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Super Speedy Summary Review

These carbon fibre trekking poles are super light ( at less than 7oz) and pack up quickly and easily into short bundles that can stow quickly on your pack within easy reach. The poles come in two sizes, 110cm and a longer 125cm. For people up to 5ft 8 the 110cm pole will be fine. The poles come with both a rubber tip and carbide tip option so you can choose what grips better for your terrain. The poles convert from folded to straight and back quickly, securely and easily and are very sturdy and light. I’m not a fan of the straps on the grippy and sweat resistant handle though.

All in all a great super lightweight trekking pole for trail runners or hikers and significantly lower in price than competitors like the Black Diamond Trekking Poles.

PURCHASE $129.95

In Depth Review

Up until recently I would have told you that the only carbon poles worth considering are those made by Black Diamond. What surprised me when I tried these poles out were that they easily matched Black Diamond in build quality but delivered this for $40 less which is phenomenally good.

Carbon Footprint

So why use trekking poles at all? A lot of trail runners in the USA in particular seem to feel there is a stigma associated with using ‘cheat sticks’ but I can assure you than in Europe they are used far more by every type of trail runner from ‘back of the pack plodder’ to elite.

Pole Position

Trekking poles give you a number of advantages, used early on in a race or adventure they will decrease the fatigue on your legs from the trail. You can use trekking poles on a long steep ascent to allow your arms to help power you up and hill and on technical descents they provide much needed support and stability and reduce the jarring on your knees. I also use trekking poles as supports for my tarps and mesh houses when I’m setting up camp on multi day adventures or Fastest Known Time trail records.

How Poley Should Your Pole Be ?

Poles tend to come in three sizes. I’m 5ft 7 so find the 110cm is fine . If you are taller you may opt for the 125cm version.

Poles That You Can’t Reach Are Useless

If you are looking to buy trekking poles It’s important that the poles are easy to get to and stow away or you simply wont use them as much. I recommend always looking at the 3 part folding Z Pole types of trekking poles for runners as these can be easily folded and stowed with bungees on the side of your front water bottle within reach without taking your bag off.  The telescopic poles are heavier and don’t pack down small enough so you are forced to stow them in the rear of your pack where you cant reach them without taking your pack off. Telescopic poles are also prone to jamming when they get dirty.

Get A Grip

The handles on these are great and strike a great balance between soaking up a bit of sweat so they stay grippy without being too hard and yet are soft enough that they won’t give your hands calluses. The base or tip of the poles comes with a rubber or carbide tip option ( you simply pull the rubber tips off to reveal the carbide). Competitors like Black Diamond charge extra for carbide tips and they are more fiddly to fit and change.

Gimme Shelter

As well as providing support for me on trail I also use the poles as supports for my mesh house and tarps when camping.

Cut The Straps Off

The straps round the handle adds weight and clutter and all they will do is increase the chance of you breaking your wrist if you fall over with them round your wrist. I’m not a fan so slice them off. I’ve had various trekking people tell me they prefer to have the wrist straps so they don’t lose the pole if they drop it crossing a stream or on a high ridge, but I’d rather buy another pair of poles that are lost or broken than deal with a broken wrist. In fact I have fallen and had a pole break my fall on the Appalachian Trail, had this been in a hand strap I’m fairly sure I would have broken my wrist.

Velcro and Clippy Things

The poles come with a plastic T bar thingy that hold the two folded poles together. These should just go in the bin. There are also some velcro mini straps round the poles to help hold them together when they are folded up. They are great if you are simply throwing these poles in a backpack, but if you stow them on bungee loops on the front of a pack I don’t think they are needed as they have a tendency to cause bobbles on all your clothing.

Verdict

These carbon fibre trekking poles are super light ( at less than 7oz) and pack up quickly and easily into short bundles that can stow quickly on your pack within easy reach. The poles come in two sizes, 110cm and a longer 125cm. For people up to 5ft 8 the 110cm pole will be fine. The poles come with both a rubber tip and carbide tip option so you can choose what grips better for your terrain. The poles convert from folded to straight and back quickly, securely and easily and are very sturdy and light. I’m not a fan of the straps on the grippy and sweat resistant handle though.

PURCHASE $129.95

Features

Weight: 160g (5.6 Ounces) Per Pole
Style: GRHMR04
Length: 40cm (15.7in) Collapsed 
Material: UltraLight carbon fiber with Tungsten Carbid Tip
Storage: Velcro Fastening Straps
Grips: EVA Foam Grip With Light weight Wrist Loops

About Raidlight

Since 1999 RaidLight has served the trail running community with the best products to enhance your ability to connect with each other, nature, and to share the trail running experience. Born in the French Alps they continue to blaze new trails through innovation and community building. Helping you find your limits on and off the trail is what drives them to create award winning products.

Deep in the French Alps in the town of Saint Pierre de Chartreuse is their headquarters and their INO FAB Rapid Production Lab. In the lab their designers can create and test products in the same day. With endless single track outside their front door they bring products to life faster and more efficiently. 

Their headquarters are open to all of the trail running community to learn, play, test gear, and see the latest technology in the outdoor and trail running industry.

They don’t just make trail running gear, they live the life style of trail runners and adventurers. They are next to you when you toe the line at your local race and they follow the same footprints on the trail. They work tirelessly to support the community we are all a part of. Whether you cross a finish line first, last, DNF, or have never started a race you are a part of their family.