Graham
Thru Hiker
I used words along those lines when I found my kids play fighting with a pair of trekking poles many moons ago...
Strong Alu trek poles for pitching?
- Thread starter Myles21
- Start date
I used words along those lines when I found my kids play fighting with a pair of trekking poles many moons ago...
Very pleased with mine
gixer
Thru Hiker
Tried a mind control device when i made a bid for world domination, couldn't get the bloody thing to work though so unfortunately i can't control peoples perception, plus the cat hair got right up my nose
In all seriousness if you can tell me what you felt was wrong or contradictory i might be able to explain or see the problem.
As i understood Moles post there was some confusion (from either me or him) over the difference between a pole bending and failing, i don't see a bend as a failure meself.
To hopefully clarify, the main gist of what i was trying to say is IF you use good quality hiking poles then it doesn't matter if they're carbon or aluminium, the ONLY time they'll fail is IF they're trapped in a hole and you apply a rather large sideways load to them.
If a carbon pole failed then there is a very very very good chance a aluminium one would have as well.
People perceive carbon as being weaker but this is just not the case.
Take a gander at this.
No it's not a trekking pole it's a fishing rod, but it's still the same material and the beauty of carbon is it can be laid to give as much stiffness or flexibility as you want depending on what is needed.
You have absolutely no evidence of that though Ross, it's just your hunch mate, this is what i said above.
One other thing.
It's of far more importance how you hold a hiking pole than it is the material it's made out of.
If you have your have through the strap completely and you stumble there is no quick way to remove your hand so you'll fall onto the pole giving it that sideways load.
Even worse is IF it breaks carbon or aluminium will both leave sharp edges that'll you'll then be falling towards.
If you keep your thumb out of the strap or don't use straps then if the pole gets stuck or you trip then in the immortal words of Elsa you simply "let it go"
If folks still worry about breaking a pole and not being able to put the tent up then just take some duct tape a bit of slotted pipe and a couple of tie wraps.
I finished a MTB race with a tree branch wedged into my broken handlebars and the broken off piece, held pretty good as well, so there are always options it's not like "my pole snapped so i'll die" if it was then i'd suggest a tent that doesn't use hiking poles as a better option.
Cheers
Mark
Teepee
Thru Hiker
This, I think, is a good illustration of why Alu is generally tougher than carbon fibre. The Alu tested is 6061 T6 which will behave very similarly to our hiking poles, of which many are 7075 T6.It's an extreme test but not far off the type of damage caused to poles when being banged against rocks, clattered together to scare troublesome dogs, or fallen on.
The weaker composites are shocking for toughness, the higher grades performing much better but they are damaged beyond further practical use. The metal tubes are still functional to a point and can be bent back into shape.
When my lightweight Lekis bent in half on Kinder (tripped over in a grough and kneeled on them), they bent back. They've gone twice since then, obviously weakened, but still OK for lowland. My Carbon Leki's gave no warning and they'd been 'babied' for the 2 weeks I'd used them for. I literally touched a knee high rock with the pole and the bottom section fell off.
The weaker composites are shocking for toughness, the higher grades performing much better but they are damaged beyond further practical use. The metal tubes are still functional to a point and can be bent back into shape.
When my lightweight Lekis bent in half on Kinder (tripped over in a grough and kneeled on them), they bent back. They've gone twice since then, obviously weakened, but still OK for lowland. My Carbon Leki's gave no warning and they'd been 'babied' for the 2 weeks I'd used them for. I literally touched a knee high rock with the pole and the bottom section fell off.
Graham
Thru Hiker
MLD info on the Komperdell Carbon Vario 4 poles, my highlighting in RED
"Why We Love This Pole!
1: 145+cm- longer than all other trek poles- no need for any pole jacks in the Duomid, SoloMid and SpeedMid in the normal low pitches. Allows higher pitching of Tarps and TrailStars.
2: Very Strong Carbon + Aluminum Lower Shaft: Not like the weaker thin wall 3- 4 oz carbon poles that are always breaking tips and shaft connections.
3: ..."
Clearly Komperdell have done this for a reason, as Ali/Carbon pole manufacturers they've got the warranty / repair data to hand.
Could be the best of both worlds, I don't know? MLD seem keen (they're re-stocking right now) and the use of both materials must mitigate to some extent the cumulative effect of dinks on the lower shaft.
I'll be sticking with my BD Trail Trekking poles for the foreseeable.
"Why We Love This Pole!
1: 145+cm- longer than all other trek poles- no need for any pole jacks in the Duomid, SoloMid and SpeedMid in the normal low pitches. Allows higher pitching of Tarps and TrailStars.
2: Very Strong Carbon + Aluminum Lower Shaft: Not like the weaker thin wall 3- 4 oz carbon poles that are always breaking tips and shaft connections.
3: ..."
Clearly Komperdell have done this for a reason, as Ali/Carbon pole manufacturers they've got the warranty / repair data to hand.
Could be the best of both worlds, I don't know? MLD seem keen (they're re-stocking right now) and the use of both materials must mitigate to some extent the cumulative effect of dinks on the lower shaft.
I'll be sticking with my BD Trail Trekking poles for the foreseeable.
ADz
Thru Hiker
Don't bother with the Carbon Vario 4 poles bud, they're a complete PITA. I found they always pulled apart at joint when they stuck in ground while walking. I was forever putting sections back together.
I'm also using BD Trail at the moment. retired my Pacers the twist locks are crap and forever seazing up. They're apparently brining out new products with new lock so until then I will be on the BD's.
Teepee
Thru Hiker
I spotted these on the Leki site while looking for XC ski poles; https://www.leki.com/uk/product-area/winter-tours/poles/2413/aergon-3/
Same 18/16/14 diameter, handle looks similar shape, but go from 110 - 150cm. Might negate a pole jack for someone.
Same 18/16/14 diameter, handle looks similar shape, but go from 110 - 150cm. Might negate a pole jack for someone.
WilliamC
Thru Hiker
Hmm, it's not according to Komperdell's website. They've been making the Vario Expedition for a while with an aluminium bottom section. It's heavier than the Carbon Vario 4.
I've read, but no personal experience, that the later models have srew in sections, so I guess they wouldn't pull out.