Trekking poles. Who uses them?

[bowhunter]

I use trekking poles on my pack outs or if I am spiking in to hunt. Who uses them? Is there any special type you have learned to like and why? Do you carry them all the time or just with a heavy pack?

I had a set last year and while packing out my elk they were quite helpful. They are even more useful when ascending or descending.

 

[elky McElkerson]

i LOVE them.

i used them for a couple years now. my big backpack trips..man i love them. i love the extra point of contact on the ground for stability. uphills? wow, what a triceps workout. i got to sleep and wake up with sore arm muscles, so i know they are doing some work. downhill? my knees love them. they take some of the beating, so my knees dont scream in pain so early.

sadly, i have not taken out a heavy pack with trekking poles. but i cannot imagine it without them. i\'ll hunt without them, and bring them with me on the second load out. dayhunts with a day pack, i dont think i need them.

EDIT: features i like!!! solid locks on telescoping poles. i think going uphill or downhill..it takes a trek pole of very different lengths to work. they have to be adjustable. therefore the locks have to be awesome. i\'m cool with aluminum ones.

 

[elkmtngear]

I\'m a \"single pole\" guy...but it\'s in my hand all the time when hunting (it doubles as my elk decoy...I can deploy it in one second if needed).

The SLIP System trekking pole has proven its worth on several continents...highly durable and completely adjustable. And, the decoys are the most photo-realistic on the market today.

 

[cohunter14]

I gotta ask Jeff: how have you gotten those photos while hunting by yourself? I have seen them before and always wondered...

 

[elkmtngear]

I gotta ask Jeff: how have you gotten those photos while hunting by yourself? I have seen them before and always wondered...

Autotimer on my Sony Handicam. I have ten seconds to get in position after setting up the camera...sometimes I crack me up in those photos :lol:

 

[Scot320]

I use them when I\'m carrying a heavy pack...they also hold me up when I\'m bent over sucking wind.

 

[elkmtngear]

I use them when I\'m carrying a heavy pack...they also hold me up when I\'m bent over sucking wind.

Lol yeah Scot, that\'s me in the pic above :shock:

 

[mtnmutt]

I use them for

• Backpacking[/*:m:1v7wh6h0]
• Regular hiking (non-hunting)[/*:m:1v7wh6h0]
• Crossing creeks[/*:m:1v7wh6h0]
• >10% grades[/*:m:1v7wh6h0]
• Probing for holes in tall grass areas with ankle twisting hidden holes[/*:m:1v7wh6h0][/list:u:1v7wh6h0]
  During hunting, they mostly stay attached to my pack. I tired using just one while hunting, but felt it was in the way while carrying my bow.
  
  This year, I am buying the BD Distance FLZ which will collapse down to a size that fits into my pack, plus adjust by 20cm. I do not like carrying anything on the outside of my pack. The FLZs are not heavy duty poles, therefore, my old set will remain in camp for potentially heavier loads. My old pole bent when I took a spill off a log. I was able to bend it back into shape. The BD FLZ may break if I took a similar spill.
  
  I suggest only the External Lever lock (FlintLok) adjustable poles and not the twist lock style. Occasionally, tighten the screws on the Lever Locks.

 

[Swede]

Nope.

 

[cohunter14]

I use them when I\'m carrying a heavy pack...they also hold me up when I\'m bent over sucking wind.

Lol yeah Scot, that\'s me in the pic above :shock:

Jeff, you\'re probably sucking wind because you just set your camera up and had to run across the hill to get a nice pose for the picture! :lol: That does make sense though. I was wondering how you got those photos. Seems like a lot of work! Fortunately for me, no one wants to see me walking through the woods

I\'m with Swede in that I\'ve never used trekking poles.

 

[WW]

Guess I\'m just an old tight wad but, I never could see spending big $bucks$ for trekking poles when you can cut a good walking stick just about anywhere you go.

 

[bowhunter]

Guess I\'m just an old tight wad but, I never could see spending big $bucks$ for trekking poles when you can cut a good walking stick just about anywhere you go.

Yes but those pine limbs are so sticky.......

 

[elkmtngear]

Guess I\'m just an old tight wad but, I never could see spending big $bucks$ for trekking poles when you can cut a good walking stick just about anywhere you go.

Bill, That\'s the way we always did it...picked up a stick to help get our tired asses back up to camp. That was what sparked the original idea for the SLIP System...a walking stick that could double as a blind.

When we built the prototype, we discovered many other benefits (shelter, decoy, camera mount, rifle rest, etc). Your trail sticks (or expensive trekking poles) do not quite have all those applications.

 

[razorback]

I borrowed one from a guy last year and found out it really helped with an elk quarter on your back. I own a set now. Sure was nice of that fellow to let me use one of his

 

[Baby Huey]

Trekking poles are a game changer for me with heavy loads and steep country. I used them all the time last year on my above timberline buck hunt. That country was really steep, and I used them every day hunting.

I also used them every day when I was helping my buddy out with his archery goat hunt 2 years ago as well. Again, really steep contry and heavy packs going in and out.

I used a cheaper pair of Kelty Al twistlocks that were around $60. They lasted me two years. Last year packing into our elk camp, one of the twist locks failed, so I only had one left to work with. Over the holidays I bought a pair of carbon fiber poles with the flick locks, through Sierra Trading Post (typically pretty good discounts), and I had a 25% off coupon, so I was able to get a $200 pair for $85.

I really put some stress on the poles going downhill, as my old knees hurt pretty good going downhill anymore. Having those poles with heavy packs really helps take a load off of my knees, as well as assisting in stabilization. I will always use them for heavy loads, steep areas and like mtnmutt indicates, they are great for stream crossings as well.

If you want to try them for the first time, I think Costco has some carbon fiber flick locks for around $40.

 

[elky McElkerson]

Crossing a stream or river by using downed tree? Trekking poles make it so much easier. I hate tree bridges.

 

[Lark Bunting]

Bumping this for anyone that hasn\'t done the trekking poles thing yet. I just picked up a used pair. I can\'t wait to use them this year on our pack in and more-so, the pack out with heavy loads! :mg:

 

[bowhunter]

I will be bivy hunting this year. I would use them if I spiked in and leave them at camp. I will leave them in the truck and get them to help with packing out after the first load. I will use some natural ones for the first trip. I will try to find some solid dry pine that isn\'t sticky

 

[Ucsdryder]

I just bought my first pair. I used a pair last year that my dad had and was sold.

Costco has some. They seem decent, and lightweight. I already bought some before seeing the ones at Costco.

 

[Lark Bunting]

:wave:

I just bought another set used, $15 for Mountainsmith Pinnacles. These are three sections and collapse shorter than the others I bought. These also have a built in spring for shock absorption or some crazy voodoo. :dance2:

I\'ll use these this fall for hunting but now I have a set for myself and for the wife.