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Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles > Andy Mytys > Initial ReportGossamer Gear Lightrek "Plus" Trekking PolesInitial Report
Product Information:
Product Description: A fixed-length pair of trekking poles made of custom-manufactured 10 mm carbon fiber tubing for an optimum strength to weight ratio. The poles feature EVA "Kork-O-Lon" foam grips, an end cap that's compatible with LEKI brand baskets and features a carbide tip, removable trekking baskets, and a small loop of spectra cord below the handle. The poles also float in water.
Test Unit Description: The Lightrek poles are a basic set of trekking poles with "Ultralight" minded construction. The shaft is of uniform diameter across its entire length, a diameter that's thinner than the narrowest area of a "traditional" trekking pole's shaft. The poles' length is fixed based on the customer's given specifications at time of purchase. The poles also feature a carbide tip and a series of threads near their ends, used to affix the included trekking baskets. Connected to the top of the shaft is a 6 inch (153 mm) EVA foam grip that's molded to a shape intended to promote a "natural" feel when held. There's a small loop of spectra cord at the base of the grip, which can be used to attach "keeper" straps or cords - to leave hands free when taking photos, for instance. The loops are not designed to take any significant force, and are not intended as an attachment point for conventional wrist straps. The Lightrek poles received for testing came with two detached trekking baskets, an Owners Manual, and an informational page on the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT), including information on protecting the trail by joining the non-profit Pacific Crest Trail Association. The PCT is one of my favorite trails, and Gossamer Gear not only distributed the information with the order, but funded the printing of the pamphlet as well - THANKS!
Optional Lightrek Travel Tube: Given the delicate nature of the poles from a shipping perspective, the travel tube was a welcome addition to the unit received for testing. It also proved to be a cumbersome beast. The travel tube is basically a heavy-duty industrial grade cardboard shipping tube, with recessed plastic caps on either end. My tube measured in at a bit over 5 feet (61 inches or 155 cm) in height and 4 1/4 inches (108 mm) in diameter. Its walls are 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. It weighs 37.3 ounces (1057 grams). I feel that this tube will get a fair share of use, in applications such as checking the poles in as baggage when flying to far off destinations. As the tube is much longer than I need, I can put a plug of paper over my poles, essentially dividing the tube into two compartments, one to hold my trekking poles and one to hold items I can't fly with, such as a multi-tool and tent stakes. Even when used to carry extra gear, the tube is still much longer than it needs to be. I'm not sure what would be the best tool to use in cutting down the length of this tube - I wish Gossamer Gear would have given some advice with respect to customizing the length of the tube on its website. When carpooling with fellow hikers, the travel tube may prove useful as well. On the one hand, I won't have to worry about my poles resting near-flat on their sides and being exposed to damage due to the trunk lid or a backpack being pressed upon them - something that was never even a consideration with heavier trekking poles. On the other hand, the tube takes up a lot of valuable cargo space. The travel tube is sure to prove itself challenging at other times as well - for example, where do I store the tube when on the trail? This isn't so much of an issue if a car stays at the trailhead, but in other cases, I may find myself looking for a sympathetic land management office.
Initial Impressions: Removing the poles for the first time from their shipping container (optional travel tube) gave me a Yin-Yang sort of experience. In one hand, I had this large, solid bodied, and heavy tube. In the other, I had a pair of unbelievably light trekking poles. Holding onto a single pole, it felt more like a fishing pole or a stick I'd use in my tomato garden than a trekking pole. Planting it on the ground I saw that it had more than enough rigidity to be used as a trekking pole, however. Holding the poles' EVA foam grips made them feel a little "short." I went in and measured the poles against my tape, and propped them up next to the pole I used for reference when deciding what size of poles to request. The poles were short indeed - about 1/2 inch (1 cm). That doesn't sound like much, but it was enough to notice. I asked myself, "are the poles long enough?" This proved to be a matter of great implications, and took some critical thought to answer. I knew that the poles weren't adjustable when I provided my desired specifications, and came upon my decision on what pole length to request by simply setting my adjustable trekking poles to "normal" length and measuring them. Since the poles were a bit short, I began to seriously consider exchanging the poles for the next size up (an additional 5 cm/2 inches in length). I pulled out my adjustable trekking poles and started playing around with a longer pole, and even considered going up two sizes from what I normally use - an increase of 10 cm or 4 inches. Gossamer Gear's warranty is very generous, designed with customer satisfaction in mind. It clearly states "we recognize the inherent difficulty in evaluating products that are primarily sold over the internet. If you get a product and it is not what you expected, please return it unused within 30 days of your purchase date for a refund of the purchase price." I quickly discovered that I had hardly considered all uses when deciding on what length of poles I would need. At the same time, the Lightrek poles felt completely different in my hand than heavier, traditional poles. As I played around with them, I noticed that they were easier to direct than standard poles - gravity did not have the same level of "pull" that I was accustomed to. Due to the much narrower shafts on the Lightrek poles, choking up on them and holding them by the shaft felt different as well. I really have nothing negative to say about the experience, it was simply different - in much the same way one feels after having long hair cut short. Something was missing, yet I felt liberated at the same time. Back to the task at hand - what would be the best length of poles to get? The logic of going to a pole 2-sizes up from what I ordered was focused on pitching a shelter and long downhill treks. A longer pole would certainly give me more utility in both of these scenarios. However, for the majority of my needs, which amount to hiking over flat and rolling terrain, such a long size would have me holding the pole at its shaft. I tried holding the Lightrek pole at the shaft and found I didn't like the feel of it. If I chose to clench the pole in my fist, the narrowness of the shaft meant that my hand was closed to an uncomfortable degree. I also tried holding the shaft between my fingers, swinging it back and forth like a pendulum. The pole's lightweight nature made this an easy exercise, but I didn't like the poles rigid shaft pressing against my fingers, and feared that it might become painful after long days on the trail. Moving up by one size would allow me to continue to use the entire grip of the pole, or move up to the lower or upper portions of the grip when faced with long uphills or downhills. The problem I found, however, was that I didn't like holding these poles by their grip. The poles are so light that the limited movement attained by grasping them by the grip feels, to me, a bit awkward. So, I returned to considering the poles at their shipped size. I found I really liked using the poles best by holding them near the top of the grip. This allowed my fingers and wrist to work together in guiding the pole, rather than isolating control more at the wrist as when grasping the pole by the entire grip. On inclines, I could switch to using the entire grip, or just the lower portion of the grip. And, on declines, I could cup the top of the pole in my palm. Overall, my exercise showed me that, when it comes to poles, length is an important consideration and even a little delta can make a difference (though I'm fairly sure I could have adapted to a longer size). Future testing will show how my choice of pole length performs in the field. Will I be longing for a longer pole, or will I remain satisfied with the decision I have made? Moving onto other features, I looked at the small loop of spectra cord at the base of the grip. It's meant to be used as an attachment point for "keeper" straps or cords, allowing one to hold onto the poles while taking pictures, for example. On traditional poles with wrist straps, I've used them as a "keeper strap" and always found myself tripping over the poles. Given the warnings that come with these poles, getting my legs caught in them doesn't sound like a good idea. I don't intend to make use of the spectra loops at this time, and will simply lean the poles against a nearby tree when not using them. If I find a creative use for the spectra loops, I'll be sure to include it in a future report. The poles come with trekking baskets, and their use is highly recommended by the manufacturer - "the poles are prone to breakage if the tip gets lodged between rocks. For this reason, you may want to keep the trekking baskets installed at all times, just to help prevent the tip from getting in tight spots where breakage is likely." Trekking baskets also prevent poles from sinking into soft ground and mud, a situation that could also bring about an excess amount of stress to the pole's shaft. The baskets that the Lightrek poles come with are not LEKI-type baskets - they actually screw onto the pole tip's threads rather than having to be "worked" in. My concern with them is that "trail shock" will cause them to unscrew as easily as they screw on. Apparently, Gossamer Gear feels the same way. I have just received an updated User Manual that states the baskets "tend to loosen themselves during use, and can slip off unnoticed by the side of the trail." It goes on to say, "for this reason, you may want to use a dab of silicon sealant, or a small strip of duct tape, to keep the baskets from loosening. If you lose a basket, replacements are available from Gossamer Gear." I've never lost a basket on the trail and I don't intend to start now. I will be applying duct tape, as recommended, and experimenting with other methods as needed. I did try mounting a pair of LEKI baskets onto the threads and found that, as with LEKI poles, they needed a little "prodding" to fit the Lightrek tips. The true "Gram Weenie," however, may be interested in using LEKI brand trekking baskets as they weigh 0.6 oz (17 g) per pair, a savings of 0.2 oz (5.67 g) over those that come with the Lightrek poles. LEKI brand baskets may adhere to the tips better than stock baskets as well. I will provide feedback on LEKI baskets once winter is in full swing and I switch over to using LEKI Snowflake Baskets. In preparing to hit the trail, I considered rolling a section of duct tape around one of the poles as I have done on conventional poles. The problem is, these poles are so light that doing so might cause a noticeable imbalance :) My duct tape is now stored in my medical kit.
Packing Along A Little Insurance:
Warranty: Gossamer Gear states that "breakage of the pole is not considered a manufacturing defect absent specific evidence to the contrary" and that, for example, "the poles are prone to breakage if the tip gets lodged between rocks." From a user's perspective, the poles seem very capable for my intended use. However, I get the manufacturer's point. At one third the weight the weight of traditional poles, the Lightrek poles have a working strength that's significantly less than that of their heavyweight counterparts - they can't be expected to handle the same sorts of stress as poles weighing three times more. In the event that the poles do break, Gossamer Gear has a very generous replacement policy - replacement to broken Lightrek poles is available for $30 (presumably, per pole).
Test Plan: The Gossamer Gear Lightrek trekking poles will replace my current poles for the duration of the test period. They will be used for dayhikes and "Ultralight" style backpacking trips, with trail covered on any given day usually in the range of 20 miles (32 km). Test locations will primarily be in Michigan. In terms of terrain, I will be hiking over a mix of trail conditions. While some of the trails I will venture upon will be designed and maintained as hiking trails, the vast majority of my hiking will be down un-maintained hunter and animal trails, or bushwhacking. As I tend to "make my own trail," I am often forced to cross obsticles not found on traditional Midwest trails, including wetlands, shifting rocks, boulders, algae and moss covered terrain, and shallow creek crossings. Whether trails are marked on a map or not, wintertime means the trail in many places will be blanketed by snow with an icy base - a slippery formula to be sure. According to the manufacturer, "at a third of the weight of the next lightest poles, Lightrek poles are obviously not as robust as other trekking poles on the market. We feel they are an appropriate balance between weight and strength for people who are extremely committed to having the lightest weight equipment." With this in mind, the primary focus of my testing will be in analyzing these poles performance as a non-load barring trekking pole for "Ultralight" style hiking. By "non-load barring," I mean I won't plant the poles and use them as supports while I swing my body over a deadfall in the middle of the trail. I will depend on them to establish a rhythm in my stride, for balance when crossing streams, logs, steep and muddy trail, and other obstacles, in addition to using them as lift points when pitching my tarp. I am not familiar with the limitations of carbon fiber, and with winter coming will be interested in the poles' performance in sub-freezing temperatures. Will the poles be more prone to breakage than in warmer conditions? I will also be evaluating how well the overall length of the poles work for me. I believe I chose the correct length, based on fact that the majority of the trails I hike on are relatively flat. Still, will I miss having a longer pole when descending steep terrain, or pitching my tarp? The grips on the poles are set straight along the line of the poles' shafts. I'm used to hiking with a grip set at a positive 15° angle. Will I notice any differences? How comfortable, overall, do I find the EVA foam of the grips to be? How do they perform when soaked with rain? Does the grip cause any chafing or blistering after being used for extended periods of time? Does the EVA foam degrade in any way over the course of testing? How well do the foam grips hold their place against SilNylon when simply propped underneath and held by tension? The pole tips and trekking baskets will be examined for wear and chips. I will be providing feedback on how well the baskets stay on the poles, and what sorts of owner-added "insurance" work best at keeping the baskets in place on the poles. Finally, I will try to characterize what types of stresses the poles can handle. While I will start by treating the poles as if they were made of glass, my confidence will undoubtedly grow as the poles prove their relative trail-worthiness. Should the poles break, I will be sure to report on what the specific conditions involved were, in addition to the quality of service rendered by Gossamer Gear as I go through the replacement process. Personal Biographical Information:
Backpacking Background: I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way. Read more reviews of Gossamer Gear gear Read more gear reviews by Andrew Mytys Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles > Andy Mytys > Initial Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I usually pack a set of 12 Simon Metals 7 inch (178 mm) tent stakes, which weigh 0.25 oz (7 g) each. In order to prepare myself to handle a broken Lightrek pole, I have replaced one of these stakes with an MSR "Groundhog" styled "Y" stake (0.5 oz or 14 g). This stake fits nicely up against the Lightrek trekking pole's shaft. My hope is that, should the need arise, the stake can double as a splint, as shown in the image to the right. The image is meant for display purposes only, in order to show how well the stake fits the pole. In a repair situation, a section of tape would be wrapped diagonally down the entire length of the stake.