Review on Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles - Adjustable Locks for Walking, Hiking, or Trekking by Scott Ramu

I was looking for 3K carbon hiking poles and made a small comparison before making a decision. I chose Peak Walk 3K and Cascade Mountain 3K. What I was looking for were very light 3K carbon fiber hiking poles without the high price and very strong. Before deciding on these two hiking poles, I reviewed the high-end and mid-range models and created a chart to compare pretty much everything I could think of. (I'll go into the details!) For me, these two sticks tick all the boxes I was looking for in terms of specs. These two poles are very, very close together with a few exceptions and I'll break them down and add some photos (Peak Walk on the right and Cascade Mountain on the left). Weight: (CM states 7.8 ounces per bar, is inaccurate, as are some other specs.) PW - 7.51 ounces per bar, CM - 8.32 ounces per side (0.81 ounces per bar / 1, 62 ounces per pair for ounce counters.) Thickness: PW - 9/16", CM - 5/8". (Cascade Mtn. is noticeably thicker, which I like.) Storage Bags: The PW is waterproof, but the CM is better in every way. It's made from ripstop fabric, has improved webbing, buckle, improved traction, improved cord tightening and a separate zippered pocket for extra leg storage. I won't be using the bag but it's really good. The CM bits are heavier than the PW but I don't use them either. The tips on the bars appear to be the same. Grip - The PW grip is made of very comfortable EVA foam. SM is corky but not that comfortable for me. It's pretty hard. Grip Strap - PW is a very comfortable strap with soft padding at hand contact points. The CM has a soft material like the soft side of the velcro sewn to the strap where it comes in contact with the arm. Quick Release Latches - PW has aluminum metal toggle latches, which I really like because you don't lose the latch when you're riding a real track. On the other hand, the CM has lightweight plastic flip locks. Gloss/Finish - The PW has a nice matte gray finish while the CM has a gloss finish that looks almost three dimensional with carbon fiber. It's pretty cool. There is also a silver metallic reflective band on each stem. Folded Length - CM is 26.25 inches long and PW is 24.75 inches long. Both have a 1 year guarantee. My final comment is that the PW has a very comfortable grip but has a springy latch effect and a feeling of being firmly anchored to the ground, while the CM has a firm and confident feel in hand. It all boils down to metal flip-locks or a more efficient three-kilometer bar. This may be information overload for most, but there may be some researchers that I hope this will help. Otherwise you wouldn't have known this information if you hadn't ordered both like I did. All in all, both are really good sticks. It all depends on what categories are most important to you, but personally I think I gravitate toward CM's responsiveness and performance.