walking sticks

smitty

Very Active Member
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1,434
I'm interested in getting a pair of walking sticks but the ones I've looked at are $40-$90! I've seen some at walmart for $19.99, sure they weigh more, maybe they don't telescope out as much, but are they really that bad?

Who's got some, and what's the pros, cons, advice, etc.....
 
My wife gave me a set of trekking poles for Christmas. Going down hill, they are the bomb. They take a lot of strain off of the knees. They also are good for general stabilization, especially with a heavy pack. The difference between the cheap and more expensive ones would be both weight and durability. The carbon fiber will have more flex and less weight than aluminum. I'm sure there are differing qualities of carbon fiber. For $19 you can't go wrong for trying them out. I sunk mine into some soft earth as I slipped on a wet hillside this spring. A cheaper pole would not have bent that far without damage. Mine sprung back. The better poles have an anti-shock feature that allows some spring through the length of the pole. Cork handles allow for dissipation of sweat. The adjustable length shines both for finding the general fit for you and also are nice for adjustment to shorten going up hill, lengthen going down hill, and one of each when side hilling.

I believe she picked mine up from REI, on sale, for about $70 for the pair. They are one of those things that I often thought would just be extra weight and bulk, but are a real asset in steep terrain.
 
I always use mine and my buds do too. I use leki the walmarts wont hold up and there not spring loaded.
 
Find a Beaver Dam. Lots of Pre-made walking sticks of all sizes.
De-Barked and ready to go. Best one I ever had even had a "Y" at the top for a gun rest. Lasted 4-ever.
 
If you're on a limited budget, and don't need anything fancy, just go to DI or yard sales and find some old ski poles that fit you. They don't telescope down, but they a very light and very sturdy. You will be out a couple bucks for something that will do the exact same thing high dollar sticks do.
 
I believe your question was are the walmart ones worth it... i have walmart poles and $90 poles... both work fine. walmarts are for sure cheaper made and the handle is not as comfortable, but you dont feel as bad when you bend or break them as well.

http://www.livinthedream-rusty.blogspot.com/
 
Here in Utah, Recreation Outlet has some pretty inexpensive ones that have served me and my dad well the last few seasons. They are adjustable, have a cork handle, and spring loaded and were under $20.

I would say; buy cheap and see if you like them first. I wouldnt go into the hills without mine now that I know how well they help in distibuting weight from your knees and back. I will most likely upgrade in the future though, now that I am getting into more back country hunting where Carbon Fiber might be a good fit due to durability and weighing slightly less.

SURE - A stick is free, but also weighs more and not near as comfy and not quite adjustable (without breaking) and has no suspension.

Ebay has great deals on Leki and Black Diamond if you want to get the Carbon or better names etc.


?-ERock-> ?
 
USED SKI POLES!!
you can pick up a rubber gromet at any hardware store..the pole
are light weight, strong and cheap at garage sales..handles are a better feel and some even have a cap that has a compartment for your booze or weed!
and when your on the trail with 100lbs of meat on you back on a angle down hill you want 2 poles that are 1 piece! not a taperd fit teleisopic pole you can find any size and even some for kids!!
 
I wouldn't skimp for long on cheap poles, if you carry heavy loads often or are in really nasty stuff, pay the price and you won't be dissapointed. Poles take some getting used to but you will find value in them if you carry a lot or have weak knees. If the cheap ones work for you, great but better is usually more expensive, just like in packs and optics, and I would upgrade before you need to.
 
Dont go walmart, I have done that the last 2 years, broke two the first year and one last year. Spend the money on some decent ones.


~Jason Peterson
Mossy Oak ProStaff

"No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength."~Jack Kerouac
 
If you want to spend money on a quality walking stick, you might as well get one you can actually hunt with.

The SLIP System starts as an adjustable carbon fiber trekking pole, and quickly builds into a stalking blind, that can be outfitted with any of 21 available camo or decoy covers.

holli3.jpg


Best of Luck,
Jeff
http://www.elkmtngear.com
 
Ski poles are stout. What you run into in steep country is the need for shorter poles when hiking up hill, longer ones going down, and opposites when side hilling. That is why the adjustable poles shine. If you are in relatively even terrain without a lot of steep hiking, then a non adjustable pole would be fine.

The slip system looks good if you want a blind. They are bulkier and at 1.9 lbs each they weight quite a bit more than trekking poles. A pair of trekking poles seem to average closer to a pound and a quarter with some high-end ones weighing less than 10 oz for a pair. Regardless of specifics, it comes down to what your purposes are, how much you feel you can invest, and how important weight is.
 
LAST EDITED ON Jul-26-12 AT 09:21AM (MST)[p]I'm sure most here would disagree with my choice but I use The longest Stoney Point Tri-pod. Why?

At 5'10", extended fully them make an excellen glassing platform as I hike along.

They are great for hanging rifle, bino's, or helping set-up a tent or bivy.

The 3rd leg simply unscrews and you have one 2-legged side and the seperate 3rd leg as very height adjustable walking sticks. 3rd leg has a comfy foam pad, and I add some elec tape to other side for better grip.

They are not light and do not shock absorb and you have to be sure the sections are properly tightened if you put much weight on them.

Oh yeah and they are a great platform to shoot off, when getting prone on the ground is not an option.
 
Agree with EROCK1313. I have not used walking sticks much to this point, but I'm going on a fifty plus mile backpack hike with my two seventeen year old sons in the Uintas and hiking Kings peak on op of it in two weeks.

Bought some poles from Recreation Outlet for $16.95 and they have the shock setting or you can lock them solid. Used them on a eight mile overnighter last weekend and they worked great.

They give you a little extra push up hill, really help going down hill, keeps your hand moving and in an upright position so they do not swell after a few hours, and really help with stepping up or down over large boulders and helps keep you balanced and steady with a 50 LB pack on.

Yes if you really fall, which I would hope not they won't support your full wieght, but like I said never used them before and have not had that problem and with the poles you really keep your balance with normal use of the poles. It really don't take much pressure to steady your self while walking across rocks or streams and they worked great.

They telescope and attached to the pack great when not in use. I will plan on always having a pair with me anytime I backpack or on scouting trips and I will always throw them in on hunts and may use them on day walk and stalk hikes here and there.

I'm not expert, but take this for what it is worth and good luck and enjoy!!!
 
I saw Costco carries a Carbon Fiber treking pole for around $27 in case anyone is interested in a cheaper priced pole. Reviews I saw were mostly positive but I have no personal experience with poles. I might pickup a pair for the price.
 
Another vote for ski poles. You need the extra strength that a ski pole gives. I go up and down hill constantly and never need to adjust the length. Besides, the hill is always filled with holes, rocks and boulders, soft ground or hard ground. If you got on a kick of adjusting your poles to the right length then thats what you would spend all of your time doing because they are never consistently the right length. Learn to use a fixed length and learn how to place them and brace on them as they are. Adjustable poles break and bend. Carbon fiber ski poles do not break. At least I've never broken a pair yet. But I have broken plenty of adjustable poles. Once you learn to use trekking poles you won't want to be without them. fatrooster.
 
I'd like to see who could Pack 100 lbs of Meat & for How far?

I know the Utah Mountain Man could!

But GEEZUS!



This Story happens alot it's True!
But Ya Best Hope it don't ever happen to you!
 
Hey SMUT!

I've got a Cane!

You wanna Borrow it?




This Story happens alot it's True!
But Ya Best Hope it don't ever happen to you!
 
If it's the one you had made from a bull wiener, I'll pass.

Thanks though.

BTW, if you haven't noticed, Bigfish is calling you names again.
 
Never used poles before but seriously thinking about getting a set in the near future. Enjoy reading the comments here on this thread.
Been looking at one of the Black Diamond Z series poles. Anyone use these before?
 
I have trashed EBay specials, Cabelas sticks, and some Leika cheap screw tighten poles. Finally bought some quality Black Diamond clamp type poles and have not had a problem in four years.

Ed
 
>I saw Costco carries a Carbon
>Fiber treking pole for around
>$27 in case anyone is
>interested in a cheaper priced
>pole. Reviews I saw
>were mostly positive but I
>have no personal experience with
>poles. I might pickup
>a pair for the price.
>
I use these and they are great for the price.
 
Someone else mentioned Sierra Trading in a post above. That's where I got mine and used an additional 30% off coupon....off their already great prices. Great deal and service! I got Lekis which are high quality, telescoping poles that are super light weight.

It's nice having telescoping poles...which ski poles won't do. I often adjust to a shorter pole on my uphill arm when going down steep sidehills. It's nice being able to adjust your pole height differently for uphill vs downhill vs flat terrain! Cheap poles with cheap adjustments won't be able to hold up your weight and will slip/slide! The other benefit for telescoping poles is they can be shortened considerably for packing (on your backpack or airplane baggage). Also, some tents allow use of adjustable trekking poles rather than carrying additional tent poles (saves weight).

I don't use trekking poles very often when hunting because they are so noisy but they are a lifesaver on steep, rough slopes...especially when packing super heavy loads!
 

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