January 25, 2001


Are all trekking poles the same?

I recently got a pair of REI trekking poles and have become a huge advocate of them. Problem is, they wore out remarkably quickly; after about 300 miles, one tip is gone, one pole is slightly bent (my fault—I tripped and it saved me), and neither pole will hold at the length to which I set it. Obviously, I didn't treat them gingerly, and the trails I used them on were rugged (the John Muir Trail, for example). So I'm wondering if I can find a pair that might last a little longer. Is there a real difference in poles, or should I just buy cheap ones with the expectation that they will wear out that quickly?

— Kevin Larkin Urbana, Illinois

Well, I suppose the good news is that you didn't spend a ton of money on the REI poles —- probably about $60, right? Still, even at that, they should have lasted more than 300 miles. You could always lug them back to an REI store, throw yourself at their mercy, and maybe they'll replace them or at least give you a partial credit toward a new pair.

Besides, the fact is that a trekking pole should not be a disposable item, aside from incidents in which you taco the thing (I mean, they're designed for hiking, not pole-vaulting). I have a pair of Leki poles that are at least seven years old, have seen considerable abuse, and still work great. So you might simply take that next step up in price and spend $100 to $125 for something like a pair of Leki Makalu Cor-Tec Plus AS poles ($120). These have replaceable tips, and pole joints that can be maintained fairly easily for long life. MSR, always known for well-engineered products, also makes a trekking pole —- the Overland 1, which sells for about $120 a pair.

Otherwise, I don't have any advice on how to make trekking poles last longer. I figure, they're abuse saves my knees and ankles some, so if a pole gets tweaked or bent, so be it. Better to replace a pole than have an anterior cruciate ligament stitched up.