Swiss Gear Hiking Pole

The pole arrived broken. The telescoping didn't lock, and there's no way to fix it. That's what I get for buying cheap.

The poles were as described. They are sturdy, easy to adjust and lightweight. They are a good starter pair. They do not have all the bells and whistles of Leki but are good as a start for me and my wife.

I love my Swiss Gear hiking pole. It's not the best on the market, but it works great for my needs. I just picked up another one for my husband because he kept taking mine.

I bought these to see if I liked using trekking poles, and I'm glad I was only expecting a trial run. The handgrip fell off of one somewhere around mile 7 and the inner workings popped out when I then retracted it for easier carrying. Now to buy a real pair.

I began backpacking about 3 years ago and was given and bought a lot of beginner quality gear. Since then I've been able to be out about 30days/nights, mostly in the Sierra, and have upgraded every piece of gear I started with. Except for these poles. These guys have been everywhere with me and won't quit! I've worn through the plastic caps and worn the metal beneath down to nothing. I've gotten them caught in rocks and put quite a bit of pressure on them but they haven't bent or broken, I'm pretty sure I would have snapped a lighter weight or carbon pole.
They're not light but they get the job done, and for me, they've worked as well as a $200 carbon fiber pole could have. The only issue I've ever had with them is in the locking mechanism- my girlfriend bought a pair and the lock on one broke right away. If you buy them test them out in the store to make sure you've got a good pair because it seems based on the other reviews that there is a quality issue from the factory.
Listen, they're $20 for a pair and I've had mine so long that I now show them off and scoff at people who blew $150 for some plastic Leki's.