Cheap vs Expensive Trekking Poles: Are They Worth It?

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

Do cheap trekking poles work just as well as the expensive ones? Or are the pricey ones worth every penny? Spoiler: it depends.
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Пікірлер: 67

  • @Terradrift
    @Terradrift2 ай бұрын

    Trekking poles to check out Aluminum: amzn.to/3yPylJ8 Hybrid: alnk.to/clUG0Ux Carbon Fiber: alnk.to/a40PgiH *Affiliate links

  • @kmichael2248
    @kmichael2248 Жыл бұрын

    I've owned a pair of Cascade Mountain Tech (your first link) for 5 years. They've proven to be a solid, dependable set of trekking poles. More money doesn't always mean better quality.

  • @AquaTech225

    @AquaTech225

    9 ай бұрын

    The cost is more the weight an the name some. But to decrease weight at times. Even just in ounces or even in grams at times cost I got bit more. Just the way it is. But yeah the poles ya named definitely a nice set

  • @stevencaldwell838
    @stevencaldwell838 Жыл бұрын

    Shoot, I’ve hiked with old aluminum ski pole’s and they worked just fine… $5 at a used sporting goods store 🤷🏼‍♂️

  • @stevencaldwell838

    @stevencaldwell838

    5 ай бұрын

    @@Thee-_-Outlier Easy mad hiker guy! Don’t be suck a Karen! Not every super rad hiker guy wants to spend $150 on an adjustable stick! Two lightweight aluminum ski poles are basically the same thing ( pole, handle , hand strap, pointed at the bottom ) and work just as well for a fraction of the price! Save $ and use it for more important things like shoes, tent, backpack, ration’s etc! I’ve hiked and camped all throughout the California Sierras…. with ski pole’s… I guess I’m just not as cool as you are! Nor as insecure about what other people think about my gear! Genius 🙄

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    5 ай бұрын

    Yep! Ski poles work just fine, too!

  • @kalleleman

    @kalleleman

    4 ай бұрын

    Aren't they too long though? I just caved and got a pair of expensive ones...

  • @stevencaldwell838

    @stevencaldwell838

    4 ай бұрын

    @@kalleleman I just matched a pair to my height! Of course they don’t collapse but they definitely work… it was 20 year’s ago but I paid like $5 at a used sporting goods store for em and they worked great!

  • @kalleleman

    @kalleleman

    4 ай бұрын

    @@stevencaldwell838 if I wear these out I'll try that for my next pair! 😊

  • @garrettsmawley
    @garrettsmawley6 ай бұрын

    Great video and I like your casual delivery on topics like this which ultimately boil down to budget, style, and preference.

  • @pc7573
    @pc75735 ай бұрын

    Had a great pair of trekking poles. One of them literally folded in half descending a steep off trail gulley while backpacking in Trinity Alps. Been using used ski poles ever since, not adjustable and not spring loaded but sturdy, cheap and...sturdy!

  • @PraxisPrepper
    @PraxisPrepper3 ай бұрын

    Thanks for this video. I've never used poles before, but recently messed up my ankle and I don't want to spoil a trip with my boy this summer to hike Mt Washington. I was thinking poles might be good insurance for me. Thx for the guidance on choosing some. I elected for cork handles per your suggestion.

  • @itcsmount6504
    @itcsmount6504 Жыл бұрын

    Peax Sissy Stix is my choice. They come in three telescoping sections. The top two are carbon, the bottom, which is always the section that breaks, is aluminum. I don't know any other poles that are this well thought out. I just wish the handles were cork.

  • @LA_Viking
    @LA_Viking7 ай бұрын

    I'm not quite sure how long I've been hiking/backpacking/climbing I do know I started sometime in the 1970's...I am 64 now and I joined REI in 1979. My point is I have never used trekking poles of any sort in my entire outdoor career. Never. I only bought a pair when I decided to try snowshoeing (I still haven't used them yet). The odd thing is that the people who were my impetus for snowshoeing recommended AGAINST using poles when snowshoeing, and trust me, they know what they are talking about. Before you spend any money on poles, make sure you have a few miles under your belt/hipbelt and know full well how it feels to hike with a hefty pack with no poles. Then start of with a borrowed pair if possible. If borrowing or renting isn't possible, then start with the least expensive pair you can find. I said "find," not afford. After a dozen trips or so ask yourself honestly how much difference the poles make. Then take things from there.

  • @nicolaijrgensen2733
    @nicolaijrgensen2733 Жыл бұрын

    Thnaks you saved me money - I found a great pair of alu. trekking poles with cork for 40$ instead of some black diamond for 140$ - they even look very similar but the SIlva 40$ weigh a little less with 7075 alu., strong enought for me :)

  • @justme.9711
    @justme.97115 ай бұрын

    What happened to the vid at 2:26 ??

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    4 ай бұрын

    We put the strap on “wrong” 😂

  • @joshuakunze8930
    @joshuakunze89309 ай бұрын

    I recently ditched poles that cost money. Turns out the woods are full of trecking poles and there free. Not to mention you can customize them with a knife or file. You can also leave them in the woods for storage purposes. There is a variety of all weights and sizes for all body types, you can also tie on some Paracord for handle straps you in case your hand gets to weak to hold it just tie them to your wrist for the extra support. Another one of the best things about natures tracking polls if your in a pinch you have fire wood. Get yours now but only for a limited time.

  • @user-rs2qw7co2h

    @user-rs2qw7co2h

    4 ай бұрын

    ❤ LoL next you'll be saying they grow on trees.😂

  • @sirsir108
    @sirsir10811 ай бұрын

    I recently replaced cascade mountain tech poles with expensive leki poles mainly because time was an issue and the lekis were in town and available honestly I liked the cheap ones more ..... the expensive ones have better straps and the quality of the cork feels better but the cheaper ones felt better in my hand I do believe you can replace the tips in the leki poles and not on the Cheaper ones however the cheap ones lasted 2 years and looked just fine The aluminum ones I have now wobble more when they hit the ground but I think they would be less likely to snap sinking deep into the snow awkwardly when I try and catch myself I used to use a thrift store ski pole years ago and just find a stick when I wanted to pitch my tarp in an a frame that worked great as well

  • @DVN11227

    @DVN11227

    8 ай бұрын

    Leki and some other companies have lots of cork imitation foam grips, and they often hide the fact in the product description. If they do use natural cork, they usually emphasize it in the description in addition to using their marketing slang like Cross Shark, Aergon Air, etc. However, if they do not, but the grips look like cork - you better do the background check to make sure the cork is natural - if this is important for you and you can really feel the difference. I am not sure I can, however long the hike is.

  • @KryptonitetoallBS
    @KryptonitetoallBS5 ай бұрын

    After breaking a new pair of poles it seemed to me that the weak point of the pole was the adjustment section. Therefore can you buy Trekking Poles which do not adjust, but simply come in one piece?

  • @koffieverslaafde627

    @koffieverslaafde627

    4 ай бұрын

    If you hike in mountains and you go up and down steep hills all the time, you want to be able to adjust the length for comfort and honestly safety as well

  • @KryptonitetoallBS

    @KryptonitetoallBS

    4 ай бұрын

    @@koffieverslaafde627I understand that, but if they break, they are no good to me. I was on a particularly steep section @ Stac Pollaidh and therefore I was putting quite a bit of weight and strain through them. The section of the pole which adjusts, just broke. The poles were then of no value at all. I don't require poles for coming down hill, so I could quite happily have poles which are a fixed length. Is that possible to find?

  • @koffieverslaafde627

    @koffieverslaafde627

    4 ай бұрын

    @@KryptonitetoallBS as far as I’ve seen, some of the cheaper poles have a fixed length. Maybe you could buy shorter poles specifically for climbing?

  • @KryptonitetoallBS

    @KryptonitetoallBS

    4 ай бұрын

    @@koffieverslaafde627 That is exactly what I could do with. Maybe Ski poles are the answer!

  • @tylersmith3664
    @tylersmith36642 күн бұрын

    Thx bro

  • @issalbotproto
    @issalbotproto11 ай бұрын

    I love my cheapo cascade poles they do a great job.

  • @hlw1306
    @hlw13065 ай бұрын

    Reasons I use poles: Fording water, probing for holes and depth. High elevation hiking with mild vertigo induced for steep exposed rocky trails. To wave around at approaching wildlife. To relieve pressure on knees and hips. Less slipping on downhill gravel. The fun of power walking and uphill walking movements as if cross country skiing. Standing rest breaks. Keeping balance when fatigued. Knocking something out of tree branches. Ability to kit a few items commando style within and without the hollow shaft. Tape emergency bandana or some such to wave above head. Emergency crutch. Aid to get up.

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    3 ай бұрын

    Also: Giving your hiking buddy a gentle rap to get them to speed up, waving in front of your face to knock down spider webs, hanging sweaty shirts to dry…the uses are endless! 😂

  • @navalravikant7339
    @navalravikant73399 ай бұрын

    I need to log in to like your video, thanks!

  • @justo316
    @justo3165 ай бұрын

    Got cheap poles off Amazon. Carbon, flip locks, cork handles. Lighter than all the more expensive ones brands. Can't complain

  • @zogzog6611
    @zogzog66114 ай бұрын

    Why is the video blurred when you talk about/demonstrate(?) straps?

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    4 ай бұрын

    We did it "wrong" and everyone wanted us to know about it in the comments. 😂

  • @zogzog6611

    @zogzog6611

    4 ай бұрын

    @@TerradriftThank you for saving me from seeing such a thing! And for an informative video!

  • @tedmccauley9319
    @tedmccauley93192 ай бұрын

    Just an aside, trekking poles are popular for slightly mobility impaired people, better than a cane and crutches are too much, my criteria leans to strength as I put a lot of weight on them.

  • @OriginalJohnDoeFakersBeware
    @OriginalJohnDoeFakersBeware8 ай бұрын

    My $20 pair of trek poles have been totally worth it. I use one as mobility aid on daily basis. Bad idea for anyone to attempt to steal and replace. Good day to arrest people! 😊

  • @nofilter.906
    @nofilter.9065 ай бұрын

    I thought she was going to do some magic or start rapping with all that hand movement shes doin.....but other then that,,GREAT INFORMATIVE VIDEO,,,,and funny too...now it's up to me to make the right choice ....I'm not gonna go super cheap,or too expensive... GREAT VIDEO!!!!...THANK YOU,,,

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    5 ай бұрын

    😂

  • @atxorsatti
    @atxorsatti10 ай бұрын

    Why did you censor lol

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    10 ай бұрын

    We put our hands through the strap the “wrong” way and people wouldn’t let us forget it. 😂

  • @atxorsatti

    @atxorsatti

    10 ай бұрын

    @@Terradrift didn't expect it

  • @natejohnson2737
    @natejohnson2737 Жыл бұрын

    You just saved me 200 dollars. I was going to replace my 10 year old 20 dollar pair. Now what to spend 200 dollars on

  • @Bleckyyyy

    @Bleckyyyy

    Жыл бұрын

    Good trekking poles. Your wrists are gonna be thankful.

  • @feldgraufox4927

    @feldgraufox4927

    9 ай бұрын

    😂😂😂 money also burns a hole in my pocket

  • @homie-gtv322
    @homie-gtv3222 ай бұрын

    Hello, sir. Thanks for the video. Are these necessary? I always see people using a piece of branch they find on the floor. Are those good? They're free. Thank you, sir. You're the man.

  • @kamisorix5072
    @kamisorix50729 ай бұрын

    coffein

  • @relaxingnature2617
    @relaxingnature26174 ай бұрын

    buy the $20 one and spend the savings on a hat

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    3 ай бұрын

    Don’t you like my hat? 😂

  • @Phlegethon
    @PhlegethonАй бұрын

    Shouldn’t these poles be pretty generic that you can just get whatever random Chinese brand for 10% the price

  • @zone4garlicfarm
    @zone4garlicfarm9 ай бұрын

    Cheap trekking poles are a waste of money. Expensive poles are a waste of more money. Trekking poles are the product of an evil marketing genius who found a way to sell ski poles to people who don't ski.

  • @Terradrift

    @Terradrift

    9 ай бұрын

    🤣 They do wonders for our legs on brutally steep uphill and downhills, though!

  • @zone4garlicfarm

    @zone4garlicfarm

    9 ай бұрын

    @terradrift No, they don't. They get in the way and they are something else to trip over. Hiking is easier and more enjoyable if you leave the poles at home. If you think you need trekking poles on steep terain you're wrong. What you need is stronger legs and you will get them faster without those useless poles.

  • @zone4garlicfarm

    @zone4garlicfarm

    9 ай бұрын

    @@pigglepuggle It's not the same situation. Elderly or infirm people with walking difficulties don't put on a backpack and head down the trails.

  • @joshmcdarris

    @joshmcdarris

    9 ай бұрын

    @zone4garlicfarm 😂 I really hope you’re joking. Sounds like someone just doesn’t know how to use trekking poles. If you don’t wanna use trekking poles, that’s fine. You don’t have to use them. 😂

  • @zone4garlicfarm

    @zone4garlicfarm

    9 ай бұрын

    @@joshmcdarris I'm not joking. Trekking poles are a joke and the only people who are laughing are the people who sell them. I've been on top of every 4,000 footer in New England and I got there without trekking poles. Until a few years ago they were rarely seen on the trails and now they are everywhere. I tried using poles on a few day hikes this year and they were in the way a lot more than they were useful. After the third hike with them I left them at the trailhead for anyone who wanted them. Trekking poles are the most worthless piece of hiking gear ever invented.

  • @kenpaulsen5427
    @kenpaulsen54276 ай бұрын

    Get to your point! All of the needless chit-chat made stop watching till the end!

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