Trekking Pole or no trekking pole?

Trekking poles are coming popular with hikers all over the world. Not only are they offer stability and shock absorbent, they also have many second uses that come in handy once you get into camp. I am going to tell you what i have experienced with different brands of trekking poles and how they held up under the extreme conditions of they Yukon's Coast mountains.

Swiss Gear
           Swiss gear has one of the most inexpensive trekking poles on the market. They hold up good in grassy Teriann but once you get up high where there are boulders and smaller rocks  they have a tendency of getting stuck, and this means bending and crippling the pole. This then makes if an inconvenience to carry around because it will no longer fold in on it self. They had a nice strong grip but the support straps were not built for long expeditions. If you are looking for a nice affordable trekking pole that you can use on day packs into the woods then this is for you.

• Durability     (D)    broke within a week of continuous use in the mountains.
• Affordability (A+)  is the cheapest trekking pole on the market and a bang for the buck, if you don't need a pole for rigorous use.
• Pack ability  (C)   Isn't the lightest weight trekking pole on the market but for the price its worth the extra weight. If comes with end covers so the sharp gripers on the end of the poles do not pierce you backpack.
• Dependability (D) do to the tendency this product had to break i didn't find that i could depend on it when i needed it the most.
• Tough Gear Grade (C)

 Black Diamond          
               Black Diamond offers a numerous amount of styles for what ever kind of outdoor adventuring you are into! Hiking, mountaineering, ext. These are the top of the line products on the market. They are more expensive but you will be getting your moneys worth. They are tough and dependable. You can throw your weight on them, catch your self falling, use them as posts for your wind tarp, over and over again and they will keep on proforming like their brand new.  If you are the person who is going on a long trek in the mountains in which you need a reliable trekking pole that will be worth its weight in gold then these are for you. 

• Durability (A+) I put my full weight on the poles multiple times when i was descending a 7000 ft peak and they preformed flawless. Used as wind tarp poles, and first hand used them to cross a river. After a months use they held up to extreme physical and environmental conditions.
• Affordability (B) They are more expensive than the cheaper brands but you also get what you pay for.
• Pack ability (A) Were very convenient and folded up to a size that could easily fit right into the side of your pack or on a strap in the back.
• Dependability (A+) I found that i didn't hesitate to put weight on these poles even under risky circumstances. I could always count on them standing strong when i needed them and not once over a two week period even after rigorous use did they fail me.

   Tough Gear Grade (A)

                  Contemplating on buying a pair of trekking poles?
       If you are thinking about buying a pair of trekking poles i suggest that you write down a list of things that you want to get out of them. Also think about what you are going to need them for. Do you want affordable or durable? Are you going to use them on a small hike in the hills or be using them consistently for a long period of time under stressful conditions? You can look on the web at reviews and find good deals on eBay. They make a really nice addition to the equipment pile and come in handy when your least expecting it. But remember its your body and your trip. Buy them for you and get what you need to be comfortable.Some times spending a little extra in the front country will save your life in the back country.  So i hope this will help any one and let me know if you have any other brands that you have personal experience with. Thanks