Trekking Pole Recommendation

I don't find that anti-shock poles have any recognizable benefit.

First, welcome, and I hope you have a great trip (and kick the big C in the arse for us all, will you?).

Trekking poles: I agree with Reuben that anti-shock isn't worth the extra costs or weight. For what you are doing, I would say that any poles that will telescope short enough for your luggage (they do have to go in a checked bag) will do the job. The cheaper ones will be a bit heavier, but that may not matter, as long as the adjusters are durable enough to count on. For myself, I like the kind with the "flick-lock" adjusters, but I used REI poles with the twisting kind for years with no problems (until one year when Eldest Son was using one on a trip and the mechanism gave up completely).

I'm not directly familiar with any of the poles you list, unfortunately.

As someone who has a pair of Leki Super Makalu's I would agree with this statement. As a matter of fact there have been time I wish they weren't anti-shock.


Sorry I guess I'm not a good one to answer since I've only owned one pair in hiking career and they are still working just fine. I think what it'll come down to probably is what kind locking mechanism is easier for you.. twisting or flip lock?

For city "terrain," you'll want to make sure they come with rubber tips. Anti-shock is unnecessary and often noisy. Otherwise, most anything is probably fine for city and road walking. The more expensive poles are usually more expensive because of lightness, which is unlikely to matter in town.

Thanks for the replies and keep 'em coming. If anti-shock are noisy I'll take them off the list. The Italians deserve some quiet.

Rubber tips are on the list.

Reuben:
Now, we need your opinions on:

Beets: No because of childhood trauma involving beets.
Brussels sprouts: Yes! Roasted with separated head of garlic, garlic salt and extra virgin olive oil.
Single malt scotch: Lagavulin 16 year, please.
Okra: No. Just no.
Vegemite behind your ears: My wife does that every night to keep me away.
Beer: I'm a wine guy surrounded by beer experts. But a cold one on a hot day can't be beat. Good Belgian with Thai food is a perfect match. 

Arguable....

Since you are dealing with fatigue and weakness, I wonder if it might help to have a fairly lightweight pair of poles? I have a pair of Locus Gear cp3s that I love, very lightweight carbon fiber, but more expensive than those you have listed (probably around $140 by the time you get them delivered, depending on the exchange rate on the yen). They come with rubber caps but, as Johntp points out, these can come off, so it's always good to have extras. All of the companies you list make excellent poles, you won't go wrong with any of them. Generally, I agree that anti-shock is useless, and cork is preferable (though I've gotten used to the foam grips on my cp3s). Also, I prefer straight versus a canted grip (eg Black Diamond Ergo Cork). And since you will be putting a fair amount of weight on your poles, I think you'd be better off with flip locks than twists which are, from everything I've read, a little more prone to failure. One option, since you're headed to Italy, would be to pick up a pair of Fizans once you get there, which are very highly regarded, sturdy, and lightweight poles (though I have no personal experience with them).