Hanging on a hiking staff

**warbonnetguy** · 06-11-2009, 18:03

i think i just read somewhere where grizz said carbon fiber poles weren't as strong as alum tubing

**miisterwright** · 06-11-2009, 19:06

might depend on the thickness of the tubing.

**Topplestack** · 06-11-2009, 19:41

It depends on the grade. I have some aluminum alloy poles as well, they are much thinner then the carbon fiber and don't have as much flex. The carbon fiber are more likely to bend then snap. I also have some graphite ski poles sitting around somewhere. It happens after 10 years working at a ski resort.

I also have to admit that I never thought of taking any of these pole hiking with me. I have always valued the ability to adjust my poles depending on whether I was going up hill or down hill. Some of the trips I go on can vary more then 5000ft

in just a few miles. I like my adjustable spring-loaded poles.

**Rain Man** · 06-12-2009, 11:00

Why do I get the idea some of y'all never took junior high school physics?!

Rain Man

.

**miisterwright** · 06-12-2009, 11:50

.......because they didn't offer physics in junior high.

**RTR** · 06-12-2009, 16:06

Originally Posted by mbwtt

.......because they didn't offer physics in junior high.

Agreed and the fact Basic Math was the limit of my understanding in Junior High, Physics would have blown my head off.

**RTR** · 06-12-2009, 16:11

Originally Posted by JTCreative

I agree with kykcamper. I wouldn't trust my poles after putting holes through them. One the other hand, you could take some non-adjusting poles if you where heading out into a treeless area. In Utah where I am at, that is a large percentage of the state. You might be lucky enough to find a single desert cedar to tie off to on one end, but rarely if ever both ends.

I would also be wary of the material and shape of the poles as well. You might also lash the two poles together to make one stronger one, rather then setting them up as a bipod. When you lash them together you multiply their strength, in a bipod you risk putting most of the weight on one or the other.

Hey I live in Utah too, try bringing a few of these http://www.rei.com/product/696253 with ya when you go...always a rock some where to plug into. I have swung from a cliff and an old beat up Pinion a few times.

**TeeDee** · 06-12-2009, 19:15

There is one brand of walking pole sold that uses a row of holes through one wall of the AL tube for adjustment. A spring loaded button is pushed in, the pole lengthened or shortened until the button pops into the next hole in line. Keep depressing the button until the desired length is obtained.

I have never used the walking pole in question, but have not read of any complaints either. But I don't think it was intended to be used in the manner under discussion here.

Personally I think the far better and easier method is to simply insert wooden dowels inside the trekking pole being used to limit compression to the desired length.

There would be no question of the integrity of the pole and by the simple expedient of removing the dowels, the original integrity would be restored.

No fuss, no mess and no questions about anybody's understanding of the Physics of the situation.

**miisterwright** · 06-12-2009, 22:05

Originally Posted by TeeDee

But I don't think it was intended to be used in the manner under discussion here.

Were any of them intended for this use???? If so I'll take a dozen!!

**Topplestack** · 06-12-2009, 23:49

Originally Posted by RTR

Hey I live in Utah too, try bringing a few of these http://www.rei.com/product/696253 with ya when you go...always a rock some where to plug into. I have swung from a cliff and an old beat up Pinion a few times.

I'll keep that in mind for my Capitol Reef trip week after next.