Brief Introduction
I. How to Choose a Hiking Pole？
When choosing hiking poles, we can generally start from the following aspects:
1. Handle material.
The handles of hiking poles are usually made of three materials: rubber, cork, and EVA sponge. The advantages of rubber material are low price and durability. The drawback is that it does not absorb sweat. Prolonged use can easily make it slippery. It is not recommended for use in summer, but wearing gloves in autumn and winter is one of the good choices. The advantages of cork material are that it is light in weight, has good sweat absorption performance, and has high friction and is not easy to come off, making it suitable for use in summer. The disadvantages are that the price is slightly high and the wear resistance is slightly poor. EVA sponge material is a relatively balanced choice in terms of performance. It is light in weight, comfortable to hold, and has a good sweat-absorbing effect. It is a commonly chosen material for the handles of hiking poles.
2. Materials
The materials of hiking poles are generally divided into four major categories: carbon fiber hiking poles are light but not cheap; Titanium alloy trekking poles are expensive. Aluminum alloy trekking poles are relatively cheap and durable. Wooden hiking poles are mainly about sentiment.
3. Folding hiking poles
Folding hiking poles are generally classified into three types based on their folding methods: folding hiking poles, external locking hiking poles, and internal locking hiking poles.
Folding hiking poles: Also known as Z poles, their advantage is that they can be folded for storage and are very lightweight. However, these hiking poles are mostly used for trail running, and the materials they are made of are mostly carbon, which are not very durable. If we walk on some paths paved with big stones, it is very easy to get stuck and broken by the crevices of the stones. So if we don’t go cross-country running, there is no need to necessarily use this kind of trekking poles.
External locking trekking poles: The length is adjusted by two locking clasps on the outside of the pole body. The material is mostly aluminum alloy. The advantages are that it is sturdy and durable, and easy to adjust. The drawback is that it is a bit heavier compared to the trail running poles. However, the weight of a pair of trekking poles, which is approximately 500 grams, is by no means a burden to us. Therefore, this is also a type of trekking pole that is quite recommended for daily hiking.
Internally locked hiking poles: Adjust the length by rotating the pole body, which is a bit cumbersome. It would be rather inconvenient to operate with gloves on in winter. This kind of trekking poles is relatively rare in the market and is not highly recommended for everyone to use.
4. Selecting the number of sections
Generally, the number of sections of hiking poles is divided into four types.
Three-section hiking poles: standard;
Four-section trekking poles: Ultra-short;
Two trekking poles: relatively long;
A hiking stick: Not easy to carry.
First, choose based on the intensity of the activity. The more sections a walking stick has, the lower its corresponding load-bearing capacity will be. When engaging in leisure activities, the most prominent feature is portability, so a four-section staff is the top choice. When the activity has a certain intensity, a three-section staff should be selected to ensure safety.
5. Wristband
The wristband is the most important part to consider when purchasing hiking poles. Since the mutual transmission of physical strength between the hiking poles and the user mainly occurs through the wristband, when choosing a high-quality wristband, one should consider whether it has the following features: the middle part of the wristband is wider and the sides are narrower, which can prevent hand strangulation. The wrist strap adjustment buckle is set at the connection with the trekking poles, not touching the hands to prevent them from being pricked. The inner side of the wristband is made of suede anti-friction material, effectively protecting the skin that comes into contact with the wristband.
6. Locking System
The locking system is the core safety component of a hiking pole. Ninety percent of the problems with trekking poles are caused by malfunctions in the locking system. Low-priced trekking poles usually use ordinary plastic parts that are prone to deformation, while high-end trekking poles are made of high-hardness engineering plastics (crystal plastic) and are precisely cut. Such as the advanced locking system recognized by the industry: the Flicklock joint locking system independently developed by Black Diamond; Robinson Crusoe patented SLS second-generation locking system Wildview/ Diwei’s 3LS security locking system, etc.
7. The mud support and the tip of the trekking pole:
The mud support can prevent the trekking pole from getting stuck in the mud. However, the environment that trekking traverses often has thorns and shrubs, and the mud support may instead hinder the convenience of movement. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the mud support can be quickly disassembled and assembled to avoid causing trouble. The materials of the staff tips include rubber heads, iron, carbon-tungsten steel, etc. Carbon tungsten steel is the hardest and the most expensive. Rubber heads are the cheapest, but they are also less capable of handling rough outdoor terrains and have poorer wear resistance than carbon tungsten steel heads.
Ii. Selection of Hiking Poles in Different Situations
Generally, straight-handled trekking poles are chosen for professional outdoor sports, T-handled trekking poles for leisure sports and daily use, and slope-handled trekking poles for field hiking. Specifically speaking:
1. For outdoor mountain climbing or hiking,
you can choose a three-section or four-section trekking pole. It is best to select a straight handle, and the material can be considered as an aluminum alloy support pole or a carbon fiber support pole.
2. For flat ground or ground hiking,
professional walking poles with slanted handles can be chosen. Materials such as carbon fiber poles or aluminum alloy poles can be considered. The wristband of a walking stick is different from that of a regular hiking stick. It is a full-palm-sized wristband that can fully coordinate with the Angle of arm swing to exert force. The more professional walking poles include: rebornsun Robinson and Wildview/ Diwei. The three-section carbon fiber walking stick is convenient to carry and is quite popular among people.
3. For leisure mountain climbing or daily use,
two-section, three-section or four-section trekking poles are all fine, mainly depending on the need to carry them. The materials can be selected as aluminum alloy support rods, carbon fiber support rods or wooden support rods.