I’ve had updates and changes in my thoughts on hiking poles. Recently I was asked some questions and this post is a recap of my answers and the things to think about with poles.
First, the handles
One consistent thing is I have found myself preferring is cork handles.
There are other types, but cork is popular for good reason. Alternatives include foam, rubber, plastic and fake cork. None of them really work as well for me as cork.
The downside to cork is that some critters like to chew on it so you need to be careful of where your poles are at night.
Mine are always vertical now and inside the fly of my tent.
The second element that distinguishes handles is “ergo” handles. That means the handle has a tilt to it. Some handles have a gentle tilt, others have built brands on more of a tilt.
I used to prefer ergo handles but my grip on my pole and how I use them has changed and so ergo handles are no longer important to me.
Finally, some handles are smooth and some have indentations for each finger and there are variations from no indentation to a few to many.
This is something a hiker determines for themselves and a good reason to go to an REI and compare poles.
Second: Aluminum or Carbon or Fiberglass pole bodies
When I first started I preferred Aluminum poles. I had a number of times when I fell because my poles caught and then they bent instead of broke as I went down and I later bent them back.
You can’t bend back most other materials. Those snap.
However, I then sheared off an aluminum pole on the PCT, got what was available in town (carbon) and never had a bend/fall situation again.
Further, at one time carbon and aluminum poles were much too close in weight because of differences in the pole locks.
That is no longer the case. Carbon is lighter. You can save weight by getting carbon poles.
Finally, the flip locks they use are easy to use and adjust. With trekking pole tents that is important.
My wife uses Foxelli. She found her first Foxelli poles in a hiker box and bought another set. She really likes them. ~$60.
They really are nice.
Conclusions
There is a huge variety in poles and costs. The Alpine Carbon Cork poles cost me ~$200. I got lucky with the price on the Cascade Mountain Tech poles at $27.98.
There are prices at all points in between and you will find people who prefer just about every iteration and variety in pole type.
There are unisex poles and ones especially for women. There are ones that are fraudulently marketed and ones that seem to have no marketing at all.
Finally, while adjustable poles that telescope are standard there are one piece poles and foldable poles. I haven’t written about those because they are rarely used by backpackers on long trails and when used are usually replaced.
Luckily you can try all the options and types out, get a feel for what you like and try various poles out and change your mind as often as you wish.
Miscellaneous comments
I often palm my poles putting my weight on the top of the pole handle. I rotate that with other grips. As a resort I like a pole handle with a smooth top.
Some people always use the same grip.
Often you can use your straps as part of the grip. There are other uses for straps as well. The only time I went without straps I regretted it.
Others cut their straps off immediately.
On the AT I generally used pole caps (which go over the tips) which are also used for walking on hard surfaces like concrete. They grip rock better than carbide.
On other trails I’d never use caps. Superglue is the only way to avoid them coming off on trail.
Baskets (which fit just above the tips) can be useful in snow. I’ve always not used them even when I had them and was in snow.
Carbide tips are pretty standard now. That no longer needs to be written about.
I recently got asked some more questions on tents on some forums and thought I would summarize what I said here.
One Person Tents
For a one person tent you need to ask yourself some questions:
What is your budget?
How much space do you need?
Free-standing or not? These days not = trekking pole tent.
How much will the environment intrude? A lot of rain, bugs, etc., or very little?
How minimalist are you?
How much space do you need inside the tent?
How much space will you have to pitch the tent? Are campsites spacious or are they tight and small?
For most people this means that they will need a two person tent or a generous one person tent and that free-standing is optional. I’ve written before about being in line at REI behind two people, one of whom was buying the tent the other had returned. The buyer was a small person, the returnee was just too big for the tent.
The tent was perfect for the one and not-acceptable for the other.
I’ve hiked some distances with 2p tents. That includes a Durston Pro 2p (which is smaller than the regular Durston XMid) and a Big Agnes Copper Spur. Both were eventually too small for my wife and I.
Currently, the choices for one person seem to be:
For $20.00 or less, a polycro (window film) tarp. This is exposed to bugs and tarp camping takes some skill. It is not for everyone. Often a tarp is combined with a $20 bug bivy.
For $65.00 the River Trekker. This is a “two person” A frame tent that is supported by trekking poles and needs to be staked down. About 3 pounds.
$234 X-Mid One Person Tent. This has a large footprint with a weight of 28 ounces (plus the weight of four stakes). 20 square feet of interior space.
$269 Tarptent Rainbow. This weighs 32 oounces (includes the weight of stakes) and can be set up in spaces that will not fit a bigger tent. 24.4 square feet interior space.
$669 the Zpacks AltaPlex. 16.5 ounces (stakes not included). 25 square feet. Plex Solo is similar, but smaller.
My general assumption is that you are going to hike with two trekking poles and I’m not counting their weight when providing weights as you would have them anyway. There are other lightweight tents in the three pound range, some as inexpensive as $100.00.
You can see what others have used on the Continental Divide Trail (usually hiked by experienced hikers) and on the Appalachian Trail (usually someone’s first long hike).
Two Person Tents
I’ve written a fair amount on these sinced that is what I use. Generally, the Zpacks Off-set Trio is my choice. But going over budget ranges:
For $65.00 the River Trekker. This is a “two person” A frame tent that is supported by trekking poles and needs to be staked down. About 3 pounds. It and the similar Lanshan tents are popular and I’ve seen them in use on the CDT.
For $269 the Durston XMid 2p. 35.4 Ounces. 33.2 sq ft interior. It is larger than the XMid Pro 2p, and costs less. Rapidly becoming one of the most popular tents out there.
ZPacks Off-Set Trio for $899. 22.5 Ounces. 41.9 square feet. Zpacks makes a few other tents, but for two people, I consider this the best.
So many TarpTents. Prices vary. Sizes range from 30.6 square feet to 32.25 square feet for the ones I’d consider for two people. Prices from $299 to $679.
On the Appalachian Trail my preference was inexpensive titanium shepherds hook tent stakes. Very light. Inexpensive. Easily found on Amazon.
Those titanium shepherds hooks.
Once I got to the PCT with dryer, hard, rocky soil, I switched to MSR Groundhogs. They are made with DAC aluminum which withstands bending and breaking much better than alternatives. I had some neat looking alternative stakes that bent on me and became useless.
Tents I have used on long trails (in bold if they are around the gear room somewhere):
REI Half Dome — great tent, just too heavy.
Mountain Hardware Ghost — discontinued, front entry tent. Front entry tents have pretty much disappeared because side entry is so much easier to use.
MyTrailCompany tent — they are out of business. Luckily they took my return before they folded. The tent was front entry and just too small.
Big Agnes Copper Spur 2p. Good tent. Just a little heavier than what I use now, and a little too small.
Big Agnes Tiger Wall. Tent was used and a gift. Completely failed. Customer Service could not/would not repair.
Zpacks Triplex, with pole caps. Great tent, just exposed my hiking pole handles to hungry deer.
XMidPro 2. Just a little too small. There is now a 2+ that in theory resolves the “too small”.
Off-set Trio. Have really liked it. I need to repair the zippers on mine, they seem to have about a two thousand mile lifespan before they need repair.
Footprints I have used:
Polycro/Window film. It is light and works well. Not suitable to sleeping on during siesta style breaks. It is waterproof, which important for wet ground and nylon tents. I would put shock cord (also called stretch or bungee cord) ties on the corners and put the tent poles through that to anchor it.
Tyvek. That is what we now use. My wife carries it and it is great for a ground cloth for a siesta. Lighter and less expensive than the footprints sold by gear companies. Some varients are water proof, others are water resistant. Fairly durable.
The Tyvek goes well with the Dyneema tent floors since they are inately waterproof.
On a long trail, the simplier and lighter, usually the better. Of course all of this advice is subject to change next year as improvements occur and technololgy moves on.
When I bought my first “modern” (internal frame) bag, a Baltero, it weighed five pounds (they are lighter now) and came with a pack cover.
Covers are great to keep water or snow out of your pack.
When I switched to an Exos I bought an Osprey pack cover to go with it. Price, etc., that was competitive with the REI cover and it kept my pack dry through some rough weather.
I kept the cover for my Levity, but also switched to ThePacka.com which combined a rain cover with a rain jacket/poncho. It worked well on the Appalachian Trail.
The Packa kept my shoulder straps dry which was a plus.
I eventually switched to a Hyperlite which is made out of Dyneema and pretty much waterproof.
However, I did start using a pack liner with it.
Most people just use a trash sack. Generally a leaf or yard refuse bag. 3 mil bags are too heavy.
Costco used to sell contractor bags that were clear. I really liked those. I’d estimate they were 1.5 mil.
I switched to a Dyneema pack liner. I really liked it. Until I my Hyperlite started to wear and wasn’t as water tight. The rain that got inside disappeared because the liner wicked it inside and into my sleeping bag.
I know have a Kakwa—a bag by Durston. It resists water but I use a nylofume bag as a liner. They cost about $2.50 and last well. Clear.
I use a waterproof/water resistant stuff sack for my sleeping bag because it compresses exactly to the size of the bottom of my pack.
I don’t rely on it and keep it inside the Nylofume. I have a dry bag for my electronics and use a Dyneema food bag for my spare clothes.
I also use that for a pillow.
It worked well on the CDT but I got really lucky with rain. We hid in a tent from rain a few times but did not end up hiking in heavy rain this year.
Caveat. Many pack covers as they wear end up to where they wet out and then wet through. Most thru hikers end up relying on their pack liner and many dispense with covers at some point.
Dyneema packs are really resistant but will leak trace amounts through their seams.
Dry sacks really should be stress tested before you rely on them.
Choice of trash sack is often a matter of personal preference. I just wish the clear ones from Costco were still an option.
However, other clear bags are available so I’ll have to experiment. Too bad everyone wants to sell them to me in lots of 200+ bags.
Nylofume bags block scent, are truly waterproof and I wish they were slightly larger. I’m using one now.
Water bags: EverNew
I had EverNew recommended to me and bought this one new from Gear Trade for about half price.
I have bought and sold gear at Gear Trade and been very pleased with the experience.
No guarantee that you will have the same experience but I’m not getting referral fees, kick backs or reimbursement for mentioning them.
But this will put me at two new Platypus or Platypus style bags for water carries next year.
I’ll know more but this looks like a winner right now.
Inexpensive gear from Home Depot
On our first long hike on the Appalachian Trail I bought fleece gloves for Happy6 and I from Home Depot.
They were inexpensive, warm and saw us through some very cold weather in March.
Now HD has merino wool gloves for just under $10. Not what I need, but a great gear item if you do at a great price — and gear that will take some use and abuse.
And these gloves are perfect for climbing Katahdin and for going through the Notch.
My Hilltop can shift to being my waterproof clothing bag & pillow like the LightAF was before it wore out.
Sun Gloves
For sun gloves I’ve used the Outdoor Research Active Ice gloves but they wore out too quickly for me. Others have no trouble with them at all. They are the most popular sun gloves on trail.
I switched to fishing sun gloves and got a lot of use out of them. I then tried some Black Diamond trail gloves. They have wear strips but they don’t match up with my hands by about half an inch.
I picked up another set of fishing sun gloves for next year.
Water Bags
Finally, the last gear update is with my platypus water bag. I had three, all of which I got from hiker boxes on the Appalachian Trail.
Two out of the three platypus bags have failed on me—one from abuse (I dropped it, full, on my hiking pole tips in an accident). One has a leak I can’t quite patch.
It turns out that the platypus warranty is only for the original owner. That meant no warranty claim for either.
So I bought one new. I expect it will last me at least for the next thousand miles or so. That is all I expect to need it for. The others all started the PCT with me in 2022 — I actually miss the stickers on the one bag more than I miss the bag.
I can pair it with my hydropak for gravity feed filtering or use it for extra capacity for long water carries.
The BeFree compatible CNOC stays in the gear box.
Bottom line is that I carry water bags for three reasons. One, to carry water for the rare long water carries. The platypus is perfect for that. Light, easy to use.
The second purpose is to carry water from a source and to where I filter and/or treat it. The Hydropak is perfect for that. Lasts longer than CNOC and is lighter.
Finally. Sometimes I gravity filter. The Hydropak on top and the platypus on the bottom. I used to use two CNOC bags to do this.
