BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 13,495 
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Post by BigLoad on May 7, 2024 5:57:12 GMT -8
Halfway outbound to my last trip, I dreamed that I left my poles at home. On waking, I knew it was true, so I stopped at REI in Santa Fe to see what they had. My first instinct was to get another pair of what I had (Leki Makalu Light), but the newer version has very thin straps that I really didn't like.
After trying everything in the store, including the carbon models, I chose the BD Pursuit, and I really liked how they performed on the trail. They have beefy padded straps that are comfortable even with all my weight on them, but their best feature is the Flicklock+ adjustment. It's easier to operate yet clamps tighter than the regular flicklock or the Leki version, and it easily adjusts with a hex wrench built into one of the pole sections.
One thing I don't like about my Leki poles is that the collars of the locking mechanism suffer from plastic memory and extending or retracting the pole sections becomes difficult. You can counteract that by storing with coins wedged into the collars, but the behavior returns before long, especially if you forget to open the locks for storage. The Flicklock+ collars are metal, so they may be less prone to that.
I also like BD's old-school cork handles. They're not composite or coated, so they may be less durable and they do accumulate grime, but they're certainly comfortable.
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ErnieW
Trail Wise!
I want to backpack
Posts: 10,637
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Post by ErnieW on May 7, 2024 6:36:33 GMT -8
My first instinct was to get another pair of what I had (Leki Makalu Light), but the newer version has very thin straps that I really didn't like. About two years ago an internal piece (not user replaceable) broke in my very old Leki Super Makalu's. I replaced them with BD Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles. I didn't want carbon fiber and did want cork tilted handles. I wasn't sure about flik locks but now I am a fan. I hesitated with the Leki's about changing their length. I had issues with the pole length sliding after changing. With the flik locks no hesitation. My only minor complaint is that they are so rigid some of the noise from hitting rocks goes into my hands. |
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swiftdream
Trail Wise!
the Great Southwest Unbound
Posts: 664
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Post by swiftdream on May 7, 2024 9:29:47 GMT -8
I’m a big fan of Black Diamond and use the Alpine carbon cork. The first pair had plastic flicklocks and they did sort of had a memory and then one lock broke. Got another pair with the new at that time metal flick locks and they are so much better. They also made the straps much better and the newer version poles have lasted and lasted.
Those BD Pursuit poles look pretty nice and I bet you are going to like them.
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Post by dayhiker on May 7, 2024 13:53:29 GMT -8
I talked to a thru hiker, as I hiked with 2 broken REI ultra light poles. He said flint locks are the way to go, I have allot of their ski poles which I use hiking.
I did jam a couple trying to measure snow depth, pretty much the end to those.
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Post by leadbelly on May 16, 2024 11:50:10 GMT -8
i also use the alpine carbon cork. they've lasted a long time; i replaced the tips, which were messed up, a few years ago. though i think folding (FLZ) black diamond poles might be more convenient, some day packs I've used recently had pretty good ways to stash poles. The Rab Aeon pole-grabbers are nice, just jam the tip through and use the built-in shock cords higher up.
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Post by downriver on May 16, 2024 16:30:03 GMT -8
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BigLoad
Trail Wise!
Pancakes!
Posts: 13,495
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Post by BigLoad on May 16, 2024 17:39:27 GMT -8
No experience beyond seeing them in the store. I haven't taken a closer look because continuously variable length is a feature I use regularly. However, they're probably great if you don't need that and you don't mind the price. |
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