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Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles > Steve Nelson > Field ReportField Report: Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles Reviewer's Information Name: Steve Nelson Backpacking Background: As an interface design and usability consultant by trade, I'm always excited by analyzing and improving designs and processes; backpacking provides a fertile and fun arena for that. I have been backpacking since I was a kid growing up in upstate New York: we backpacked and canoe-camped in all seasons throughout the Adirondacks and nearby areas, ranging as far as La Verendrye Wildlife Reserve, Quebec. As an adult, I've backpacked and hiked extensively in California, but also have taken trips throughout the West, from New Mexico to British Columbia, and return often to the Adirondacks. In the past year I made the transition to lightweight and ultralight backpacking. I like moving fast, and lightening the load facilitates that. I also enjoy urban strolls, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, kayaking, and aviation in addition to hiking and backpacking, so my gear gets exposed to a wide variety of uses and conditions. Product information Manufacturer: Gossamer Gear Product Overview
The Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles are a beefed-up version of the ultra-lightweight carbon fiber Lightrek Poles I tested last year. These poles are not adjustable, they have no wrist straps, and they have a sleek, minimal design. This year's versions have a new material and design for the handles, and the Plus version I'm testing has a slightly thicker shaft. Otherwise they are quite similar to the original product I tested. This report provides my experiences in the field for the first two months I've had the poles; you also may wish to reference my initial report for additional descriptive information on the poles. Field Conditions I've had the Lightrek Plus poles out on backpacking trips in Hetch Hetchy and the Desolation Wilderness, as well as on day hikes in the San Francisco bay area. Elevations have ranged from sea level to 7,000 ft (2,134 m), temperatures from 20-75 F (-5-24 C), and conditions from clear and sunny to foggy, rainy and snowy. Trails have ranged from dirt and granite to a few paved stretches, and have included bridge and stream crossings. I've used the poles with day packs and with lightweight overnight gear (upwards of 25 lb (11 kg)) so far, and covered somewhere around 50 miles (81 km) of trail. Field Observations I like these poles as much as I did the lighter original model, though I do note some differences. Like the originals, they're comfortable and light, and offer a bit of resilience and flex that I feel adds comfort during long days of use (though with a bit of added heft from the new, thicker shafts). On the other hand, the new EVA "Kork-o-lon" grips have taken a bit of getting used to for me. On the positive side, I like their shape, and find that I often use them with an "eagle claw" grip (fingers pointing down the shaft, palm poised on top) rather than the more traditional grip with fingers wrapped around the shaft. However, I find that they feel sweatier to me than the original grips. I also feel that the shape at the top should be rotated 180° to allow the easiest transition between those two grip styles, though I quickly got used to giving the poles a half turn as I moved from one grip to the other. Though I used my previous set of regular Lightrek poles with keeper loops added as per the instructions, I decided to try the Plus model at first without them. After one trip without the loops, I decided I much prefer the poles with them installed. I like to stop often to take pictures, and the keeper loops allow me to let the poles dangle from my wrists as I grab the camera and snap a shot; the same goes for stopping for a drink or grabbing something from a pocket while still wearing my pack. I leave the poles dangling and grab whatever is needed, and then off I go; no worries about poles falling over, skittering down rock faces, etc. Also, much to my surprise, I discovered that the keeper loops help keep the poles off to my sides when I take the occasional, inevitable spill. In fact, on my first overnight with the poles, I took a stumble on rocks on the trail along Hetch Hetchy reservoir. I wasn't using keeper loops, and let go of the poles as I pitched forward, falling right onto one of them. Much to my dismay, I heard a "snap" and discovered that I had broken a pole. First, I'll say that I don't think even an aluminum pole would have survived this fall unscathed. Second, I do feel that my instinct to put my arms out to break my fall—and release my grip on poles—let them fall right under me when not using the loops. With the loops on my wrists, they seem to get flung out toward the sides instead. This is quite possibly completely idiosyncratic—so I wouldn't base recommendations to others on my experience, but I did want to note it here and suggest experimenting with the loops to see if they work well for you. I considered a field repair of the broken pole, but was unable to find suitable sticks to fit the interior diameter of the carbon fiber shafts, which I then would have duct-taped on the outside of the shafts. I'll find a splint or sleeve during my long-term testing and see if I can find a good repair technique at home. Instead, I continued on with one pole, and actually found it quite a pleasant way to hike. Except on the steepest downhills, I felt quite comfortable using a single pole. I'll also note that Gossamer Gear's customer service, as always in my experience, was first rate. Upon my return I let them know about the mishap, remitted the $30 replacement cost of a pole, and one was on its way to me that very day. One last observation on this trip: the small trekking baskets included with the poles fell off several times. Fortunately, I noticed this, retraced my steps and found the basket each time; I learned afterward that this is a known issue now covered in the pole's instructions, and was easily remedied in my case with a bit of duct tape (since I often remove the baskets to swap them out for snow baskets), though the instructions also say one can use silicon sealant for a more permanent fix. For my second overnight and subsequent day hikes with these poles, I used the keeper loops, and have felt much more comfortable with the poles all around. I like the way they feel; I like their light weight and minimal design; and I like their mild shock-absorbing abilities. I also duct taped the threads of the tips and have not had the trekking baskets fall off since. I've used the poles on packed dirt, forest duff, stream crossings (mostly rocky creek beds), packed trails, asphalt, concrete and wood bridges. They've performed well on all surfaces, and so far the durability has been good. I see no major dings or scuffs on the shafts, and the tips have worn only minimally. The grips seem ever so slightly soiled, but otherwise unscathed. Really, I have little more to say except that these are my favorite trekking poles! Still, I intend to continue to put them through their paces and probe for weaknesses or limitations in my long-term testing, even if I don't expect to find any. Long-Term Test Locations My outdoor recreation for the remainder of the test will take place on both coasts, as well as in Central America. The majority of my trips will take place in the Central and Northern Sierra Nevada (Carson Pass, Yosemite, Mt. Shasta, Lassen Peak, Sequoia/Kings Canyon; many of those will be snow camping trips), but I also hope to hike and backpack on the California coast, and also plan on visiting Belize in January. It's also quite likely I'll be in Colorado and the Washington, D.C. area during the test period as well. I will use these poles on at least two of these away-from-home trips, and test the "travelability" of the poles in the Travel Tube. Altitudes will range from sea level through at least 12,000 ft (3,660 m), and temperatures from the 80s F (27+ C) down to 0 F (-18 C) or colder. Weather conditions will include snowy, windy and sunny Sierra Nevada winter climes; coastal Pacific storms; moderate central California weather, and wet, late-season Caribbean tropical weather. Trail conditions will range from packed dirt to rock to mud to snow and ice, and probably pretty much everything in between. I'll be adding snow baskets to the poles for many of these trips, and will be using them in conjunction with snowshoes. In addition to using the poles for trekking, I will use them with a Dancing Light Gear Brawny Tarptent and a poncho tarp to test their suitability for supporting shelters. Long-Term Test Points Issues I'll be continuing to monitor include:
For all trips I'll record weather and trail conditions and note what I'm carrying (pack type and total weight), along with my observations on the poles themselves. As usual I'll snap pictures and try to do a good job of documenting the poles visually, not just in words. Summary I remain as pleased with these poles as the originals. They're light, they're sleek, they're pared down to just the essential features—and the new handle and thicker shaft are, to my mind, positive improvements. I look forward to testing them further, especially for snowshoeing, in the coming months. Thanks to BackpackGearTest and Gossamer Gear for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Gossamer Gear gear Read more gear reviews by S. Nelson Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Poles > Steve Nelson > Field Report | |||
