Review on 🏔️ Premium Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles—Carbon Fiber Folding Walking Sticks: Quick Adjustable Locks (Set of 2) by Phil Casey

I've clocked up a total of about 60 miles in 5 rides with these poles to date, so the judgment on durability has yet to be made and I will do update this review accordingly. However, based on my experience, I feel comfortable commenting on them. I was originally looking at Cascade snap-on carbon poles, but when I saw this new offering I bought them as I very much prefer the foldable design due to a deep-seated distrust of the snap-on system. While this may seem an irrational fear, I have fallen due to equipment failure in the past and would rather not do it again. They do have a top that snaps into place for adjustment, but even if that fails it only compresses a little, probably not enough to cause a fall. In context I like this feature as it allows me to easily adjust the height and the added security of the folding design prevents the lock from collapsing due to lock failure. On that mention, I would be displeased if I didn't mention that these poles can be too long in the shortest position for shorter hikers (44 inches). I'm about 5ft 9in / 5ft 10in depending on the day of the week and even at their shortest length they are almost long enough for me. I usually lengthen them an additional 1-1.5 inches, which is perfect for most terrain. This adjustability, combined with the security that comes with folding poles, makes them the perfect fit. Because these are foldable poles, they don't fold or tie to my pack as quickly or easily as fully collapsible poles, but that comes with foldable pole territory and a concession I'm happy to make. The included carry case is sturdy and feels very durable. As I climbed the peaks of western North Carolina in the pouring rain at night, the bag was strapped to the outside of my pack and didn't hold much water. Although it rained very heavily and continuously (it was a long night), the inside of the bag was almost dry when opened. The sticks remained tactile and allowed a good purchase of cork grips even in heavy rain with wet gloves. Cascade Mountain Tech's foldable carbon fiber trekking poles have no dampening system but moderate flex, although I've never questioned their stability. The only problem I had was with the locking mechanism. The connections rely on a plastic nut that slides up and down the ramp during assembly, applying tension to the outer portion of the bar. One of the links on my original mount wouldn't snap into place. At first I thought I had a faulty mechanism in this joint, although they fit snugly and the elastic tension keeps them in place fairly well. I've put many miles on this occasion and haven't experienced a disconnect, but when I got to this point I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a replacement linkage promptly and without hassle. Kudos to the Cascade Mountain Tech customer service team. However, to my surprise, the replacement pole part sent to me did the same thing, so I figured I was unlucky. After a bit of research I found out that this little plastic nut doesn't catch on the threads and floats freely. The solution was as simple as screwing a nut onto a thread. Then, when I pushed the bars together, they snapped into place as expected. This isn't really a problem as it's not related to a defect, but it's worth mentioning. I went back and saw that the same had happened to several other reviewers who, like me, thought they had received a faulty product. I wouldn't say this is a production issue but it might be a good idea to include a footnote about it in the documentation that accompanies these rods. Both rods together cost less than a pound. When you receive them 3 different feet are included which are a great addition, although I rarely use anything other than the carbide tip itself. As you'd expect, snow baskets are also included, and the plastic on the snow baskets and smaller baskets feels very sturdy and well made. I used them in heavy mud and they protected well from excessive penetration under load. This is a new company at least for me and so far I have been impressed with the quality of the product promotion, I will be looking at more of their products in the future. I would have no hesitation in recommending these sticks to anyone looking for a quality product at a great price.