Hiking poles: how beneficial do you find them on your hike in hunts?

[goatdancer]

Lol you mean Cambodia tire right?

I think he meant the other C.

[huntcoop]

I think he meant the other C.

What brand and price do they sell at Co$+co, any ideas?

[mod7rem]

I've been using hiking poles for mountain trips since 2004 and would hate to be without them. They help in almost every situation with balance and stability. Its amazing how much energy you save in rough country going up, going down, side hilling, etc. The scariest thought for me is crossing creeks without them. In my opinion water crossings are the most dangerous situation during my mountain trips and I'd hate to do it without at least one pole. On one sheep trip, I was in the air in a float plane when I realized the poles were still in the back seat of my truck. Lots of sketchy crossings on that trip so my brother and I took time to cut a pole each for the heavy pack out with two sheep.

[.264winmag]

I would rate hiking poles right up there with ammunition, when talking high country huntin...

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Essential for me.
My last pair of Komperdels lasted me an entire decade. Tips were broken off and they were
beat up pretty bad by the end. Finally snapped one last year and replaced them a pair of Black Diamonds from WSS.

Nice solid lock system. I like them so far.

[Seth]

Black Diamond are the only brand to last more than a season for me...I broke some cheap ones and some expensive Leki's. Really like the ones I have now, around $130 I think?

Do you use the folding or the Flicklock poles? I have my reservations about the folding but haven't heard any complaints either. Downside to the folding poles is lack of length adjustment.

[Red_Mist]

You gotta have them in backcountry and steep terrain. Save you knees so you can hunt into your older years. Currently using Kelty poles and they work great.

[srupp]

Good piece of kit to have on grizzly hunts also..big bear hide. .skull. .paws. can easily exceeded 150 pounds..stability. if you trip that pack could push drive ones face rapidly to the ground.riskng eyes . removing chicklets"...

Highly recomended"
Steven

[Brew]

One of the most essential pc's of equipment for sure. I laughed when I was told about them but purchased a set for a goat hunt and havnt looked back.

[Dougielightning]

Picked up two pairs of decent quality poles from the vv boutique last year for 20$ a pair. Must have been some better off than me couples last year set. Survived just fine. Surely don't have to break the bank and spend the change on better boots