Question about Ridgerunner Hiking pole spreader bar.

**Kyle** · 03-01-2013, 23:37

Just a heads up for anyone else interested in these guys, SunnySports has them for a few bucks cheaper than B&H. And you can get free shipping if you find a few other things there to get you over $50 (and they have quite a bit of stuff, including hammocks!).

**TheIrishmanHangeth** · 05-24-2013, 14:14

Originally Posted by Acer

I have now used mine for a total of 9 nites sleeping in the RR using them,,,they work like a charm,,still waiting on WB to send me the pole ends Brandon has for the hiking poles, but really don't need to use them other than I just don't like the screw end sticking out so far.

This is a couple months old and I see from your pics that you already have the screw on pole tips from warbonnet but why don't you just screw the rubber cap back onto the monopod screw after its in spreader bar mode? It would serve. Dual purpose of providing a big soft surface to protect your cuben tarp as well as keeping the the caps together with the pole so they don't get lost. Just my thoughts, not sure if it would actually work or not.

**mal310** · 05-28-2013, 11:35

I bought the adjustable hiking pole from ruta locura http://www.rutalocura.com/trekking_poles.html

They work very well in the RR. Although I would not use the tip adapters from Warbonnet. These are Black Diamond flex tips and so with the adapters on the tips, it makes the pole slip out. The foot end is slightly longer and this can not afford the extra length that the adapter gives.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27344197@N07/8868244415/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27344197@N07/8868244415/

**defsquad** · 07-27-2013, 11:57

Hairbear,

What model, exactly, are your Leki poles?

I have an older pair of Leki "Cor-tec" poles that use the twist lock mechanism (not a big fan of them or the grips) but like the ones you are using, especially since you've been able to mod them for the RR. I've watched your videos a few times, but am not 100% on *everything* you had to mod on handles of the Leki poles.. specicially the insert into the handles.. Mind going into a bit more detail on that part of it?

EDIT: nevermind Hairbear, I read in a not-so-recent post that the tip of one of yours broke. i may just carry the separate bars for now and deal with it until i can find some solid trekking poles with fliplock adjustment and more straight handles that are compatible with Brandon's spreader bar tip adapters.

**mruseless** · 07-31-2013, 12:46

Originally Posted by Kyle

Just a heads up for anyone else interested in these guys, SunnySports has them for a few bucks cheaper than B&H. And you can get free shipping if you find a few other things there to get you over $50 (and they have quite a bit of stuff, including hammocks!).

Noob here, with a Noob question or two

I just bought a RR, slept in it last night. Don't think I had it set up correctly, feet not high enough and trees too close together for a 25 degree hang. But that is for another post.

First question, are these MS poles sold singly or in pairs? I'm assuming singly but I can't really tell from the websites.

The other question, what do you do if you break a pole? Hasn't happened to me yet, but I've had a couple close calls where a pole went down between two rocks and thought it might break. Has this happened to anyone?

Thanks!

**hairbear** · 07-31-2013, 18:46

Originally Posted by defsquad

Hairbear,

What model, exactly, are your Leki poles?

I have an older pair of Leki "Cor-tec" poles that use the twist lock mechanism (not a big fan of them or the grips) but like the ones you are using, especially since you've been able to mod them for the RR. I've watched your videos a few times, but am not 100% on *everything* you had to mod on handles of the Leki poles.. specicially the insert into the handles.. Mind going into a bit more detail on that part of it?

EDIT: nevermind Hairbear, I read in a not-so-recent post that the tip of one of yours broke. i may just carry the separate bars for now and deal with it until i can find some solid trekking poles with fliplock adjustment and more straight handles that are compatible with Brandon's spreader bar tip adapters.

The tip on the poles that I used were broken /cracked while hiking.
The replacement tip has held up to every night use since around may 15 with no sign of wear.
The mod works great ,making the ridge runner pretty close to black birds weight.
I cant be sure but part of my origional problem, I believe ,came from having the spreader bar plates twisted before the spreader bars were put in place.
When my weight was put into the hammock the force would make the plate want to spin.
I believe this is the force that developed resulting in the pole launch.
The already cracked from hiking tip didnt hold up to the twist.

**Acer** · 08-05-2013, 05:53

Originally Posted by TheIrishmanHangeth

This is a couple months old and I see from your pics that you already have the screw on pole tips from warbonnet but why don't you just screw the rubber cap back onto the monopod screw after its in spreader bar mode? It would serve. Dual purpose of providing a big soft surface to protect your cuben tarp as well as keeping the the caps together with the pole so they don't get lost. Just my thoughts, not sure if it would actually work or not.

Now why didn't I think of this????? Going to try this tonite. Another great piece of tarp protection I found during AHE's 4th Anniversary Sale is these tip coverings. Haven't seen anybody use them yet..and have them ordered.

Spreader Bar Buckle Bumbers 2.00 per set of 4 to protect your tarp...neat idea..very very lightweight,,have a couple of sets ordered and will get some pics of using these as soon as I get them. You might contact Paul to get better postage rates if possible. My postage was more than the 2 sets. 2 sets at 4.00 and postage was 6.95,,but for spending the 11 bucks I really think they will work just perfect and loss of weight on the ethafoam and bungie chord protection I made will drop my weight by a couple of ozs.

I have never used the Pole Tips that I got from WB and they weigh about 1.6 oz. But figured I would eventually loose them even tho they do work great.

http://www.arrowhead-equipment.com/r...nner-gear.html

**mruseless** · 08-07-2013, 11:50

so, what do you do if you break a pole? I suppose you could, in an emergency, sleep without a pole at the foot end, or use a stick?

**warbonnetguy** · 08-07-2013, 12:15

Anybody find a non-twist lock pole that will work? how does the mountainsmith pole hold weight? It seems the REi shocklight hikers will collapse under load with about 160LBS in the hammock and require a 12.5" (i believe) wodden dowel insert, also the shock absorber broke so it always shortens by 1" when i weight it (i actually just swapped with the foot end one but the shock absorbing mechanism doesn't seem that strong) Ideally something non-twist lock with either no shock absorber or at least a more durable one. Anybody found anything like this?

**pgibson** · 08-07-2013, 13:10

WB Guy,

I have used the MtnSmith poles with and without the shock locked exclusively since Feb with no issues. Half the time I forget to set the lock but it really does not seem to matter either way when hanging for me. Pushing a little over 180, need to work out a little more. No mods to the poles at all other than a little piece of colored electrical tape on each to mark where I set them for head and foot....red tape on the head pole and blue on the foot pole. The shocks on the MtnSmith are not as springy as some of the other poles I have used in the past but it has not bothered me either for hiking or for sleeping in the RR.