Jamie DeBenedetto
31 year old female
Height: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
Weight: 160 lb (73 kg)
Email: jdeben AT hotmail DOT com
State/Country: The Grand Canyon State - Arizona, USA

Background/Experience

I've spent much of my thirty years hiking, camping, fishing, backpacking, rafting, and more recently kayaking, all over my home state of Arizona. I've also done a small amount of hiking in the neighboring states of Colorado and California. In January of 1999 I founded a local outdoor club called the Canine Hiking Club of Arizona. I lead one or two single or multi-day hikes per month with the club in various locations around the state. I also day hike in local recreation areas near my home a couple of times a week and my family and I sneak away for camping trips whenever possible.

My backpacking style definitely leans more toward lightweight, but I wouldn't consider myself to be anywhere close to an ultra-light hiker. I use a hammock instead of a tent most of the time and I try to keep my pack's base weight below 15 lbs (7 kg). I'm always looking for ways to stay comfortable in the field and for gear that has more than one function.

Background Relative to this Test Series

About eight years ago I began to experience some minor pain in both my knees (primarily due to my spirited involvement in too many contact sports as a child and young adult). For the most part I just dealt with it until about three years ago when I became pregnant with my first child and I started having some balance issues and increased pain while hiking. I began exploring options so I could stay on the trail without putting the "little bun" and myself in harms way. That is when I discovered the benefits of walking with a pole, or in my case at the time, a stick. I have on many occasions since used a homemade walking stick for trails with creek crossings, long descents or unstable terrain.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research
URL: http://www.msrcorp.com
Year of manufacture: 2004
Listed weight per pole: 8.5 oz (241 g)
Actual weight per pole as weighed on a U.S. Postal scale: 8.1 oz (230 g)
Listed length: 25.6 to 55 in (65 to 140 cm)
Actual length: 26 to 56.5 in (66 to 144 cm)

Product Description

The Mountain Safety Research OverLand Carbon Telescoping Poles are primarily black. The shaft is comprised of three sections, which as the name suggests, slide one into the other locking and unlocking with a twisting motion. According to MSR, these shaft sections are made of carbon fiber and use a LockJaw™ expander to keep the pole at the user's desired length. The "Carbide Flextip" makes up the lower 2.5 in (6.5 cm) and is outfitted to accept a removable "quick-change" basket, which was included. The top of the tip, closest to where it connects to the shaft, has two small cylinder shaped knobs that hold the basket in place. Further down, at the very end of the tip, is an asterisk shaped semi-sharp point. The grip, which is also black, is made of foam and according to the MSR website has a seven degree natural angle. There are several little grooves cut into the foam on the palm side of the grip and a separate indent for the index finger on the finger side of the grip. The top of the grip, for lack of a better way to describe it, is egg shaped and slightly convex. The straps are black on the outside and off white on the inside where they meet your hand. The outside layer is made from what I'm assuming is a mix of nylon and a stretchy Spandex type material. I'm not sure what the inner layer of material is but it's very soft. They measure an inch and 3/8th (3.5 cm) at the widest point.

Packaging, Delivery and Directions

I received the MSR poles on Friday May 28th in good condition. They were held together in the box along with the two trekking baskets by a cool little clip. The only directional material was the marketing tag. This listed the pole features, the warranty and three brief paragraphs about care, how to adjust the poles and how to adjust the straps. I was planning to take the poles with me on a Memorial weekend trip so I eagerly zipped through this material then began fiddling with the shaft length and straps to find a comfortable setting for both. The directions provided were certainly clear enough regarding how to extend and retract the poles and loosen and unloosen the straps but they said nothing about attaching and removing the baskets, nor do they mention whether or not the carbide tip can be detached and replaced. Additionally, as a rookie in the world of store-bought trekking poles I was left to my own devices to figure out how to find the correct shaft length and how to efficiently use the straps. I'm not looking for a multi-page tutorial but it would be nice to have a few more details regarding these two issues, as they are crucial to the effective use of trekking poles.

First Impressions

The MSR website has a pretty decent picture of the OverLand Carbon poles so I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting. I was surprised, however, at how light they were. Even though the weight is listed on the webpage and the word "light" appears more than once in the description, I really wasn't expecting them to be this feathery. I think it's safe to say the manufacture's claim of "ultra-light" is right on track. Another unexpected revelation that MSR deserves a little gold star for is the pleasing color scheme. The web picture of the OverLands doesn't do this aesthetic feature any justice. Not that pretty matters on the trail but it's a nice extra.

In an initial trial of the poles I affixed one of the baskets to see how it worked. It slid on fairly easily but I have been unsuccessful in removing it so far. Attachment requires sliding the tip of the pole through the hole in the middle of the basket then turning the basket until the two grooves on the inside line up with the two cylindrical knobs located on the tip. Once the knobs drop into the grooves the basket is "locked" into place. As there weren't any directions regarding the baskets I just went ahead with the logical thought that removal of the basket would be as simple as reversing the steps I used to attach them. Not! Despite several minutes of effort I concluded fingers alone are not going to budge that basket. It has at this point mated for life with the OverLand tip. I plan to try a few more ideas before I give in and break out with the tools. I will post my results in my Field Report.

Field Test Locations and Expected Conditions

Until the end of May, then again in September, my main testing locations will be the lower and upper deserts around AZ. Elevations will likely range from around 1,500 ft (460 m) to 3,000 ft (900 m). Terrain varies but is mostly prickly and rocky. Through the hottest months of June, July, and August I will primarily stick to treks in the higher elevations of the state. These elevations will be primarily above 6,000 ft (1,800 m), so I don't melt, and the terrain will be mostly mountainous or riparian areas. Temperatures might be anywhere from lows in the 40's F (4.5 C) to highs around 105 F (41 C) give or take a few degrees. Weather conditions could be just about anything since the test period will encompass three seasons. Rain and hail will most definitely make an appearance during mid to late summer, which is the Arizona monsoon season. As for snow, it's unlikely until after October.

Proposed Test Strategy for the Next Six Months

To get back into shape after my recent pregnancy I have started doing some fast fitness hiking two or three times a week on a couple of local desert mountain trails near my home. They range in distance but are usually between two and four miles with an elevation gain of around 2,000 ft (610 m) depending on which peak I decide to tackle that morning. I have also been chomping at the bit to get back into my regular routine of leading one or two hikes per month for the canine hiking club I organize. These hikes will be either long day or overnight backpack trips. I don't have anything set in stone yet but last summer I decided it would be fun to summit each of the twenty highest peaks in AZ. Starting in July, I will begin planning monthly excursions toward this goal and the MSR OverLand Carbon trekking poles will accompany me on all of these hikes and all of my morning jaunts.

The follow are aspects I plan to evaluate during the test series. I'm sure I will come up with more questions as I begin to use the poles in earnest.

Hand grips
Is the seven degree "Natural Angle" comfortable?
Do they get slippery or difficult to hold when wet?
Since they are black will they get hot?
Can I comfortably use the top of the grip for top down support?
Does the grip material hold up to the elements and standard wear over the six month testing period?

Straps
Are they really anti-shock as the manufacture claims?
Do they adjust to my wrist size easily and will they hold this adjustment with use?
Will the inner layer of material on the straps remain soft with wear and exposure to moisture?

Poles
How easily do the MSR poles adjust to fit my needs?
How easy are they to "break down" then return to my original setting?
Do the three sections tighten easily and stay tightened or do I have to keep checking them periodically?
Will cold or wet hands affect my ability to tighten the poles?
Does the carbon-fiber construction really dampen impact forces as MSR claims on their website description?
Do the poles feel balanced with each swing?
Since the poles telescope do I trust them to put my full weight on them when needed?
Will the pole shaft hold up to the elements and nature's bumps and scrapes?

Baskets
Will the baskets be simple to attach and remove?
How durable are the baskets and how well will they stand up to scrapes and bumps?

Tips
Is the tip replaceable?
Will the carbide tip survive six months of Arizona terrain?

Alternate Uses
As a recent convert to hammocking I have yet to experiment with using trekking poles as part of the set up for either the tarp or as an anchor for one end of my hammock. I would like to see if it's possible to use the OverLand Carbons as part of my shelter system.

I thank MSR and BGT for the opportunity to be part of this test series.

Jamie J. DeBenedetto
June 4th 2004

Read more reviews of MSR gear
Read more gear reviews by Jamie DeBenedetto

Initial Report

All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson