[Closed] Trekking pole trackworld

I have a pair of Mountain King Blaze poles - they're pretty durable, used them trail / mountain running and snow-shoeing and despite getting them snagged a few times, have held-up. They are 'sized' i.e. non-adjustable - means there's no risk of them getting shorter as you move along. The only downside is the grips/straps - I'd much prefer a XC ski grip and holster strap arrangement which is far better for propulsion.

We've used a few and I'd always go for ones that have a quick release type extension clamp over the screw type you've linked to. Black diamond use the type I mean. The screw ones can bugger up irreparably.

Yep, Black Diamond flick lock jobs. Strong and reliable.

Thanks for the comments. I've seen the BD poles well reviewed, but they seem to be about twice as expensive as the Fizan ones 🙁

Alpkit do some, although currently out of stock, if your not in a rush maybe worth waiting for.

https://www.alpkit.com/products/compact-ultra-II-twins

https://www.alpkit.com/products/marathon-ultra-compact-trekking-pole-two-pack

Nowt wrong with Fizan just not as well finished as Leki, Easton or BD.

Thanks for the comments. I’ve seen the BD poles well reviewed, but they seem to be about twice as expensive as the Fizan ones

I use a pair of BD Trail poles, they can be had for a tenner less on Amazon than the Fizans you linked. They're about 50g per pole heavier and 3 section so they won't go as short. I like them though, might be worth a look?

Thanks for the comments. I’ve seen the BD poles well reviewed, but they seem to be about twice as expensive as the Fizan ones

At the bottom of the page you linked are BD Expedition at £72. Those are the ones I have. They do not pack as short as the Fizan, but plenty short enough in my experience. Very sturdy and again I echo cab's comment re, the flick lock adjuster.

Having said all that there is a very positive review of the Fizan at https://backpackinglight.com/fizan_compact_poles_review/

https://www.sportsdirect.com/karrimor-carbon-anti-shock-poles-784003?colcode=78400390&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-fnloezM3wIVCYjVCh19HQ8XEAQYAiABEgIjtfD_BwE

I’ve had a pair of these for 4 years or so. Super-light but strong with the flip-lock closures - been impressed with them. Few scrapes on them where they’ve had rock contact but seem to be holding up pretty well.

You can't recommend Sports Direct on here. Are you effin' mental???

(I'm not a fan of sprung poles - they always feel a bit unstable)

Ha. I thought that might raise a few eyebrows 😉
The shop is shit but the poles are good.

I have these ones https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/trekking-poles-c67/all-trekking-poles-c168/gram-counter-gear-m57
Really nicely made. Very light.

double post

Me and Leia have got a variety of different poles between us - expensive carbon Leki 3 part jobs, 'expensive but in the sale' BD 2 piece carbon ones, a couple of cheap lekis and a pair of now worn out cheapies I bought in the alps for 20 quid a pair. The least favourite are the expensive lekis, they just feel wrong and unbalanced and clunky. The BD's are very nice, swing really nicely and the grip is good enough that the straps aren't totally necessary - spares easily available too. The winner's are the cheapies i got in the alps though - light, flicky and a nice handle/strap. Sadly I have worn the non replaceable tips down to the basket so they are done for really

So i'd say it's tricky to say exactly without one in your hand but certainly you don't need to spend a bomb to get nice ones. Oh and none of them are sprung. If I was starting from scratch I'd look at the BD ones, ideally on a deal.

I also have a pair of Karrimor / SportsDirect carbon poles with cam-locks. They are fine, light and solid.

In the past I've used Leki and other brands of twist-lock poles. Nearly all of them, especially Leki, seem to seize or otherwise stop working after 3-4 years' of use.

If I was getting a set now I would recommend something carbon with an external flick lock. There is a new pacer pole out with the flick lock, worth a look

I have three, my favourite one is an easton carbon one which z folds and had a flick lock. It's excellent. As a result of its small folding I can get it in my check in luggage for alps trips without any risk of it being broken, and they go small enough to fit in a holdall without any drama. I take one pole more often than two. One is also useful as I can then have one pole and one ice axe attached to my bag

I used these for the Tour De Mont Blanc in 2017 & again for the Haute route in 2018
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/oex-x-lite-trigger-pole-p362541
Apart from these two occasions I've never used poles,they held up well & I'll use them again on my next big hike.

Unless your overly obsessed by weight or going for ultralight / backpacking usage, there’s no need to pay the silly money of some of the big brands. Im currently using the alpkit z / collapsible poles linked above and their great for the money and just as good as the mid range Leki Andy BD poles I’ve had in the past (although only had them 6 months so let’s see how they fair). Few things I would recommend though is cam / flick locks over twist / clutch locks (they all fail eventually and can be a faff in the cold with gloves on). I also prefer z / collapsible poles over telescopics (less faff & pack down shorter). Make sure you clean & dry your poles after use - packing them away wet & muddy after use is the quickest way of killing them or ensuring they seize

I have some tough BD ones, carbon with a flick lock. Solid enough to ski tour.

I prefer the cheapo alpkit ones though. Because they break down in to 3 sections (with a shock cord type arrangement) they go much shorter meaning they cna easily go inside a bag when I'm not using them. the stronger BD ones a much longer when packed down.

Been through the mill with twist lock (Leki, sprung) and flip lock (Leki, unsprung). Both have been fine, almost miss the sprung ones but probably just because I got used to them.

Don't like the flip lock ones but only because the grip is cheapy 'cork effect' plastic rather than actual cork or foam.

Now would just go collapsible, barely use the adjustment and even the fliplok seems more faff than it's worth.

I have the Fizan ones the OP was asking about. They work fine, are very light and pack down small. The only issues are those shared by all screw adjust poles namely them seizing from time to time.

I've seen a few reviews saying the Alpkit carbon poles - both the telescopic Carbonlite ones and the foldable Carbon Marathon Ultras- tend to fall apart pretty quickly. I'm very tempted to buy a pair but this has me worried- any owners out there able ro give me an opinion?

I haven't used the current Alpkit carbon poles, I had some of the original and they were fine, but I'm not really a heavy pole user. I think there's a big difference in the way folk use trekking poles: there's a difference between those who barely weight them and people who use them like some sort of weight-bearing lever on downward steps.

I've mostly used poles for big mountain stuff with proper heavy full-on, multi-day packs loaded with mountaineering and camping / bivi kit, but for that, mostly heavier, bombproof BD ones with the Flicklok system rather than the telescopic ones.

If you're light on poles - mostly just using them for balance, I suspect you'll be fine with pretty much anything. If you're someone who treats them like a portable trapeze, I think you're better off with something sturdier designed for that sort of thing.

Forget about sprung poles it's just unnecessary weight.

I have the Fizan ones and they are ok. Light, pack small, pretty solid but the screw mechanism can be difficult to tighten enough and sometimes hard to undo. This is particularly the case if it gets wet or you have wet hands. I was using them running though so impacts were harder, it will probably be less of an issue if walking.

I used to think adjustment was essential but then I got a set of non-adjustable ones and realised it wasn't. I now have these and unless you'll be on soft snow a lot where the wee baskets are shite they are great: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/distance-carbon-zpole-x2--id_8407941.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx7bQhI_Y5gIVSrDtCh1jHwBAEAQYASABEgKov_D_BwE

If they're too expensive Mountain King do cheaper non-adjustables.

I have these ones https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/trekking-poles-c67/all-trekking-poles-c168/fastpacker-carbon-trekking-poles-p5844

Very light, been totally reliable. Huge weight saving over leki poles

Thanks for that! Ultra Light Outdoor Gear is one of my favourite online shops, they always stock the stuff I want and have really useful advice in their 'our verdict' section. I didn't know they had an own brand! Thanks!!