walking pole failure

[roshall]

Hi I've used some walking poles that adjust using a system where you turn the pole to use a screw mechanism to lock the length. 3 of the 4 (there are 2 adjustment on each pole) stopped working after very little use...I'm wondering if this is a common problem as I'm reluctant to buy again. There is another sort of locking where you pull a lever but this also seems vulerable to damage. I use the poles primarily to put up my Aarn tent so it's very important hat they work reliably.I did buy one of the cheaper brands but they may all have the same plastic screwing mechanism inside, the price may be more for the pole itself, so spending more may not solve the problem.Anyone lese had the same problem or am I just unlucky? Ros

[Strider]

Yes that is a common problem with the twist-lock poles. They can also be VERY difficult to unlock when cold and/or wet.

Black Diamond flick locks are strong, and definitely not vulnerable to damage. No issues with mine so far and they get their fair share of abuse. They are replaceable, but I couldn't see one breaking in a hurry anyway.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Yeh it's a common problem. I own a pair of Macpac Carbon poles, not exactly cheap, and there a nightmare, I've since purchased Leki Poles, but I did not go for the flick lock system, as I read elsewhere that they are troublesome, now I wonder if I've taken the correct decision in purchasing the twist lock Leki Poles. I kind of wishing I purchased the flick lock system. Have not tried the poles out thus far, but playing about with them at home, they appear to be much better than the Macpac poles, The Macpac poles are unusable. the system just keeps turning and will not lock. They where like this from day one. Taken them back to the Macpac store when I had the chance a while back and they told me the poles have a design fault and the new ones rectified this issue, However I was not given the option to exchange the poles for the newer improved version, which has made me very disappointed with Macpac and have since steered away from them. I've got a bit of a grunge against Macpac since they refused to replace the poles.

[bernieq]

I have (had) 2 Leki poles with twist lock – 6+ years and 2000+ km; desert dust, beach sand and salt, snow, torrential rain - and never a problem with the locking mechanism. I do pull it apart, clean and lightly lubricate occasionally.

I did once find myself perched on a disintegrating reed clump in the middle of a bog below Baton Saddle in NZ – did an unintended face-plant and, with the bottom half of each pole buried in the muck, bent both poles to almost 90deg – one snapped.

The surprising thing is that one of the poles survived !

[Strider]

I have (had) 2 Leki poles with twist lock – 6+ years and 2000+ km; desert dust, beach sand and salt, snow, torrential rain - and never a problem with the locking mechanism. I do pull it apart, clean and lightly lubricate occasionally.

I hope you don't mean you lubricate anything internally! The twist locks rely on friction, and lubrication can cause them to slip - usually at the worst possible moment.

[bernieq]

Lubricate the thread of the screw, not the inside wall of the tube – makes the twist mechanism work more smoothly and reduces wear between the plastic plug and the thread.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Lubricate the thread of the screw, not the inside wall of the tube – makes the twist mechanism work more smoothly and reduces wear between the plastic plug and the thread.

What do you use to lubricate?

[Strider]

I've since purchased Leki Poles, but I did not go for the flick lock system, as I read elsewhere that they are troublesome

Any reason in particular you went with the Leki's over Black Diamond?

[ULWalkingPhil]

I've since purchased Leki Poles, but I did not go for the flick lock system, as I read elsewhere that they are troublesome

Any reason in particular you went with the Leki's over Black Diamond?

I could not find anyone in the Gold Coast that had the Black Diamond poles that extend out to 145cm. A couple stores had the Leki Summit AS poles, so I went with those and I prefer the handles and the straps on the Leki Poles over the Black Diamond poles that I seen.

[Orion]

I have one pole of each kind. In my experience the flick lock pole always works reliably whereas the twist lock mechanisms can be tempermental and at times maddeningly so. I usually set the twist lock pole and leave it that way for an entire trip. On the other hand, the twist lock mechanism is lighter. I used to think the swing weight didn't matter but on long days (when using two poles) I've discovered that it sometimes does.

[photohiker]

Another data point:

I've used the same pair of alloy 'Pacer Poles' since 2009. I've not added up the km's they have done, but I think a conservative guess would be 2000km.

Pacer Poles use a twist lock system. While I have found them sometimes hard to release, they have never been impossible. The instructions say to disassemble and clean, but I'm usually to fagged out at the end of a walk to do that so it hardly ever gets done. They also suggest storing them unassembled, I leave them assembled and ready for use.

Occasionally one or other of the locks may slip when in use or larger weight than usual is applied. Remedy is to tighten - invariably the lock seems to be a bit loose when they slip. Could be an inattentive owner, or perhaps in some conditions they are not tight enough when tightened at low temps?

AFAIK Pacer Poles are a cottage industry item from the UK. Perhaps the construction is of heavier components less likely to wear compared to mass production components from China?

[photohiker]

I prefer the handles and the straps on the Leki Poles over the Black Diamond poles that I seen.

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

I regard them as a potential hazard. I'd prefer to lose a pole than an arm. Several times I have let go of the pole in situations where I wouldn't want to be tethered to it.

[sthughes]

Always use the wrist straps, they are supposed to take the majority of the weight. My hold of the poles is really more for control. Hands get fatigued without the straps.

Have had several, but would never buy any twist lock poles again. When buying poles I look no further than Black Diamond flik-lock. Although I hear the patent has expired and some competitors have begun using similar systems now.

[sthughes]

Leki now have their "Speed Lock" system, which is essentially a variation on the Black Diamond flik-lock system.

[Strider]

I prefer the handles and the straps on the Leki Poles over the Black Diamond poles that I seen.

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

I regard them as a potential hazard. I'd prefer to lose a pole than an arm. Several times I have let go of the pole in situations where I wouldn't want to be tethered to it.

ALWAYS! They reduce fatigue on the hands, and will slip off if you fall when used correctly. The strap is not there to avoid losing the pole. It is there to bear your weight.

[Strider]

I could not find anyone in the Gold Coast that had the Black Diamond poles that extend out to 145cm.

All BD poles, bar the "Compact" versions, extend to 145cm I thought?

[bernieq]

What do you use to lubricate?

WD-40 or equivalent, sprayed on a cloth then applied to the thread

Any reason in particular you went with the Leki's over Black Diamond?

Weight

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

Always - as indicated by sthughes, the straps do almost all of the support - if held properly (see strider's diagram above - same as a ski stock) you only lightly hold the grip - makes a huge difference compared to clutching the grip all day.

[Picaro]

flick locker and strap user here. I've personally seen multiple failures on twisties, but am yet to see one on flickers
I've actually noticed that companions who don't use the straps are trying to do scrambles etc. with 3 fingers holding the pole and 2 for purchase on the rocks. Or they hold both poles in one hand over rough sections, and make do with the other hand. Give me straps any time, as long as youre good at releasing them .

[Orion]

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

I find them a little annoying.

A marmot chewed through the strap on one of my poles. I like that pole a lot better now but I'm afraid to take the scissors to the other one. What if some day, after years of not needing the strap, I suddenly find myself in a life or death situation where the strap matters?

For weight bearing I often grip the top with my palm, kind of like a cane. It's not what the "How to Use Your Walking Poles" DVD instructs but it's what works for me.

I wish I had knees that worked better.

[Strider]

Or they hold both poles in one hand over rough sections

I do this when the terrain underfoot is particularly rough, otherwise the pole tips tend to get stuck between rocks etc.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I prefer the handles and the straps on the Leki Poles over the Black Diamond poles that I seen.

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

I regard them as a potential hazard. I'd prefer to lose a pole than an arm. Several times I have let go of the pole in situations where I wouldn't want to be tethered to it.

I couldn't use poles if not for the straps, where the conditions warrant I always use the straps, but on dodgy ground sometimes I don't.

[ULWalkingPhil]

I could not find anyone in the Gold Coast that had the Black Diamond poles that extend out to 145cm.

All BD poles, bar the "Compact" versions, extend to 145cm I thought?

Not the ones I seen. Not one BD pole I looked at would stretch out that far. If this is the case, they must only try to sell the compact version in the Gold Coast at the time. I heard the compact version extends to 125cm.

[Bluegum Mic]

Im another Black Diamond flick lock fan. Had nothing but trouble with two different pairs of twist mechanism poles over the years. I also use the wrist straps to weight bare. For trips that I'll use the poles the whole time I use the BD trail shocks (had them for about 5 years now and can't kill them). For day walks where I'll be bush bashing and scrambling (ie the poles spend most of the day in my pack) I use the BD distance FL. Amazingly light and compact to carry. They just slot into the front pocket of my pack.

[photohiker]

I prefer the handles and the straps on the Leki Poles over the Black Diamond poles that I seen.

Does anyone use hiking pole straps?

I regard them as a potential hazard. I'd prefer to lose a pole than an arm. Several times I have let go of the pole in situations where I wouldn't want to be tethered to it.

ALWAYS! They reduce fatigue on the hands, and will slip off if you fall when used correctly. The strap is not there to avoid losing the pole. It is there to bear your weight.

That makes sense, The strap alleviates the need to grip the pole so tightly. This, because the handle is a straight extension of the pole. You have to either grip it, or use the strap to support the weight.

That is the recommended method for attaching ski pole straps too. From personal experience, they don't often release during a fall. Maybe the ski gloves get in the way...

The anatomical handle on the PacerPoles make even more sense:



Good surface area to support the forces, a light grip is all that is required.

[Strider]

I could not find anyone in the Gold Coast that had the Black Diamond poles that extend out to 145cm.

All BD poles, bar the "Compact" versions, extend to 145cm I thought?

Not the ones I seen. Not one BD pole I looked at would stretch out that far. If this is the case, they must only try to sell the compact version in the Gold Coast at the time. I heard the compact version extends to 125cm.

Sorry, you're right - they only go to 140cm.
http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/en ... king-pole/

Compacts are indeed 125cm.

*EDIT*

Just noticed BD have finally released a few poles with the new stainless steel FlickLock Pro. But it will depend how much adjustability you're after, as they are currently only available on the Distance FL series (10cm adjustment).

[ULWalkingPhil]

My Leki Summit AS poles are strong, I've tried them in the backyard holding up my Golite Shangri-La 3 shelter at the maximum 145cm. I did have to use a stack of books at the time to prop them up higher, The Shangri-La 3 needs a higher pole. My future MLD duomid can be used with 145cm poles without the extension, MLD supplies extension with there shelter, I will be using that extension with the Shangri-La 3, however one thing that I have read that concerns me with Leki poles on the MLD website is that the Leki poles use a bendable spike at the end which can break easily if under to much tension, from what I read on MLD website if the poles extender is not straight up and down with the Leki poles, the pole spike can snap, This is a concern, because looking at the Oooknest inner I've purchased from the UK, which will be here any day now for my future Duomid I'm waiting on, the pole is setup on a angle to give extra room as the Oooknest is wider than standard. This means I might have to use the extender with the Leki poles, particular if I want more of a gap under the shelter. It's a worry. I'm not so sure these Leki poles will work for me.

Does anyone want to buy them? Never been used apart from holding up a shangri-La for a few hours. PM me if interested, otherwise I might place them in the for sale section.

[Strider]

however one thing that I have read that concerns me with Leki poles on the MLD website is that the Leki poles use a bendable spike at the end which can break easily if under to much tension

Can you put BD flextips on them instead?

[ULWalkingPhil]

however one thing that I have read that concerns me with Leki poles on the MLD website is that the Leki poles use a bendable spike at the end which can break easily if under to much tension

Can you put BD flextips on them instead?

Don't know, I will look into that.

[Penguin]

I have been a very happy DB elliptical pole user for three years now. They have receive a real beating, something to do with me being clumsy and not have sufficient knee strength at times. I have used the straps for weight bearing, could not have managed to hold my full weight going down hill for very long without using the straps. Have not bent a pole yet or damage me when falling, somehow I have manage to fall with very little grace but with the poles as an extension of my arms.

I have recently got a set of DB Zpoles. These fold up smaller than the flick lock poles and so really good if you want to uses them some of the time, and the rest of the time in the back - I hate stuff hanging of the pack. This has been useful when rock scrambling and the poles can be a real pain. They do not look as solid are the ellipitcals, but with modern materials it is hard to know how much give there is before they break.

Number of k's with poles - don't really know. How much paint left on the ellipticals - very little.

P

[Penguin]

Just came through from Mainpeak

Zpole.tiff (96.69 KiB) Viewed 9390 times