If you love the outdoors and travel often then one of the best pieces of outdoor equipment you should invest in is a collapsible hiking pole. These poles are great for those long climbs or descents because they are extremely lightweight. This means that you can carry more weight on them, meaning that you can cover more distance while walking. This is great for expeditions or long trips that can take the better part of a week.
Best Ultralight Trekking Poles While not the most stable hiking poles out there, collapsible trekking poles do offer good support for your legs as well, which you definitely need when you're on a long trek. However, in all honesty, collapsible trekking poles are mostly useful for day trips which last a few hours at most. A full moon walk would still take up the same amount of time, so why waste the money on extra materials that won't be needed? You get what you pay for and in this case it is very clear.
Collapsible trekking poles, on the other hand, are perfect for long camping trips or even extended backpacking excursions. What's great about these poles is that you can add a number of different attachments to them without having to purchase new ones. One example of this is a pole clip that allows you to attach your hiking poles to a backpack without having to drill holes into your backpack. There are numerous different clips and you can usually find one that is designed for use with a specific type of hiking pole.
Best Carbon Fiber Shafts When looking at trekking poles, you probably already know that the main material they're made from is carbon fiber. This is because it is lightweight, strong and resistant to a number of harsh conditions. However, the best carbon fiber trekking poles are made from graphite, which is a stronger but lighter version of carbon fiber. The thicker carbon fiber shafts are more expensive, but they last longer and require less maintenance. There are also lightweight carbon fiber shafts available, but they cost almost as much as the heavier ones. These shafts can also be easily replaced if they become weak or need replacing.
Stabilizing Your Hiking Pole The main reason you will want to buy trekking poles is so that you can stay as stable as possible while hiking. This makes it much easier for you to keep the same posture as you keep while walking normally. Since your walking poles will be much heavier, especially the larger ones, you'll need to make sure that they don't move around while you're walking, but this can be easily achieved. If you have thick handles on your poles, it will make it much easier for you to maintain your stability.
Durability There are several factors that contribute to durability of trekking poles. These include the type of material the pole is made of, the quality of its manufacturing and the way it is stored when not in use. You should choose a material that is durable enough to withstand frequent usage. If you choose a good-quality pole made of high quality fiberglass, it will last a long time, even though it is often abused.
The storage of your hiking poles can affect their durability as well, but only slightly. If the material is thick and tightly wrapped, it will provide extra protection against abrasion and rusting. The best polyester based hangers for trekking poles are the ones that come with special padding to protect the handle. This is because the polyester foam inside the handle offers excellent resistance to abrasion and even heat. A high-quality hanger will be able to withstand a lot of force and weight, but it won't break easily. You should also make sure the hanger is kept dry and out of contact with water for the best results.
Wrist Straps A malfunction of any hiking equipment has always been the result of broken wrist straps. However, even though walking sticks have been proven to prevent breakage as compared with hiking poles, it still happens sometimes. A malfunctioning wrist strap causes discomfort on your hands and arms and makes you feel clumsy and less secure while trekking. If your wrist straps are strong and well-made, they can last for many outings. However, if you want to make sure your cork handles are as secure as your walking poles, you should invest in good quality leather wrist straps.