Trekking Poles/Collapsible to 13 1/2" / Hiking Poles Walking Sticks (Buy 1 Pole or 2 Poles)

This is everything I wanted and needed it to be. I am a motorcycle camper who needs to pack compact and light, and I often need my various tools to perform double duties. Poles come in handy for all sorts of things when camping and hiking. This one is strong, considering it's segmented, and the build & finish quality is superb. It is a fine compromise of weight and strength, with minimal flex when properly extended. The pole comes with a rubber end cap, a "ski pole" stopper, and a clever bag that is mesh on one side (so you can identify its contents and not mistake it for the other drawstring bags you might have...). The extended foam grip is great for both hill walking, as well as two handed extension of the pole (e.g., chopping bush or taking down bear tie-ups for containers, etc.). The adjustable tension wrist strap is also cleverly designed and sturdy. There is also a fair amount of height adjustment easily accessible by a clamp. And, the instructions on how to use the pole's features were clearly illustrated and explained (note: be sure to follow those instructions to ensure that the connectors are properly seated to strengthen the pole when it's extended). It is obvious that a lot of thought and pratical experience went into designing this pole. I had a brief communication with the business' owner, who made himself readily accessible for comments and critiques... I got the impression that this pole is made by somebody who cares about the quality of gear you will rely on. If you use this pole in the field for various tasks, or just hiking (e.g., I hiked some Colorado ski slopes in the summer, some forests in Wyoming and Utah...), I can't see how you'd be disappointed if you need a compact, segmented pole. Perhaps a continuous one-piece ski pole might be stronger in certain conditions... but for the convenience of being able to be taken down to just over a foot, its strength and features will cover 99% of most peoples' needs and expectations. I didn't baby it... I recommend it. It is a solid tool, and I'd buy another one.

This is a very handy pole for general use. One of the best features is that it folds down small enough to fit into a carry-on suitcase. It also comes with a lovely bag, and (like most similar poles) has a choice of three different tips, for three different uses: spike, rubber tip, wider "snow/mud" tip. I used it for helping me stabilize in city walking, where I was putting pressure on it on pavement and uneven surfaces. It does expand upward to be chest-high, but the only disadvantage over other poles was that it doesn't shorten to "cane length" (waist length). It has a very comfortable handle, and a strong system of holding the wrist loop in place at any length, so it can be tightened up to hold the pole at the wrist. The other big plus is it is American Made, and easily gotten through Amazon. A few others I'd tried were made in China and shipping was very inadequate for them (I got two damaged boxes, one of which finally arrived with two hiking sticks in it. Meanwhile, I'd ordered a second one of these poles to be sure to have what I needed.) You can count on getting this pole quickly and safely, and in excellent condition. The seller is very interested in having feedback and in producing a quality product, and is easily reached to make any adjustments.

I have several pairs of trekking poles, but I bought these specifically for the fact that they fold down to such a short length. I wanted to be able to tuck them away inside my backpack during a trip to Zion, and then take them out when I was in the canyon for balance. Unfortunately, I left them at home, as I could have used them on that trip. I have used them on several hikes since. On my first outing, I lost my balance, and leaned hard on one pole. It now had a permanent bend in it. PROS: Very compact, fairly sturdy, good values. CONS: Need to be tightened every 30 minutes or so, and both rubber tips fell off on my first hike. All in all, well worth the money.

These are about as good as you're going get in collapsible/portable hiking poles. I would rate them about 4.5 stars, but I rounded up rather than down because I just don't think you're going to find better. They break down really small while assembling (with relative ease) to rather tall, sturdy poles. The connection points between the sections are pretty long, so even if you don't twist them tight enough they're still very sturdy and don't accidentally come apart. The additional flip lock adjustment for height is very much appreciated by me as I'm 6'3" and most of these types of hiking poles are too short for me depending on the type of climbing/hiking I'm doing (up/down hill, etc.). The tips on these are really good -- the built-in tip is excellent for ice, wet rock, etc., while the rubber tip is good for other hard surfaces, indoors, etc. I do wish they had included a Nordic Walking tip as well, but those are easy enough to find separately and the built-in tips are a standard size. The extra long grips at the top of the poles is very nice for switching between more of a hiking staff verses walking pole height. FYI, I'm 6'3" 240+lbs and I feel safe/stable using these. My mobility isn't what it used to be, but I'm not "inactive' yet, so I really appreciate the assistance with balance and support that these give me, whether I'm using them to hike to shore fishing spot or using them at theme park to keep up with the family.

I haven't had a chance to use this hiking pole while traveling or in the woods, but putting it together at home, I can say this: It comes together easily and quickly, is lightweight but solid, a well-engineered piece of equipment. It really is super light and because it folds up, it easily fits into even a small backpack or carry-on suitcase. It comes with a rubberized tip for use on sidewalks. Pull it off and you'll see a metal point for using in the woods. Keep the rubber tip on and you'll probably get it through airport security. (Otherwise hiking poles are not allowed as a carry on because TSA considers the metal tip capable of potential harm). It also comes with a plastic tip for hiking in the snow. Again, looks like a great piece of engineering at a great price.

I bought these to do some glacial trekking in Iceland, and for the most part they were great. They feel sturdy, they don't bend, the grips are comfortable and they collapse nicely. They have enough locking mechanisms to keep them from coming apart. uncollapsing them is similar to a tent pole, except you can rotate them until they tighten. Which is where the two star penalty came in the play, I was all ready to give them a five star review. Something happened towards the end of my trip where one of the metal inserts no longer fit into the tube. It was off by maybe a half a millimeter and it's scored lines into the insert. I posted a photo of it. Now one of them no longer fits into the tube smoothly, the edges on the scores snag on the cylinder tube. I don't think dirt caused it as it is aluminum, and it doesn't look bent. I may try filing them down to see if I can get it to fit smoothly again. Provided this doesn't happen to you they are great pools otherwise. Very compact

My wife and I hiked down the Kabob trail to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up Bright Angel many years ago when we were 24, with no hiking poles. Even at that age, and in good shape, our knees were hurting from the pounding of the constant downward steps by the time we got to the bottom, and our legs were like rubber when we got to the top. 24 years later, at double the age we took our two 48 year old bodies down and back up the same paths, along with our three daughters, but this time we both had hiking poles we had just purchased and were using for the first time. We had never used poles before. I was blown away. No sore knees. No rubbery legs. Twice the age, and the trip was easier with the poles! These poles did not fail, did not annoy us, no trouble at all. It is important to adjust the straps to be tight enough on your hand that they support your hand when you press down on the pole. That way your grip can be much lighter and your arms don't get tired. For a serious hike like this, you must have two poles. Plant your poles firmly before each step down and lean on them. They help on the way up as well. One not so obvious thing is that when I was hiking with a full pack around obstacles like puddles on the trail, the poles helped me balance and I was able to move past the obstacles without slowing down -- before using poles I would have had to go much slower and use my back muscles and arms to awkwardly balance. One of our sets of poles was these poles, the other was a collapsing (not folding) set by Cascade Mountain Tech, ASIN: B01MUFDBQ9. Both sets performed just as well.

The reason for 4 stars is that I haven't actually used the pole yet. I wanted one that would be small enough when folded to fit into my backpack or 20" carry-on suitcase. This is very compact. It is well constructed and amazingly sturdy (no wobbles) for such a light pole. The instructions seem complex at first, but once I followed them, it was quite simple to put the pole together. This is is not a quick snap-into-place set up, but that's what makes the pole so sturdy. One issue--I am 5'4" tall, and the pole is the right height for me when it's in the lowest position. This makes twisting the highest pole section securely into place possible only if I open the flip lock and push up the top part of the pole enough to get a good grip on both parts of the pole. This would not be a problem for anyone taller than I am.