Trekking Poles/Collapsible to 13 1/2" / Hiking Poles Walking Sticks by Sterling Endurance (Buy 1 Pole or 2 Poles)

I've got a set of Leki telescoping poles but they're can't collapse down to fit into a day pack and are a bit too long to easily fit into a 22" carry-on so I got these to use on my 1 month trip to Greece and Turkey with Rick Steves Tours. The tours involved LOTS of stairs, uneven and often slippery surfaces, like rock polished by millions of feet on top of the Acropolis in Athens. I needed these because I found my arthritic hip no longer responds to steroids and there was not enough time to recover from surgery prior to a trip of a lifetime. So it became grin and bare it.First, I'm 5' 9" and 225#. I bought the longer pole set, but probably would have done better with the shorter set. The poles easily assemble but do get hung up a bit on the nylon carry sack when trying to remove them from the sack. They easily slip together but you must not forget to finish the job by twisting each section together to lock them into place. Otherwise they feel just a bit unstable and you hear a slight clicking sound as the slightly loose sections move a bit when the pole hits the pavement. They also loosen up a bit with continued use during the day and have to periodically re-tightened, a 15 second job. I mostly used a single pole as a cane throughout my trip, loaning the second pole to a tall woman who was having knee problems. It worked well for her too. The pole really shined when descending stairs and especially when we stood still for several minutes listening to our guide. I was able to transfer about 25-35% of my body weight to the pole which allowed me to take most of my weight off my bad hip. The pole handled this well, with no bending or any sign of complaint. Descending stairs, the pole easily helped control my progress and gave a great feeling of stability. Also works well in a pinch to help you pick up dropped jackets or shoes (you have to remove them when visiting a mosque) when bending over is painful. The only "con" I really found, and it was minor, is the removeable rubber tip on the pole is made of harder rubber that wears well but doesn't grip really well on slippery marble or rock, especially if used at an angle well off vertical. Removing the rubber tip and using the carbide tip easily fixed that issue, but I didn't want to use the carbide tip on marble stairs in museums, etc. so as not to scratch the floors. The carbide tip worked really well on slick polished rock, but I did feel like I was causing more than my share of wear on these ancient ruins. Never had any problems getting the pole past museum security as it was obvious I was using it as a mobility aid. Didn't try to get it through TSA in my carry-on since TSA says poles are prohibited.In summary, I'm glad I bought these as they helped save the trip of a lifetime. They worked really well, were sturdy, comfortable to the hand and wrist, light in weight, and I think well worth the purchase price.

This is everything I wanted and needed it to be. I am a motorcycle camper who needs to pack compact and light, and I often need my various tools to perform double duties. Poles come in handy for all sorts of things when camping and hiking. This one is strong, considering it's segmented, and the build & finish quality is superb. It is a fine compromise of weight and strength, with minimal flex when properly extended. The pole comes with a rubber end cap, a "ski pole" stopper, and a clever bag that is mesh on one side (so you can identify its contents and not mistake it for the other drawstring bags you might have...). The extended foam grip is great for both hill walking, as well as two handed extension of the pole (e.g., chopping bush or taking down bear tie-ups for containers, etc.). The adjustable tension wrist strap is also cleverly designed and sturdy. There is also a fair amount of height adjustment easily accessible by a clamp. And, the instructions on how to use the pole's features were clearly illustrated and explained (note: be sure to follow those instructions to ensure that the connectors are properly seated to strengthen the pole when it's extended). It is obvious that a lot of thought and pratical experience went into designing this pole. I had a brief communication with the business' owner, who made himself readily accessible for comments and critiques... I got the impression that this pole is made by somebody who cares about the quality of gear you will rely on. If you use this pole in the field for various tasks, or just hiking (e.g., I hiked some Colorado ski slopes in the summer, some forests in Wyoming and Utah...), I can't see how you'd be disappointed if you need a compact, segmented pole. Perhaps a continuous one-piece ski pole might be stronger in certain conditions... but for the convenience of being able to be taken down to just over a foot, its strength and features will cover 99% of most peoples' needs and expectations. I didn't baby it... I recommend it. It is a solid tool, and I'd buy another one.

I bought these several months ago in preparation for a trip overseas where I wanted poles that would fold up to a really small size. I've now used them several times, and traveled with them, and they are great. They really do fold up as advertised, and come in a small bag that makes them easy to store and carry. They have comfortable handles and a good strap to keep them on your wrist and are, in fact, just what I wanted. Be aware that unlike some high end poles for backpacking, these are not "spring loaded" so they don't absorb the shock the way some Leki poles do. But I have Leki's and they are just too long, even when "collapsed", to go in a regular suitcase. So I'll keep both and use them for different things.The only slight minus I give them is that during use, the screw mechanism that keeps the joints tight can come loose and then the poles rattle a little. The makers of the pole did send me an email indicating exactly how to adjust the mechanism that keeps the poles tight, which was really helpful (suggests to me others have had this problem; you have to get the expansion mechanism adjusted for them to work perfectly, which is not hard to do). And even if they do come loose, a simple twist to tighten the mechanism does the trick, but that, and the lack of shock absorption are the reasons I give them 4 instead of 5 stars. But