Monday, June 2, 2008

Gear Test: Black Diamond Trekking Poles

A couple of weeks ago I decided to pick up a pair of trekking poles.  Over the years, I have always hiked with support from a stick I would fashion from fallen brush along the trail, but never with anything like this.  I did some initial research and quickly became overwhelmed in a sea of brand-loyal opinions and features not necessary for my purposes.

I narrowed my choice to a pair of Black Diamond Trail Shock poles.  These poles seemed to be favorable among many reviewers and experts, but this was evaluated carefully.  For me, I made a choice based on reputation, reviews, and price as they were available through a fantastic sale.  I must admit that after putting about 25 miles on them, I am completely satisfied, impressed, and convinced that trekking poles can help tame or improve any trail.  The FlickLock system keeps the sections of the poles exactly where you set them and the shock absorber helped me transition to ascend or descend.

Pros:
Lightweight.
FlickLock system.
4-Stage Shock Absorber.

Cons:
Small baskets.
No rubber tips included.

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