Review on Experience Unmatched Stability On Your Next Adventure With Foxelli Collapsible Trekking Poles by Telly Roden

I've tried a number of brands including expensive high-end types like Black Diamond / Leki. Every one of them has some major fault. The black diamonds for example have become thinner and more flimsy (probably just to save a few measly ounces), also the "ergo" bend at the top of some models increases flexing and decreases stability when palming the top of the pole while moving down a very steep mountain slope.I often hike mountains and other difficult terrain for long hours. The ideal trekking pole to me is:Strong 7075 aluminum-I care about strength much more than the small amount of weight saved from carbon or thinner aluminum. There are times, as in descending a steep mountain or slope, where much of my body weight is on the pole. A pole snapping or bending at this point could lead to very serious injury. Also, at times, while quickly moving forward, poles can unexpectedly become lodged deep in roots/mud/rocks putting extra horizontal force on the pole, carbon and thin aluminum poles are more likely to break. "High end" brands like Black Diamond and Leki models seem to be getting thinner and weaker (probably just so they can advertise a lower weight). The Foxelli poles are some of the strongest I've tried with less flex.Straight cork handles with a rounded top.-Cork is more comfortable in the long run and deals with wet/sweat situations better than synthetics. The main grip on the Foxelli poles is cork. The rounded top portion is not cork, though, this portion does not need to be cork.-Rounded tops are much more comfortable when palming the top of trekking poles. When descending a mountain normally poles should just be lengthened and held normally, however there are occasional short extra steep sections where palming the top of the pole can be very useful. Some of the cheaper brands have a flat top with sharper edges, the Foxelli's are rounded and much more comfortable.-The Foxelli poles have straight handles. Some companies use "ergo" handles where the handle is bent forward a bit to be more ergonomic. This might be fine for normal hiking.maybe even helpful, but when "palming" the top of the pole in steep terrain it creates an unstable feeling and makes the pole more flimsy as more of the pressure is directed horizontally due to the handle bend, causing the pole to flex more easily. I'm not willing to trade increased risk of serious injury for a slightly more ergonomic feel.Lever type locks that hold.-I'm not a fan of the twist lock type. They seem more likely to loosen during the hike. The Foxelli poles use lever locks with a metal thumb nut tension adjuster. Many other brands use a plastic thumb nut, or a Phillips head screw to adjust tension.not easy to tighten a Phillips head screw on the go. The Foxelli lever itself is plastic (like many). It would be nice if it was aluminum in a future model. I've notice some more expensive/"higher end" brands, like REI, have lever locks that never really lock, put full body weight on them and they collapse! The Foxelli poles can handle my full leaning body weight (170lbs+) without collapsing when the tension nut is properly adjusted (the thumb nut needs to be adjusted BEFORE the lever is locked, ie. when the lever is in it's "loose" position). Also the Foxelli lever locks are not overly bulky like some.Keep it simple.Many poles are adding complex quick lock mechanisms or shock absorbing features. The more complex, the more that can go wrong. These Foxelli poles keep it simple. Shock absorbing is overrated, I'd rather have the sure feel of solid poles without springy shock absorbers. The cork grips apply some shock absorbing anyway. Excessive "shock" has not ever been an issue for me.Replaceable tungsten tips (just the metal tip).-It seems only Black Diamonds have this feature, though given their other issues and high price I'd rather have the Foxelli poles. When hiking rocky terrain, no tungsten tips last forever. It would be nice to simply screw in new tips as is the case with Black Diamonds. Foxelli did say replacement parts are available, so it might be possible to just replace the entire bottom section, though I haven't personally asked about this yet.All in all, the Foxelli Aluminum Trekking Poles seem to be some of the best available, especially considering their price.