Hiking/Trekking poles

I eventually went with the K-Way Compact "superlight" (thats the slogan) trekking poles.

What made me buy them is the fact that they collapse up really small, smaller than anything else I've seen. They also really are very light.

The lightness and the way they are collapsed with internal mechanisms made me a bit nervous at first, but using them now on two occasions, without as much as a single glitch, means I can now recommend them as a decent choice. Offcourse we'll have to see about longevity but I think they'll be OK.

Back when I was a youngster, a man by the name of Geoff Glass demonstrated his "wonder staff" while we were on our annual easter holiday at Mahai (around 1985) This thing seemed to be constructed out of aluminium tent pole sections (as in the caravette-6 tent pole), brass reinforcing sleeves over the section joints/sliding portions, with a 90 degree bend elbow at the handle. He had this thing modified to accomodate a steel ice pick that could screw in at the handle or at the foot. The ice pick, which was merely a hardened stainless round bar about 5mm in diameter had a sharpened 'business' end and a thread cut in the opposite side for attachment into the pole unit. He also had a camera swivel-mount the was carried as extra the could be screwed into the upright section of the handle, and when the pole was used in conjuction with the spike screwed into the foot, you simply peg the hiking pole into suitable ground, and voila: you have a monopod! The pole, as i recall had three extenable sections and could be fully elongated to a roughly 6 foot.

We came home after that holiday and my dad constructed two hiking poles out of caravan tent poles; one for him and one for me. Mine is straight, whereas his has a 90 degree handle (about 20mm long). My pole is straight, has karakal tennis racket grip tape at the handle and extends to about 5.5 ft. Simple rubber stopper on the ends. Its as rigid as a telephone pole. I suppose i should invest in a pair of ultra-lights, but they just seem so flimsy in comparison.

Btw, does anyone know Geoff glass, and where is is these days? The last we heard from him was around the late 80s when he was actively involved in mountain rescue in the berg.

hasamatt wrote: Back when I was a youngster, a man by the name of Geoff Glass demonstrated his "wonder staff" while we were on our annual easter holiday at Mahai (around 1985)

Good old Geoff, last chatted to him 2 weeks ago

He still uses that old pole, its just darn heavy. Well over 1.5kg. He was quite jealous of my K-Way pole when we went up Swaartkop together 2 years ago...

hasamatt wrote: Btw, does anyone know Geoff Glass, and where is is these days? The last we heard from him was around the late 80s when he was actively involved in mountain rescue in the berg.

He lives in Hilton with his brother these days. He hasn't been to the Berg in just over a year now. He spends lots of his time at Midmar on a yatch called Pickles (owned by a friend of his)...

I use a single Black Diamond Trail . It collapses pretty small, is lightweight and has flicklock catches, not the twisty type. I use it for descents, heavy ascents and river crossings, not usually for general walking

I am looking for trekking poles. A quick Google search turned up with these:

Awetech Trekking Pole





A double trekking pole with camera mount and Yoke for shooting. The spec 3-section design allows for full height camera use.
Light-weight, height-adjustable Trekking Poles increase your stability when hiking and spread the work load to upper body giving you a total body work out.

Features

Large 32mm compass detachable from handle to help you find your way.
Handles have 1/4 inch X 20 screws in handle for easy mounting of camera/spotting scopes etc. Enjoy monopod stability when filming.
Tough multi-function yoke screws on handles for telephoto lenses/rifle use, enjoy monopod stability.
The 85cm to 165cm fully extended height makes them comfortable for other uses.

Is anyone familiar with this brand? At R332 for a pair it seems like a bargain + it got some extra features

poles are great "knee savers" - I use one only, also the Black Diamond flick lock system

I would say they are essential if it snows because its the only way to test the ground when you cant see it...

Don't know how I would have handled yesterday without poles - quite an epic navigating through steep downhill grassy slopes. Story to follow soon...

I use K-Way poles which cost a bit more than that (1 aluminium at R200, 1 carbon at R300). Fitness uses Mr Price ones which seem to have done rather well, and are much cheaper than what the hiking shops sell.

That K-Way "lightest pole on earth" one is terrible. I haven't used it personally, but I have watched it break a few times in the last few months...

I haven't seen any poles at Mr Price Sport. Will need to inquire about them.

LouisvV wrote: I am looking for trekking poles. A quick Google search turned up with these:

Awetech Trekking Pole


A double trekking pole with camera mount and Yoke for shooting. The spec 3-section design allows for full height camera use.
Light-weight, height-adjustable Trekking Poles increase your stability when hiking and spread the work load to upper body giving you a total body work out.

Features

Large 32mm compass detachable from handle to help you find your way.
Handles have 1/4 inch X 20 screws in handle for easy mounting of camera/spotting scopes etc. Enjoy monopod stability when filming.
Tough multi-function yoke screws on handles for telephoto lenses/rifle use, enjoy monopod stability.
The 85cm to 165cm fully extended height makes them comfortable for other uses.

Is anyone familiar with this brand? At R332 for a pair it seems like a bargain + it got some extra features

I have one of these and I have a BD shock pole.
I used this Awetech pole on a number of hikes and it is sturdy and comfy. I took that rubber foot thing off. It is just an attachment that fits over the bottom tip. You don't need it unless you are walking on a lot of tarred roads (then why have a pole?). I haven't used it as a monopod for shooting a camera (I normally take a tripod when we go for a photographic hike). This isn't a bad pole at all and good value for money. Compas is a nice feature but I have seen it go a bit haywire when in between rocks coming up a pass so don't trust your life on it.
It has the twist lock type of mechanisms inside the pole. They work well and I haven't had it fail on me yet but I never put all my weight on a pole - better safe than sorry.
I trust the flick lock of the BD shock pole a bit more so I use this pole as my main pole now.