over vibrations, and it is hard to lock them, but i am very happy with my purchase.
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