Trekking Poles

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Black Diamond Alpine Carbon

I bought my pair in 2020 after trashing numerous pairs of other poles. Thousands of miles later they're still going strong. I've replaced the tips twice and more recently the lower segments including the updated tech tips. But I subject these poles to some serious abuse, I've skied with them, I snowshoe with them, and I use them upside down to plunge deeply into steep snow along side an ice axe. I scramble through boulder fields, relying on the tungsten tip to hold tiny granite bumps and cracks, I cross talus, jamming the poles into holes and crevasses. And I have hiked thousands of trail miles with them. The high quality carbon fiber construction and aluminum quick locks inspire confidence and are built to last. They pack down small when fully collapsed and have a range of adjustment between 100-130cm.

Mine have acquired a nice patina of scratches after years of use and I filled in a few missing pieces in the cork with epoxy but none of this has affected their performance. Another piece of gear I'd highly recommend, worth the investment, especially if you plan to use them for years.

(Seen here next to a Pink Teddy Bear Cholla while thru-hiking the Grand Enchantment Trail.)

Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber

These poles are a reliable and budget friendly choice. They're relatively low price point belies their quality carbon fiber build. They're the only poles Bugs has ever used and other than tips being replaced due to wear they hold up incredibly well.

(Used by Bugs fording the Little Colorado River in the depths of the Grand Canyon while on the Hayduke.)