MONS PEAK IX Tiger Paw Carbon Trekking Poles
Tester
Information
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Name:
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David
Wilkes |
E-Mail:
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amatbrewer@yahoo.com
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Age:
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52 |
Location:
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Yakima
Washington USA |
Gender:
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M |
Height:
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5'11"
(1.80 m) |
Weight:
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210 lb (90.7 kg) |
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Biography:
I started
backpacking
in 1995 when I moved to Washington State. Since then, I have
backpacked in all seasons and conditions the Northwest has to
offer. I prefer trips on
rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I continuously
strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most important to me.
I have finally managed to get my basic cold weather pack weight, not
including consumables, to under 30 lb (14 kg).
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Product
Information
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Manufacturer:
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MONS PEAK IX |
Year
of Manufacture:
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2018 |
Manufacturer’s
Website:
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www.monspeakix.com |
MSRP:
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$149.99 USD
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Size:
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One size -Length 24.5 - 53.1 in / 62 - 135 cm (measured to confirm)
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Weight (Pair):
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Listed: 13.9 oz / 394 g Measured: 14.7 oz / 418 g (without basket)
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Product
Description:The
Mons Peak IX (pronounce as the number ‘nine’) Tiger Paw Carbon Trekking
poles are designed as lightweight 4 season poles (they include mud and
snow baskets). They include a composite cork and polymer grip, carbon
pole sections, carbide tips and snap-click locks (for length
adjustment). They also include extended length grips and adjustable
wrist straps as well as length indicators marked in centimeters and
inches. They are one of three styles of trekking poles offered by Mons
Peak. They adjust from 62 to 135 cm (24.5 – 53.1 in).
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Initial
Report
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May 23 2018
I
would like to begin with a little background on my knowledge and
experience with trekking poles, as well as the two most common
construction materials used. I have used poles for hiking, backpacking
and snowshoeing for a number of years. I use poles for just about every
hike/backpack/snowshoe trip I undertake. I normally use two poles but
will sometimes switch to one when necessary (e.g. when hiking with my
dog). So far most of my experience is with aluminum poles (fixed ski
poles, adjustable and fixed trekking poles), but I have observed the
use of carbon poles, and as a geek & engineer know a bit about
carbon fiber in general. My experience (direct and observed) is that
quality (aircraft grade) aluminum poles are very durable and can take a
lot of abuse. Aluminum tends to flex and vibrate when striking firm
surfaces which can result in discomfort and/or fatigue. Carbon fiber,
if well-made, can have a much higher strength to weight ratio than aluminum,
normally resulting in lighter weight products. Carbon fiber tends to be
stiffer than aluminum (of similar diameter/thickness) resulting in less
vibration and so possibly less fatigue and more comfort. When carbon
fiber poles fail they tend to fail abruptly and catastrophically. While
carbon fiber tends to have excellent compressive strength, it tends to
be brittle (relative to aluminum) in regards to sheer and torsional
strength. The one carbon fiber trekking pole failure I personally
witnessed, a climbing partner got his pole wedged between two boulders
and the pole snapped without warning. About half the broken section was
reduced to shreds making any sort of field repair impossible. On the
other hand I have seen many aluminum poles bend and have been able to
(mostly) straighten them. I have seen other aluminum poles crease
and/or snap, and using available materials in the field (tape, sticks,
etc.) made them at least somewhat usable. So there are pros/cons to
both materials, with the main advantage of carbon fiber over aluminum
being lower weight for similar strength, which can result in less
energy use. Being a larger than average hiker who tends to carry more
weight than is maybe necessary (in my pack as well as around my
middle), lighter poles are attractive. However I also put my poles to
serious use (bordering on abuse) including using them to support much
if not all my weight when vaulting over mud/water and to catch my not
so occasional stumble. I also occasionally use my trekking poles as
part of my shelter system (e.g. tarp shelter). So durability and
ability to withstand at least a little abuse are also important
factors. And as I do much of my hiking alone, reliability of my gear
(including field repairs if necessary) is very important.
I
would also mention that unlike aluminum, carbon fiber (or more
accurately the resin used in the construction of the carbon fiber
material) can get more brittle at colder temperatures. As such, carbon
fiber poles tend to be less popular for cold weather activities. I only
mention this because the manufacturer specifically mentions these as
being for “4 season use.” As this test is occurring in the summer (in
North America anyway) I doubt I will get the chance to evaluate cold
weather performance for these poles.
As
noted I am an avid user
of my trekking poles. One feature I look for is extended length handles
so that I can adjust my grip up and down the poles to get the exact
length I need for given conditions. For example when traversing a
slope, I shift my hand lower on the uphill pole, while sometimes
putting my hand over the very top of the downhill pole to get more
reach. When going up and down, I tend to extend my poles longer to
accommodate the downhill sections and simply shift my hands lower for
the flat and uphill sections. The grips on the Mons Peak IX Tiger Paw
Carbon Trekking Poles are a hybrid of cork (in the main grip area) and
polymer. The main grip area is contoured for a comfortable grip, while
the lower, extended, section of the grip is ribbed to allow me to
adjust my hand placement up or down as necessary while still
maintaining a firm grip. The top of the grip includes an adjustable
wrist strap similar to what I have seen on many poles, the straps are
narrow where they connect to the pole but become wider in the middle to
better distribute pressure around my wrist. I would note that unless I
am expecting to need to move my hands down the grip of the pole, I
almost always use the wrist straps. Properly adjusted wrist straps
allow me to use a loose grip on the poles. This reduces fatigue and
makes pole movement and placement much more nimble. So comfortable and
functional wrist straps are important to me, and I will be reporting
more on this as I use these. One feature of note is that the very end
(top) of the grip is textured. This is a nice detail should I need grip
in that area. Unlike some other poles I have used these poles are
ambidextrous, that is there is no Left or Right. Either pole can be
used in either hand.
I
have used both twist-lock and lever style (called “snap-click
compression locks” by the Mons Peak ix) adjustable poles. My experience
is that the twist lock can be more secure (less likely to slip) but can
jam and/or be difficult to loosen, especially if it gets dirty. The
lever style can be much easier/faster to adjust which allows me to
adjust my poles as needed and lower maintenance, but I have had
experienced slipping and even had a pole collapse on me during use.
Since I do tend to adjust my poles frequently I prefer the lever locks,
and the engineer in me appreciates that I can see and access all the
working parts, as opposed to the hidden working of the twist lock
style. These poles use the lever style (anodized aluminum levers) with
a knurled screw adjustment (these appear to be stainless steel with
plastic knurling over the adjustment nut). To operate flipping the
lever away from the pole looseness the fastener allowing the pole
sections to be moved. Flipping the lever back tightens the fastener
preventing the sections from moving. To adjust the lock, while the
lever is in the open position the screw adjustment can be turned by
hand to tighten or loosen the fastener as necessary. These seem easy to
operate and appear to hold securely. The pole sections are marked in
centimeters as well as inches, from 100/39 at the bottom to 135/53 at
the top (cm/in respectfully). There is also text indicating the maximum
length on each section. Please note, like all other adjustable poles I
have used, at least part of the bottom section is tapered and the lever
style lock may need to be adjusted should I choose to shorten the pole
down that far. However with these, unlike some other poles I have used,
the taper only extends about 1 cm (~half inch) up from the tip, so it
has very little impact on the range of length adjustment.
The
pole tips are replaceable and a fairly standard design to what I have
seen on many other trekking poles. They are plastic with a carbide tip,
and come with rubber covers to protect the carbide tips (or more likely
protect things from the carbide tips) during storage and transport.
There are optional "Fitness Walking Tips" available on the
manufacturer's web site. The poles came with one set (2) of mud baskets
(diameter of 37 mm / 1.5 in), and a set of snow baskets (diameter of
87mm / 3.4 in). Either of these can be screwed on to the tip section of
the poles or the poles can be used without them. I would note that
there are two primary methods of attaching baskets to trekking poles;
threaded screw on, or snap on (bayonet mount). It is my experience that
while the threaded style may take longer to get on/off, they are less
likely to come off accidentally or jam and be unremovable than the
bayonet style. I much prefer the screw on style. Replacement baskets,
including a 3rd size that did not come with these poles, are available
on the manufacturer's web site.
Out of the box I was able to
quickly adjust the sections to my preferred length (120 cm / 47 in)
using the length markings on the poles. The locks opened/closed easily,
the sections slid smoothly, and the locks seem to hold securely with
only minor adjustments. I would note here that when the lock is open
the adjustment knobs turn quite easily. I worry that they will loosen
and require frequent adjustment. I tugged the end of the wrist straps
to get them to what felt comfortable with ease. The contour of the
grips fit my hands quite well and the cork felt comfortable and the
texture seems like they will provide good grip. One thing I noticed
immediately is how much lighter these are than any of the aluminum
poles I own!
Likes:
- Very light, easy to adjust, comfortable cork handle
Room for Improvement:
- Loose lock adjustment knob
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Field
Report
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September 18 2018
- 3 day camping trip, Western Washington -intermittent rain (altitude unknown)
- 3 day camping trip, Bend Oregon, ~3600’ (1100m) -hot and dry
- 3 day camping trip, Prosser Washington (Beer and Whisky Festival), 720' (220m) warm and dry
- 2 night backpack, Bumping Lake trail, 3500 (1000m)- warm and dry (~4mi / 6.5km)
- 2
night Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) scouting, central Washington ~5500’
(1700m) – warm, intermittent wind/fog, deep snow on trail (~6mi / 9.5km)
I
had no intention of using these poles on any of the camping trips but
being light and easy to pack I brought them along anyway and carried
one during my morning dog walks. On the Western Washington
camping trip, in addition to short morning walks around the camp
ground and surrounding trails we did an
easy trek to a nearby water fall (~1.5 mi / 2.4 km) where I
brought one pole as I had my dog with me. One of our group has
very bad knees so I offered her the pole and to my surprise she
accepted (her knees must have been really hurting). It greatly improved
her speed and lessened her pain making for a much more enjoyable trip
for the entire group. I was quite glad I had brought it. At
BackpackGearTest.org we normally limit commentary to first hand use,
but I think it is important to note that the main reason I decided to
bring the pole on this hike was its light weight. The trail was quite
easy and so for myself a trekking pole would not really be all that
beneficial and I would not have bothered carrying any of my heavier
poles. But in the end I was glad I had it and only regret not having
both with me.
During my PCT scouting trip despite the summer
heat we had experienced I encountered far more snow than I had
expected. Some of the snow was quite deep, in places it was steep and
icy, while in others it was soft and 'rotten'. A number of hikers I
encountered were carrying ice axes, and I was glad I had not yet
removed the snow baskets. During this trip I relied on my trekking
poles often, mostly for stability but often to aid in traction, and
even to help me vault over some of the nastier patches of snow/mud.
Everything
about the poles has been excellent. The carbon tips gripped stone and
ice well, the tips penetrated dirt/snow giving me great traction, and
the snow baskets provided excellent flotation in the snow (preventing
the poles from sinking too far). The cork grips have been very
comfortable, even with sweaty hands, and the extended grip allows me to
set the poles a little longer than necessary and simply move my hand
up/down to accommodate varying terrain.
I have been
experimenting with a different grip when using my poles primarily for
locomotion (e.g. going fast on easy terrain). I won't go into the
details here but the relevant point is that it involves planting my
poles with more force than I normally would. While these poles do
transfer some amount of vibration into my hands when planted into the
ground, I am finding it to be far less than with any of my aluminum
poles. This results in much less fatigue.
The shelter I was using for backpacking does not include its own poles so
these performed double duty as my shelter supports. For this strong
stiff poles that are easy to adjust is important and these poles fit
the bill on all accounts.
I
have found two very minor items that
are less than ideal, and I will state up front that this is really nit
picking. First is a bit of a sharp edge on the end of one of the wrist
straps. Probably the result of the way they are cut during manufacture.
It tends to rub on my palm and become uncomfortable over time. I need
to figure out exactly where on the strap it is and try to melt the end
to eliminate the sharp edge. (I told you I am nit picking). The second,
as was pointed out in the initial review, is that the nut to adjust
the tension of the locking mechanism is rather loose when the poles
sections are not locked. This results in them loosening and therefore
require occasional adjustment. At least once, when I was not paying
attention they became loose so when I locked the pole section to
length, it slipped during use. This is quite minor as long as I pay
attention to how tight the lock feels when I am adjusting the poles. I
will note here that I happened to talk to the designer at this year's
Outdoor Retailer Show and mentioned this. He said this was intentional,
in fact he specifically designed these screws to be loose. He mentioned
that it is the nature of plastic to develop 'memory' over time and so
during storage it is preferable that the locks be left loose to prevent
compressing the plastic which would develop memory and shorten the life
of the product. So I have to admit that I would rather not have to
adjust the nut more than once (yes I am that lazy), I appreciate that
such as simple act could make the product last longer. (I may be lazy,
but more than that I am cheap.) So in the end while I may find it a bit
of an annoyance, it really is a feature, and I appreciate the level of
engineering and attention to detail that lead to this sort of design.
Likes: Light weight, low vibration, easy to adjust, comfortable Dislikes: None |
Long
Term Report |
November 14 2018 | Use: Short dog walks in the neighborhood X2 (~2 mi / 3 km each)
Since
the field report I have only used the poles for 2 dog walking outings
(I only carried 1 pole). I did not use them but I did have them along
for 2 additional family camping trips. On the camping trips the poles
were tossed into the back of my truck with assorted stuff including
some bricks and blocks of firewood. While the poles were not used on
these trips I would note that they did receive somewhat routh treatment
against the bricks and wood.
Now
that the test period has come
to an end I have looked over the poles for signs of wear or damage and
aside for slight signs of use on the cork handles a few minor scratches
in the plastic (primarily on the very end of the poles from using them
as tent poles) and very minor signs of use on the carbide tips the
poles look almost brand new. In addition to being light, comfortable
and very functional, I can add durable to the list of features. In
addition to the approximately 14mi (22.5km) of use backpacking, I would
estimate I have used these poles for about anther 10 miles for day use
(day hikes & dog walks).
I
can say without reservation that these quickly became my favorite
poles. I have no intention of using any other poles for
hiking/backpacking and am looking forward to the coming winter when I
plan to get a lot of use out of these for snowshoeing.
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This
concludes
my report. I would like to thank the folks at MONS PEAK IX and BackpackGearTest.org
for the opportunity to test this product, and invite you back in 2 months for the next installment of this report.
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