Which telescopic poles (if any) for randonee?

[Dr. Crash]

I am such a JONG in that area. Do I need telescoping poles? If so... Someone pointed me to Komperdell (?) stuff but they're trekking poles. What do maggots use? Do I care a lot between the two-segment versus three-segment poles until I do real mountaineering (don't have much time for that)?

Thanks!
drC

[fez]

there are two good reasons to get telescoping poles:

1. you can use a longer pole for more leverage for hiking (like xc poles) and a shorter pole for turns on the way down.

2. you can set one pole longer than the other for sidehills. You can switch hands at switchbacks to avoid resizing both your poles. I've never done this, and never seen it done. I usually have some grip tape on the upper shafts of my touring poles and just hold the pole by the tape when sidehilling.

Basically, the major drawback of telescoping poles is unintended collapse. Most of the twist to collapse poles tend to do this. The twist to collapse poles basically have a jam nut and the shaft that expands when the lower shaft is twisted.

Black Diamond flicklock works pretty well at avoiding collapse. Flick lock is more of a cam that clamps around the lower shaft to prevent collapse.

Life-Link makes a pretty decent pole, not a whole ton of adjustment range, but enough.

2 piece vs 3 piece:
2 piece: fewer joints to collapse/break
3 piece: stow away better.
basically, unless you plan to carry the poles inside your pack and collapsed length is a necessity, go with a two piece.

Avoid probe poles. They are not a replacement for a dedicated avalanche probe.

Oh yeah, avoid komperdell, they suck. My wife picked up a pair of their 3section poles for snowshoeing up to snowboard down and i have spent some miserable time trying to extend/collapse/lock/unlock those bastards.

[Red Baron]

I have the Black Diamond Traverse for my randonee poles, they're great, cheap...$49 at bcstore.com or bdel.com, no frills poles, with cool powder baskets and a nice feel to them. This was the perfect solition for me, I even use them for alpine now...

In fact, if you want something cheap, my friend Jill is selling these:

Poles

They might be perfect for what you're looking for...

[hop]

Fuggedaboutit. Just use your normal poles. Telescopic poles are usually a pain in the ass to adjust, often self-adjust when you least expect it, are usually heavy and/or expensive, and if you ever need to turn them into a probe you might as well kiss your buddy goodbye.

I've done a fair amount of touring with normal and telescopic poles and I find it much easier to just hold a normal pole below the grip or whatever if traversing, and if I ever wanted a longer pole (.1% of the time) I just deal.

Save your $$$ for other stuff.

[Dr. Crash]

Thanks guys. I will stick to my nice slalom poles for now and will see if the skinning experience sucks too much. I have a feeling that the heavy G4s, alpine boots, and trekkers will be the pain point...

drC

[The Reverend Floater]

Originally posted by hop
Fuggedaboutit. Just use your normal poles. Telescopic poles are usually a pain in the ass to adjust, often self-adjust when you least expect it, are usually heavy and/or expensive, and if you ever need to turn them into a probe you might as well kiss your buddy goodbye.

I've done a fair amount of touring with normal and telescopic poles and I find it much easier to just hold a normal pole below the grip or whatever if traversing, and if I ever wanted a longer pole (.1% of the time) I just deal.

Save your $$$ for other stuff.

Word! All I do is tour these days and I'm using my late 90's Scott Racers...they work just fine!