Traveler Carbon Walking Staff

 

Page Type Gear Review
Object Title Traveler Carbon Walking Staff
Manufacturer REI
Page By paule
Page Type Jul 22, 2003 / Jul 22, 2003
Object ID 764
Hits 4251
Vote
This ultra-lightweight carbon walking staff lessens the strain on your knees and improves balance on day hikes and walks. With an extremely short collapsed size (22.5''), this four-section staff is compact enough to pack inside some travel bags or strap onto a daypack. EVA foam grip and wide, neoprene-padded wrist loop ensure a comfortable and secure hold; cork knob unscrews to reveal a monopod camera mount. Small-diameter trekking basket keeps the durable carbide tip from sinking into soft dirt and sand, but resists getting caught in underbrush. Extremely durable and flexible tungsten carbide tip with mounted tip protection does not wear off on rocks and rough terrain. (Single staff - sold individually .)

Reviews


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paule - Jul 22, 2003 1:17 pm - Voted 5/5

Untitled Review
After thrashing over several different poles, these REI (Komperdell's) Travelers are something where I didn't have to make compromises. The carbon fiber poles are extremely light, Unlike steel or aluminum where the surface becomes rougher due to chips or corrosion, the carbon fiber shaft surface remains smoother and is easier for the collapse / extend effort.

I went with two of these for trekking poles because of the long foam grip, and the round cork head piece. I found out during hot summer climbs that I didn't like typical rubber hand grips on most other trekking poles at all because once my hands started sweating, my hands would remain wet and the poles would be slippery for the rest of the climb. My hand doesn't prespire as much on foam, and when it does, the foam doesn't become slippery.

Also, I like the round cork grips on top because my preference is to use the tops for pushing on anyway. This also removes the contention for angled hand grips anymore, since your hand and wrist can be positioned on them in a more natural feel. Plus, the round cork knob is much wider than traditional hand grips on trekking poles. Your hands will thank you for it after lengthy excursions, since any pressure or weight absorbed is displacing over a wider area across your hand, unlike with standard hand grips.

The camera mount is a huge bonus for me. Even though I have a tiny, light weight tripod that is good for setting up on rocks, boulders, and even attaching to the base of a tree, there is little setup opportunities in the snow or on steep terrain. Instead, I can quickly remove the cork knob and attach my camera and use just about anywhere, in addition to flexibility of height.

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