Hiking Poles

[Taffy]

I have Leki women's hiking (trekking) poles with speedlock, cork grips and carbide tips. I really like these poles for their light weight and the cork grips absorb moisture.

I wondered what those of you who use poles have and their pros and cons.

[Saph]

I have some Komperdell poles that adjust in two places. I like the convenience of being able to collapse them as much as possible so that they can strap to the side my pack when I don't need them. The other thing I like about them is that the adjustment is of the "flick-lock" type, with a lever, rather than having a "twist-type" adjustment. I have seen too many of those twisting adjustments fail, so I like the idea of just adjusting & then locking in place by snapping the lever.
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/komperd...essed=true

[IdahoNancy]

I use Leki carbon poles. The goats know to stay behind them on single track trails. One flick of the wrist and you can tap a goat under the chin. They were a great training tool to teach the boys to stay behind me. They strap to the cross buck on the saddle with a bungee cord with easy access when you need them.

[Huckleberry]

I use Komperdell Ridgemaster Anti-Shock Trekking Poles. I've never used other poles, but love them and they've held up to some rough wear.

[Charlie Horse]

I have some I got for $24 at Costco. Carbon with cork handles and twist-adjusters. They're great for steep or rocky terrain. I dont use them on the flats, no way. I'm pretty sure that someday one will break as I rely on it, propping on a rock, and I'll fall to my death.

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

Id like to find some titanium ones that you could use to beat the crap outta a dog that gets to close

[gila_dog]

Id like to find some titanium ones that you could use to beat the crap outta a dog that gets to close

I'm kinda old school. I make mine out of yucca stalks. I've whacked a couple of mean dogs, and flipped a few rattlesnakes off the trail with mine. It has a rubber cane tip on it which grips rocks better than metal points, and it's safer when I have to poke a goat in the butt. I never go hiking without it.

[WNC Goater]

I use Leki aluminum poles, screw type with the rubber or plastic grips. Everyone says the screw-locks will eventually fail from grit etc. in them. Got 'em on sale for around $50. So far so good. I use two in particularly rugged or steep terrain and one otherwise.

[Sanhestar]

I have several. All wood. two I bought at shepherder markets and the others I cut myself from saplings: hazel, ash, whatever we find.

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

We dont have any hard wodds here... come to think of it we dont have soft woods either... we got sage brush and tumble weeds...