REI Co-op  Trailmade Trekking Poles - Pair

I am new to trek poles. I found these very helpful on two 4+ mile hikes. One hike was on wet terrain after a rainstorm. They helped me to trust my feet on slippery rocks. They were especially helpful on descents. Setting them up is easy. The straps, shafts and locking mechanism are easy to adjust. They were plenty light enough. I felt like I could use them a long time. They seemed like they can take a lot of punishment and last. However, the wrist straps are not padded. I could see how that might be an issue on all day hikes.

Sturdy walking poles! Good adjustability and excellent grip at the top of the poles. Solid adjustment mechanisms, I was able to tighten and adjust so that the pole would not slide when putting extra weight on the poles. Adjustments held when going downhill. Nice markings to balance the adjustments between pole sections. The one disappointment I have is the poles do not come with feet to use on hard pavement. It should have been included considering the price point. You can get them as a separate purchase.

My wife and I both used these poles on a recent hike in Southeast Michigan. It was early March after heavy rains and the ground was just starting to thaw. The poles bit into the ground without a trace of slipping. This provided stability when elevation changed and we needed to pull and lean on the poles to climb and descend. They are also light enough that you can use them all day without your arms getting tired. The poles have two adjustable sections and easily accommodated both of us (M - 6'2", F - 5'3"), providing more than enough adjustment range. We really like the latches used to lock each section in place. They have thumbwheels that allow you to adjust the clamp force before you lock them to help make sure you always have enough holding strength and the pole sections don't inadvertently slip or collapse. The grips were comfortable to hold and fit both of our hands. The straps provided assurance that if we did slip, the poles weren't going to fall into the river we were hiking next to. The only feature I would add to the poles is the feet. They come with what appears to be a carbide tip. It works great on soil, clay, etc… but if you want to use these on rocky terrain or any type of pavement, it would be nice to be able to swap out for a rubber foot.

I took these hiking poles out for a spin and it telescoped smoothly and was easy to adjust the clamp and clamp strength. It was also easy to adjust the size as my 5 yo took it from me and insisted it was hers to use. Simple and easy to adjust the length. Was able to withstand the abuse a young hiker put it through. Only issue was I couldn’t pull off one of the rings at the bottom when it was time to store it.

Great poles for a reasonable price. They are lightweight, adjustable and come with baskets. They were exactly what I needed for my hike.