Antishock Trekking Poles

Reviewed by Pillowthread

Sturdy trekking poles with lockout-able shock absorbers and great cork grips. What's not to like? Mountain goats don't tackle mountains on two legs; why should you?

Best For: People who like good trekking poles. Design The Mountainsmith Carbonlites Pros are three-piece, telescoping poles built for rigorous use. The diameter of the sections is greater than many of the more lightweight options, and this allows a higher user weight limit. The sections can be completely disassembled for cleaning and lubing, allowing one to appreciate the beefy locking mechanisms employed. The poles sections themselves are constructed with an inner tube of aluminum, wrapped in carbon fiber.

Read more: Mountainsmith Carbonlite Pro review (1)

Featured review by Paul Lapierre

Four years old and still going strong.

I have had a pair of these poles for four years now and as I get farther away from 50 I use them more and more. They break down to the length of my pack. The shock system looks like it will never wear out unlike the old Leki system. They lock up tight and you just need to tighten a small screw if not, unlike the old twist system on the old Leki. I have also had to two-hand these poles when sliding down an avi slope still filled with snow. The straps are wide enough so they don't cut into your wrists. If I were to improve these the only thing I would do is make the top of the handle a little larger for better palming on steep descents.  They weigh just enough so you know they're there and you're not tripping over them.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock reviews (4)

Featured review by Hippo

Vast improvements over last year's model. Cork grips, better carbide tips, and ability to lock out the shock absorber have been added.

I felt compelled to write this review because I own the last year's model and bought a pair of this year's model of the Pyrite 7075 for a through hike of the John Muir Trail. Last year's model had rubber grips and a high wear rate on the carbide tips during moderate hiking in Alabama. Also, the shock absorber was full-time and could not be turned off. The locks always worked, it was good, but the baskets tended to fall off. This year's model had cork grips with far improved comfort and a good fit for my medium-size hands.

Read more: Mountainsmith Pyrite 7075 reviews (4)

Featured review by D Mizelle

In a nod to John's review, excellent for the price.

I bought these a couple years ago and I'm fairly happy with these. They are light enough and I love the spring-loaded feature. Once in a while I find I need to adjust the poles again if I've been going down hills repeatedly. The twist lock mechanism has slipped like that only occasionally and usually not on the same hike, so I check them after a few hikes. The grips are fine for most seasons, but I'm not thrilled with them in warm weather with no gloves. A cork grip would be nice and my next pair of poles might have to have those instead of rubber like these poles.

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Featured review by Jboothmtnbkr

Sturdy, lightweight hiking poles that utilize Black Diamond's FlickLock technology for securing the poles to whatever length you need for all terrain.

I decided to replace my 12-year-old set of hiking poles because the twist mechanism inside the shaft kept slipping on one of them. I took it apart and super glued it the locking mechanism back together because it had split in half, but at that point I started wondering when the other pole would do the same thing or when the glue on my repair would break apart again. At one of the recent REI Garage Sales, they were selling off all their last seasons rental gear and they had a stack of Black Diamond FlickLock poles that were rented along with snowshoes.

Read more: Black Diamond Trail Shock reviews (9)

Featured review by Rick-Pittsburgh

Pole model: Leki Thermolite Aergon XL Antishock  Pole type: Aluminum, collapsible, UL, antishock, trekking  Origin(manufactured): Europe Trekking poles... I have had many a conversation in regards to these "high-tech stability sticks" over time. Should I use them, why should I use them, what should I look for in a set of poles, should I spend a pile of money on a set or should I go to Wally-World and grab a set of cheap poles. It was enough to drive me mad... and it almost did.... Awhile back I decided to snag up a pair.

Read more: Leki Thermolite Aergon XL Antishock reviews (4)

Reviewed by G00se

Leki's Micro Vario Carbon are antishock poles that exceed anything else with which this user has ever hiked. While not ultra-light, the comfort, weight, and quality more than make up for the few extra ounces. A limited range of height stands out as the chief con to an otherwise excellent product.

April 2017 Update: I have now used these poles for over 150 miles in the Shawnee Hills, Ozark Mountains, and Rocky Mountains, including a 5-day/58-mile trek on the Ozark Trail. I like these poles even more now than when I wrote this review. I can quickly adjust the height for steep ascents and descents, even as I am still walking along the trail. They are always comfortable, and even after a 9-hour day of hiking I don't notice the weight on my arms. These are definitely the best poles I have used over the years.

Read more: Leki Micro Vario Carbon DDS review (1)

Featured review by 2BamBam4

I have been looking for a set of trekking poles for some time now. My concern is that I am not a slight fellow and I tend to put a lot of wear and tear on my equipment. Not abuse just very hard use. The first hike was approx eight miles give or take. My first outing with these poles was on a fairly established trail, with good elevation changes (500 feet+) and terrain feature changes (rock, clay soil scree and deep wet leaves), along with some 'bushwhacking' off trail. I found the adjustments very easy to set.

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Featured review by Rob Hall

Hiking/trekking poles, shock absorbing.

Exceptional hiking/trekking poles.  Aluminum construction Three section, twist to unlock, extend, and lock. VERY good lock. I'm 200+ pounds and the locks have never failed on me.  Infinite length adjustment (you're not limited to pre-made detents) out to almost 4 feet. I use the wrist straps most when pushing up difficult terrain. The straps are also very secure and the lock on those has never failed either. The shock absorbers are also very handy in some situations. They are quite stiff, and I have to bear down on them with a lot of weight to make them move, but that's great for me.

Read more: Wilcor Trekking Poles reviews (3)

Featured review by Jiynx

A light, sturdy, rock-solid pole that carries nicely and performs ably.

I won these in a Trailspace contest giveaway. The Leki Trail (AS) has proven to be a bit more than I expected, I'll be honest with you. They're solid, light as a breeze, adjust fast and painlessly, and they're just what the doctor ordered. The straps are functional and firm, don't slip through the buckles and provide nice support. while they're not super-cushy, neoprene padded, or any of that, they're sturdy and built to last. The tips bite well and deeply on dirt, gravel, and the like. the poles, as a package, don't come with hard-surface tip covers though, so you'll have to source your own.

Read more: Leki Trail Antishock reviews (2)