Brasher's New Super Trekking Pole

Coming soon from Brasher - that's soon as in November 2007 - is a mega-technical new trekking pole called the ProVolution.

Brasher is actually second only to Leki when it comes to pole sales in the UK and for this autumn the whole range gets a serious makeover, with the ProVolution heading the charge.

Brasher says it's ideal for 'mountaineering, trekking and backpacking' and it sounds like a serious bit of kit. The three-part pole is made from carbon fibre and rather than using a screw-in method, the pole features a Powerlock closing mechanism which is said to be easily useable wearing gloves and resistant to snowy conditons. It sounds rather like Black Diamond's long-standing Flicklock mechanism, also used by Rock and Run for their own-brand poles.

We've used Flicklock before and it does work really well, so it sounds like a good move. The pole also features a full foam contour grip, neoprene padded strap and a Tungsten Carbide tip plus, we think, an anti-shock mechanism.

The pole is available in a choice of black or black, weighs 183 grammes per pole with a maximum length of 140cm and will retail for a cool £100 per pair when it appears in the shops this November.

And The Rest...

If you don't fancy splashing 100 quid on a pair of trekking poles, the new ProActive is about half the price at £56 per pair, has a steel-reinforced screw-in locking mechanism, anti-shock and a new upgraded bi-component handle. Weight is 250gms per pole and maximum length is 125cm, some 15cm less than the flagship model. The ProActive replaces the Supalite Ti.

Other poles in the range get a makeover too with new, handles among the detail changes. Keen photographers might like to note that the range includes the Mono which can be used as a handy monopod on the hill.

Details of the current Brasher range at www.brasher.co.uk