Cascade Mountain Tech Ultralight Carbon Fiber Quick Lock Trekking Poles
Cascade Mountain Tech has made a name by selling low-cost trekking poles. But has the low price come at the cost of quality? Not from my experience. I hiked with the Ultralight Carbon Fiber poles along rocky New England trails and found them to be ultralight and sturdy.
Ultralight Carbon Fiber Quick Lock Trekking Poles Specs
MSRP: $42.99
Weight: 5.6 ounces each pole, without rubber tips
Material: Carbon fiber
Grips: EVA foam
About the Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
The poles are light in my hands and solid on trail. The EVA foam grip is comfortable but can be sticky in hot weather. Overall, these are well-made ultralight poles that are good for any on-trail adventure.
Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Features
Adjustable: A lever lock on each pole makes it easy to adjust the two-section pole length from a collapsed 30 inches to a fully extended 52 inches. 52 inches is tall enough to hold up my trekking pole tent and tarp, and 30 inches is short enough to lash to the side of my pack.
Pole Tips: Tungsten carbide, with a good grip on rocks.
Baskets, Tip Covers: The poles come with rubber boot tips, mud baskets, snow baskets, and small rubber tips. The accessories and the poles store in a carry bag.
Grips: The EVA foam grips are soft, but not as pliable as cork grips. Trekking pole grips are made of foam, cork, or rubber, and foam is the lightest of the materials, making it a good grip choice for ultralight poles
Wrist Straps: My hands rest comfortably in the wrist straps, which have a soft lining on the inside.
Lever Locks: Simple to adjust for a tight grip so the poles don’t slip while hiking. The locks have an easy-to-turn plastic housing that encase a tightening screw.
Two-Section vs. Three-Section Poles: Two-section poles like the Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles theoretically have an advantage with one less lever lock that can slip and one less pole connection that can become harder to adjust, but in the real world these are minor issues. Having a single lever lock on each pole also saves weight, but two-section poles don’t collapse as short as three-section poles.
The Downside of Carbon Fiber: A friend and I hiked with carbon fiber poles on rocky trails through the White Mountains, and both his poles snapped about six inches from the tips. Luckily the poles were still long enough to use as we were on steep, rocky trails. I used the Ultralight Carbon Fiber poles, was careful about not bending the poles when they slipped between rocks, and had no problems. And my poles held up to my 160ish-pound body when I put all my weight on them while jumping down from rock to rock on trail. If your poles break outside the warranty Cascade Mountain has replacement sections.
Carbon Fiber or Aluminum: Carbon fiber is stiffer, stronger and lighter than aluminum, but rather than bending under pressure it snaps. This can than be a problem if you’re left with one usable pole on a steep, rocky trail or carrying a trekking-pole shelter. Aluminum poles are more durable and bend under pressure, making them hard to render useless.
Warranty: The manufacturer’s warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship for one year and for intended uses only.
About Cascade Mountain Tech: Founded in the Pacific Northwest by outdoor enthusiasts who set out to design and build a lightweight, durable, and affordable trekking pole for everyday adventures. The company has expanded to sell snowshoes and camp and beach chairs.
Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Pros
Ultralight: 5.6 ounces for each pole (11.2 ounces for the pair) is an impressively low weight for trekking poles.
Easy to Adjust: The lever locks adjust with a simple twist of a plastic-encased screw, and the plastic lever opens and closes easily
Sturdy: The poles supported all my weight as I jumped down from rocks on trail.
Price: The $42.99 price tag make the poles affordable for hikers who want to go ultralight without breaking their budget.
Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Cons
Breakable: Carbon fiber poles can snap, causing problems for hikers carrying a trekking pole tent or tarp.
EVA Grip: Foam grips can get sweaty during warm weather.
Overall Value
$42.99 is a great price for an ultralight carbon fiber pole. The Cascade Mountain Tech Ultralight Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles have a comfortable foam grip, easy-to-adjust sections and a hard-to-beat ultralight weight.
Similar Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
MSRP: $195
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This product was donated for purpose of review.
