Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles - Carbon Fiber Walking or Hiking Sticks with Quick Adjustable Locks

My wife and I have appreciated these trekking poles on some recent hikes. They have felt stable and the locking mechanism worked easily. I have detected a small bit of slippage in the wrist straps but it just takes a second or two to adjust. My wife particularly appreciated the light weight and the fact that she doesn’t have to differentiate between a left and right pole, as with a more expensive pair she owns. One surprise: Based on the product photos, I was under the impression that the poles come with rounded rubber tips that can be used while walking on paved surfaces. However, the instructions that come with the poles say the round rubber tips are to be removed before use and are for protecting the carbide tips while the poles are in storage.

I bought a pair of the 3K carbon CM and Aluminum CM Trekking poles as support for a tent. I normally use hiking sticks I made from a tree that grew in a cluster of branches out the ground and have a natural curve that's a natural shock absorber, they are the same weight as the Aluminum CM poles, but didn't work with the tent.The straps on the poles come so the wide part only fits one hand, when your hand is inserted up from the bottom so that the wide part of the strap supports the edge of palm of your hand. On the other one it will be the narrow part supporting the palm. Not good in two ways lack of support and now the wide part is under your thumb, it's cumbersome. What to do?I got to looking them over and you see the metal pin at the top of the handle there's your solution. I positioned the pole on a bench and took a small old drill bit the size the pin, and drifted it out, using a hammer, light taps leaving room for pin to comes out other side, but not all the way out.Now that the pin is out you can remove the strap and wedge. I loosened the other strap to see how it was put together. Then I did a dry run to figure out how to put It back together, so the wide part would be under may palm. Then reinsert the thin parts of strap in the pole and hold them in place and tap the pin back in making sure it comes between the U of the straps are making in the hole, as the straps loop around the pin. Now make adjustments for fit and I find it helps to tap the block back into help the straps hold in place, on both poles.Final configuration is looking at the straps the soft inner part is entering the top side of each handle and hangs to the right on one and to the left on the other handle. The logo is on the out side of each strap, the long adjustment piece is next to the cork handle as it exits the hole, narrow thumb side of the strap enters the hole under the wide part with the soft side up. The strap soft wide part leave the top of each handle facing up making a J shape, on the right hand and Inward facing J on the left hand. Now you have a right and left hand trekking pole. Coming up through the J loops for the bottom will put a all three layers of the strap under the palm of your hand between the thumb and index finger securing the adjustment block into the handle. Going straight through the loop and grabbing just he cork handle leave every thing loose and subject to loop slip it flops around. If you don't want the straps on, just drift the pin out and remove the strap and tap it back in it's a really tight fit and wont fall out. This would be a way to replace worn straps. Could this be done at the factory sure, but that would take time.The cam flip lock adjustment, on these had a clear nut on them, to adjust tightness open the lock give the nut a few turns with your finger then close the lock, there should be some resistance as it closes and kind of makes a slapping noise as it closes, check for slipping either by pushing down putting you weight on the extended pole and or trying to twist rotate the locked sections of the pole, maybe do both. Locks are fixed to the pole sections with the locks closing from the left side front and nut on the right back. The locks backs line up with the back of the pole, unlock top lock, pull second section out, then sight down the to align the second lock up with the top one, now lock the top, next pull out bottom and lock it. Make hight adjustment as needed. Not aligning the locks is why some get wonky lock positions, still works just looks funny. Additional attachments are threaded on to the pole. When close to the shorted position if the tip rattles just slide it out past where it tappers and re lock. I did returned the tent no head room and the poles as they weren't needed. I did put my weight into the poles when locked in place and nothing moved on either 3k or Al CM.

I have had these poles for over a year Now, I have put hundreds of miles on them, abuse them to no end, they're fantastic. My only gripe is the grips are a little bit small for my monster hands.

They look great, are lightweight and easy to adjust. They just make a springy noise when they strike ground.It that doesn't bother you, they are a great value.

I don’t have any experience with any other trekking poles but I don’t have anything to complain about with these. They seem well made and are very lightweight.

Great Product

As an elderly person , I started having balance problems , and wasn’t yet to the point of needing a cane. I’ve now been using this item outside my apartment where there is a chance of getting bumped by people, for four years, and really like its lightness, and yet very sturdy. This is my second buy, due to loosing one of them.

These are great at securing in place. I was hoping they fit in my suitcase folded up. They didn't.