Komperdell/REI Peak UL Compact Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles (PCT Thru-Hike)
THESE POLES ARE WHERE MARKETED BY REI AND MADE BY KOMPERDELL IN 2008 - THE EXACT POLES ARE DISCONTINUED TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THE REASONS I LIKE THEM WILL OVERLAP TO OTHER CURRENTLY MADE CF TREKKING POLES. (So this review is not totally useless)
I use my trekking pole or poles for most all my hiking and here is why:
1) I use trekking poles to save face - Literally to protect myself from falling on my face.
2) Summer hiking on mostly well maintained trails allows for lighter poles to be carried.
3) Using poles carries over into using a Tarp / Tent that uses one or more trekking poles to set up.
4) Keeps my hands elevated and decreasing the swelling in my hands from having them at my side all the time.
5) Poles help me to consistently hike about 0.5-1 mph faster then without them.
6) LIGHTWEIGHT Carbon Fiber poles have a light swing weight - thus I don't notice much effort to use them.
7) Not being a fan of Bear Mace or large Knives or Guns - I use my trekking pole as my self-defense spear of choice.
LIKES: Each pole weighs about 6.4 ounces with the hand straps removed. The pole extends to 125 cm and collapses to 61 cm (small enough to store in my pack for travel). VERY STURDY I've found these poles to be LIGHTER than the stronger Leki and Black Diamond aluminum styles, and to be STRONGER than the lighter Gossamer Gear LT4S CF poles. The foam grip is comfortable and durable, and the pole has held up to 2,400 miles of use AFTER having been returned to REI and sold at the garage sale 2 YEARS after they likely sold it.
DISLIKES: Under total sudden body weight the pole sections will tend to slide together and then need to be readjusted. The poles do, after a few days, need to be twisted tight again (but I also removed the plastic section covers to save weight).
SUMMARY: Lightweight carbon fiber poles are a great investment in your hiking. For those hikers that travel on more aggressive terrain, are heavier, or simply use their poles and put lots of weight on them regularly (and not baby them like the LT4S poles require) then poles like these, the Leki Corklite or the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, would be great options. If you simply want the lightest - get some Titanium Goat Poles or Gossamer Gear LT4 poles, if you want strong and almost the lightest then try and find these guys!
FOR ANOTHER REVIEW OF THESE POLES CHECK HERE (Backpack Gear Test)