Cloud Ripper Trekking Poles / Walking Sticks - 100 % Carbon Fiber With Anti-shock & Quick Lock Technology - Includes Natural Cork Grips and Air Ventilated Extra Padded Straps (1 Pair)

Despite living near mountains I've never snowshoed. It’s always been an activity I was going to get around to, just always seemed too busy to do. Some friends rented a cabin for New Year’s so they could snowmobile. I didn’t want to snowmobile, but still wanted to go so I could get away. Knowing a few days stuck in a cabin I would get a little restless, it occurred to me that it was the right time to snowshoe.Our cabin was in E. Idaho, and we drove into W. Yellowstone for a day of trekking. The majority of the trail was level, but we got into a loop near a stunning river which had a hill we needed to climb. Poles may not be necessary on level terrain, but on hills, they’re mandatory. People in our group climbing ahead of me without poles were really struggling (I actually had to lend my poles to someone to help them get up the hill).As for these poles, the grip is cork, and there’s an adjustment you twist if you want “shocks” to ease the reverberations. In snow I locked this adjustment, but would probably use on a dry mountain trail in the summer. There are two length adjustments. I’m 6’1”, and had room to spare. I did need to tighten the nuts on the clip that clamp down on the adjustments so there wasn’t slippage. Probably something you’ll need to do the first time you use these poles. There are also two baskets that screw on depending on your needs. I went with the bigger basket because it looked like the basket on the bottom of a ski pole. The tip on the bottom just pulls off so you can screw on whatever basket you need. The poles carried my weight (185lb) without problem, and include a carrying case. I look forward to using these poles for years to come.

I really loved these poles, we’ve hiked from the Canadian Rockies to the Anza Borrego Desert together. They’ve been great to me, they’re light weight, the locking mechanism keeps them in place, and the cork handles are comfortable and keep my hands dry. The major downfall is they didn’t even last a full year. Last month one of them snapped in half. I did put them through some tough terrain, but I would have liked to get at least a full year out of them. Also, they are still pretty long even when broken down so they would stick high out of my pack and would be combersome while scrambling or bushwhacking. But all around still a good pole.

Poles worked great for about 1 year until, the handle came off one of the poles.

Love these poles, they provide stability and support on some of the more rugged trails I hike. The cork grips with padded wrist straps are easy on the hands.The on off anti-shock system works to provide added cushioning when needed on steep ascents or turn it off. The poles are adjustable with a secure snap lock system which I prefer over a twist lock setup. Carbon-fibre construction keeps the weight down and comes with additional tips and carry bag. I tried the poles out on the Giant Ledge Trail in the Catskills and they were a big help on the way down. As I do more hikes I will update my review. Photos are typical of terrain I will hike with these poles pic's were taken on Peekamoose Trail in upstate n.y.

Incredibly disappointed with this product. I purchased these a while back as part of a lightning deal in preparation for a backpacking trip I had scheduled at the end of September. The poles were working well for 4 hours before the cork handle on one of the poles came apart from the adhesive holding it to the pole and slid down with every step I took. I was disappointed but figured I could fix it when I got home with some super glue, however, the next day the whole handle came undone from the pole. I had to hold the whole shaft when pulling it up from any surface other than rock. I wish I was still within my return window because this is unacceptable for the price.

The poles are really lite and tough. I'm a big guy and worked these poles pretty hard. the down side is that on the second day of our hike on the Foot Hills Trail one of the cork handles came loose. On the last day the next handle came loose. Thanks to good old fashion duct tape I was able to still use the poles. I contacted Wildhorn Outfitters about the problem. The rep. of the phone advised me that they had had a bad batch of polls with this problem and they would send me a new set. As long as I receive the new set my overall experience with this company's product will have been a good one. I would buy these again and would like to see them become American made.

while it works, the lock/unlock for the antishock is tricky. Even in a locked position, there is still a little play. And on the open position, it travel quite a bit so when using it going down hill on rocky path, sometimes it travel too much and could cause falling forward. No I would not recommend it.

These are absolutely amazing poles! The shock absorbers do a fantastic job. I hike 4-5 times a week (3 seasons out of the year), and the poles are a huge help on my knees, especially descending! They have also saved my bacon countless times when I've mis-stepped. I also love the cork handles. Even though I get really sweaty, they somehow stay dry and my hands never slip. I've tried a number of poles, and these are absolutely my favorite. I guess my only complaint would be they don't break down real small; however, I knew that before I bought them :) I'll take the stellar shock absorption, cork grips and sturdy locking system over size any day. Another fantastic product from Wildhorn Outfitters!