REI Summit Trekking Poles – Owner Review

Reviewer’s Information:

Matt Smith

33 years old

Male

5 ft 9 ½ in (1.77 m)

190 lb (86.2 kg)

semperanger@yahoo.com

Eastern Washington – United States

February 28, 2005

Backpacking Background:

Most of my backpacking trips in the past 6 years have been in the Western United States and of one or two nights’ duration.  They tend to be heavy (with a pack weight of about 40-50 lb (18-23 kg)) and comfortable (tent, mattress, and liquid fuel stove).  I’ve done mostly three-season backpacking and hiking trips, but am looking forward to extending my outings into winter and for longer durations.   

Product Information:

Manufacturer:  REI (Austria)

Year of Manufacture:  c. 1998

URL:  http://www.rei.com

Listed weight (per pole, with standard basket): 10.0 oz (283 g)

Actual weight (per pole, with standard basket): 10.4 oz (295 g)

Listed length of pole (minimum to maximum useable): 25 in (63.5 cm) to 55 in (139.7 cm)

Actual length of pole (minimum to maximum useable):  25.5 in (64.8 cm) to 55.0 in (139.7 cm)

Shaft material: 7075 alloy aluminum

Handle material: rubber

Tip material:  tungsten carbide

MSRP:  $ 55 US / pair

Guarantee:  REI’s standard 100% satisfaction guarantee

Description:

Marketed as an REI house brand, these poles are made by a subcontractor in Austria and are sold as a pair.  The set includes summer trekking baskets and rubber tip protectors. 

The poles are made of 7075 alloy aluminum and are comprised of three separate sections which telescope into each other.  This arrangement makes them not only extremely adjustable, but also very compact for packing (25.5 in / 64.8 cm).  The poles have usable lengths ranging from 25.5 to 55.0 in (64.8 – 139.7 cm).  Setting the length is very simple in practice, but very complicated to describe; here’s my best shot.  Around the outside of the bottom of the first two pole sections (referenced from the handle end) are knurled plastic grips about 0.75 in (1.91 cm) wide.  Extending from the top of the last two pole sections are pink pieces of plastic, about 1 in (2.54 cm) long, with threading on the outside which work and look like bolts. Attached to this is a white piece of plastic, about 1 in (2.54 cm) long, slightly smaller in diameter than the interior of the pole tubing, and divided longitudinally into 4 sections.  This last piece looks like a sabot in a shotgun shell and functions much like an expanding nut.  That is, the interior of the piece is partially hollowed and threaded in such a way that as the pink bolt is screwed into the white nut it forces the latter to expand.  When done within the confines of the adjacent pole tubing, the friction between parts holds the two sections together with amazing strength.  

Most of this goes on behind the scenes; what I actually do is much simpler.  I just grab two adjacent pole sections, one in each hand (if it is wet, or I’m using gloves, the knurled pieces help).  Twist the lower of the two clockwise while holding the upper one still.  This unlocks the sections and allows me to push or pull them to the desired length.  To lock, simply twist the sections the opposite direction and it becomes tight again.  I try to keep the two bottom sections extended by about the same amount so that one isn’t weaker and, therefore, more likely to bend or snap.  (Note: The manufacturer doesn’t claim this equality of strength, but at least they’ll be close.)  This is facilitated by the labeling on the last two sections every 2.5 cm (0.98 in). For example; if I set the bottom section to “115 cm” and the middle section to “115 cm”, I know they are more-or-less equally strong; plus I know my total pole length:115 cm (45.3 in).  These marks are holding up pretty well.  They have been scratched a bit, but are still very readable.

The handles are advertised as being made of “soft rubber”.  “Soft” may be a bit generous.  I would say they are closer to the ‘hard plastic’ end of the spectrum than the ‘squishy foam’ end.  Regardless, they are fairly comfortable, if somewhat cold in the winter.  The handles have a slotted back (for improved grip?), a slight forward curve, and a ridge between where the first and middle fingers of my hand rest, which makes them fairly ergonomic.  It is also flared at the top and bottom which helps keep my hand from sliding up or down if I’m not using the straps. 

The contoured nylon webbing straps are attached to the top rear of the handles.  They are easily adjustable from a circumference of about 11.25 in (28.6 cm) to 16.75 in (42.5 cm) simply by pulling on the unweighted strap.  They are held in place, and sized, by a wedge of rubber within the handle.  The nicest thing about this is that there isn’t an external buckle to dig into the back of my hand.

The poles come with firm rubber baskets attached 3.25 in (8.3 cm) above the tips.  These are 2.4 in (6.0 cm) in diameter, slightly cupped, and have a row of serrated teeth around the bottom circumference.  The baskets are removable (see below) and have held up very well.

I’ve also purchased separately Komperdell’s Snowshoe Pole Baskets (MSRP $12 US / pair).  These are 5.1 in (13.0 cm) in diameter and consist of an outer ring of plastic connected to the inner ring by 4 straps of leather.  Switching between baskets is simple in design, but a little tougher in practice.  All I should have to do is hold the bottom section of the pole in one hand, and twist the basket a quarter turn with the other.  Unfortunately, since there isn’t a knob to grip on the bottom section, it can sometimes be hard to keep the pole from spinning as I twist the basket.  Small slots on the basket and plastic posts on the pole hold the two together.  (Note:  replacing the stock baskets with the large snow baskets increases the weight of each pole by 1.4 oz (39.7 g).  A medium sized Snowflake Basket and rubber walking tips are also available.) 

The tips are “flexible tungsten carbide” and are cast with 6 ridges radiating from the center. 

Field Information:

I’ve used the Summit poles on just about every backpacking, hiking, and snowshoeing trip I’ve taken in the past six years.  Because of the amount of use and varied locations, I can’t give a typical area description.  Suffice it to say that I’ve used them from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the snowfields of Mount Baker, and everywhere in between.  Temperatures have ranged from below 0 F (-18 C) to about 100 F (38 C) and elevations from below sea level to 8000 ft (2440 m).  Surfaces have included sand (dry and wet), pebble beaches, slick rock, mud, snow, ice, dirt, talus and scree.

Findings:

First a word on the use of trekking poles in general.  I swear by them.  Not only do they provide additional balance, they relieve stress on knees going downhill, let the arms help on uphills, and test the bushes for snakes.  They can probe for avalanche victims, lower water bottles into hidden pools, and help in pitching tarps.  They assist in stream crossings, make excellent traction splints, and ward off stray dogs.  Emergency fishing pole, camera monopod (not this model), and countless other uses come to mind.  I even used two of them as a walker when too-new boots hobbled my feet on Isle Royale.  I think George Orwell summed it up best in Animal Farm when he wrote, “Four legs good, two legs bad.” 

The Summit poles seem to have found the sweet spot between function and affordability.  While other trekking poles have more features (e.g. shock absorbers, camera mounts, etc.), many of them are also much more expensive.  The Summits have everything I need at a price I can afford.

The grips may be a bit hard, but I seldom notice this since I let the straps do the job for which they were created.  By putting my hands up through the loop and then down onto the webbing (the webbing coming up between my thumb and forefinger) I let all my weight fall on the strap rather than on my fingers.  This means that my hands and fingers don’t fatigue and I get better support.  All I need my fingers to do is point the pole where I want it to go.  Consequently, most of the time I’m hiking, only my thumbs and forefingers are even touching the grip.  I must admit, however, that the price of this efficiency of energy is occasionally a small blister where the strap rubs the base of my thumb.  I’ve now learned where to tape before I start out for the day.  As far as I’m concerned, foam and cork can take a hike (and take their price tags with them).  On a related note, grabbing the pole shaft below the grips isn’t very effective for more than a step or two.  My fingers fatigue almost immediately and hands can easily slide down the shaft. 

The poles are very easy to adjust and I often do so on-the-fly.  If I’m walking across a hill, I change the length of each (uphill short, downhill long) to accommodate.  Likewise, if I am starting a long uphill or downhill stretch, I will change the length of both to help save my knees and leg muscles.    The only complaint in this area is that the bottom section doesn’t have a knurled grip.  This can make it difficult to twist if it is wet or I’m wearing heavy gloves. This is especially troublesome when trying to remove baskets (although this only happens about twice a year).  I’ve seen people wrap adhesive non-skid tape around the bottom section to provide grip; I haven’t done so yet because I like being able to fully collapse the shaft sections.

I’m very happy that I got a model with 3 sections.  My wife recently got another brand as a gift, which has only 2 sections.  We’re trying desperately to figure out how to get those long things into our luggage for the flight across country.  My Summits; no problem.  

A final note on the pole sections:  Because of their design, it is easy to take the three sections apart for drying or cleaning.  Simply unlock a section and pull it all the way out.  The white nut and interior of the tubing can be wiped clean with a rag or finger.  Lubrication isn’t recommended since it would work against the friction principle which is necessary for this design.  In fact, any moisture or slime should be removed.  Sandpaper could be used to roughen the surface of the expansion nut for improved grip (not that I’ve needed to do so).

The tips are advertised as flexible.  Perhaps they are when under enough pressure, but I can’t seem to move them.  Regardless, they have taken countless miles of hiking across rock without any problems.  The ridges on the end of the tips have endured without any noticeable wear.  They also seem to help the tips bite into ice and prevent sliding.

The baskets are performing and holding up well.  I found that if I’m traveling along hard, dry trails or across solid rock, no baskets at all are needed.  In scree, mud, sand, and duff the small baskets do a good job of keeping the poles from sinking in or getting caught.  I’ve only used the snow baskets for a couple of short snowshoe trips in Eastern Washington and New Hampshire.  The snow pack has varied from light and dry to wet, and while the snow baskets did punch in about 6 in (15.2 cm), they supported me much better than the small baskets or the poles alone.  The posts used to hold the baskets on have become worn a bit around the edges, but still function very well. 

Summary:

The Summit poles have saved, if not necessarily my life, at least my love of backpacking.  As I get older, my knees complain more and these days I don’t think I would carry more than a daypack without poles of some sort.  Until the sad day I forget my Summits on the side of some trail, I will continue to use and abuse them.  They have held up very well and I look forward to many more years of four-legged fun.

Things I like:

1. Easily adjustable length
2. Comfortable and easily adjusted straps
3. Interchangeable baskets
4. Three-section design makes for small storage on pack or in airline duffle

Things I don’t like: