I have decided get a pair of Poles and would like some recomendations on where to buy and which ones to buy!
TIA
Dave

I'd recommend Lekis, my pair have done me well for ages and still do the business despite being in a battered state.

I like BD flicklocks, but that's just my personal preference. I also like the ergo-type handles, if you're at Wasdale I can bring a couple of sets along and you can get some idea of which you prefer. Some people don't seem bothered about the handle angle btw, ditto anti-shock. A lot of it is just personal preference I reckon.

I tried a pair of PACER POLES at the weekend they are great the hand grip is totally different to any thing that I've tried before and gave such a positive feel and MORE power going uphill with a big pack.see ROCK AND RUNS WEB PAGE

When I purchase pole spare parts are TOP of the list, 60 notes for poles is alot of money in anyones books. Brasher promote some light poles but they are manufactured by Komperdell, spare sections, grips etc ARE hard to obtain, with the Brasher version you'll have to hope that they have had a return that they can split up for spares..........now thats shite for you!!!!!!! try BD or Khola who have endless spares, or pacer poles.

Jon yea that'd be great means I can try some BEFORE parting with my hard earned cash!
So yea I'll see you at Wasdale in 8 Day's ;0)))

Pete hmm that's interesting ref Brasher and spares wonder if we can use that approach at work for patching etc...Sorry we can't fix that hole in the road we haven't had a road broken up yet for spares!!

David, no problem though of course I reserve the right not to turn up if, say, Kylie Minogue or Shakira want to go cragging instead...

The Mountian King poles seem pretty good as well btw, and I'm not ujust saying that cos

...becasue I am dwunk and cannot finish my sentences, oh no, not at all.

Lol enjoying a nice night in then Jon??
Or was it more of a trip to the Pub??
Any way yea I'll understand...I think!

The BEST way to acquire poles IMHO is to make a big shopping list of all that you need. Cost it out. Then visit Easyjet website to book a flight to Barcelona.

Once in Barcelona take an air conditioned bus ride to Andorra la Vella (2 l's = a y). Buy your kit. Do a re-costing & look at the holiday you had at a trop discounted price! While in Andorra the Pyrenees are, well, just there in your face. Hike to Arinsal & do a nice little (almost) 3000m Pic de Coma Pederosa. Luverli!

But be aware that not all the guys in the gear shops there speak English (well, not beyond the very basics). Bob bought some ski boots there and the conversation re the fit etc was conducted entirely in French as the guy's English was good enough. Thankfully our French was a bit better.

Sorry...was NOT good enough...(penultimate line above)

I bought a pair of poles from ALDI for £16 in May 2005 and they are as good as any of the poles my fellow walkers use. They have cork handles and a turn on turn off anti-shock device. They served me well in the Pyrenees this year walking the superb Odessa Canyon and on a trip to the Brecht de Rolande.

Trashed both my Lidl poles (£6.99)within 6 weeks. Just ordered a pair of Carbonlites from Alpkit.

Just to be different (!) I'm not a big fan of Leki poles - don't like the shape, angle and material of their grips. Also find that the lighter weight ones (malakus?) flex too much.

I flogged mine and got a pair of kohla poles which IMO are a better option. see http://www.escape2.co.uk/acatalog/Trekking_poles.html if you want any details.

I'm also probably going to be ay Wasdale so will bring them along to allow you to compare, After all, i guess it will mainly depend how they feel in use.

Jagger - thanks for that. Was going to see if they had any left in the morning. I now won't bother!

I've used poles by Peter Storm before, but the "compact" version is flimsy and the antishock ones fell apart after about a mile. I now use Leki Makalu Classics and would highly recommend them to anyone. FAR more reliable than cheapo Peter Storm!

Poles again?

Last year I got some of the flick-lock ones due to my poor grip - I was having probs with my cheap Gaynors ones (which despite being £18 the pair didn't warp) and couldn't unscrew them myself.

The Black Diamond ones were pretty expensive and no-one locally stocked them. I got the generic Rock and Run Giproc ones - they're the company who make the BD ones and R&R sell them.

Superb!
http://www.rockrun.com/shop/prod.html?d=19&t=239&p=1819&sid=91df1d0b356a165beb2cae1752e7d97c
Mine are slightly different - last year's model - they're dark green with Rock and Run on them. They have been used and abused and still function brilliantly.
Highly recommended.

Soz if i broke the forum BTW

F&T, Alpkit etc.

I saw a lot of people using expensive Leki poles in the Cairngorms recently. However, a lot of people didn't use the straps.

I thought the straps were very important...

I'm not sure the poles actually helped my knees but they did wonders for my posture and confidence-I walked much faster over rougher terrain. Great for river crossing too.

I knackered one of my Peter Storm poles when I fell and put all my weight onto it. The locking mechanism wouldn't lock properly afterwards. It was entirely my fault, no relfection on quality.
After much ringing around I got through to the place that manufactures them. Turns out they didn't have spares for PS, but did for Leki. I hadn't realised that they are just different brands made by the same company.
Anyway, I've been happy with the PS poles.