I used to borrow trekking poles from my friends when I didn't know how to use them properly. I started to learn and love them hence I bought my first set of trekking poles back in 2020. Still one of the most affordable trekking poles in the market, and my first love, Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Trekking Poles is the highlight for today's review! Let's get started!
Brand: Cascade Mountain Tech
Founded in the Pacific Northwest, Cascade Mountain Tech is an American company and trekking poles are their specialty. The company started by designing and building lightweight and durable trekking poles in mind. The business eventually grew and they expanded into different product lines such as camping equipment like chairs, tables, sleeping pads, and lighting as well.
To learn more about their products, you may visit their site at Cascade Mountain Tech
Product: Aluminum Quick Lock Trekking Poles
In this post, we will talk about my Cascade Mountain Tech's Aluminum Quick Lock with a cork grip. At first glance, Cascade Mountain Tech's poles look similar to one another. As an example, look at the photo below.
All of us are using trekking poles from the same brand but our poles are a little different from one another. On the left is a trekking pole which (I believe) is a Carbon Fiber Quick Lock with a cork grip. The middle one is mine which is an Aluminum Quick Lock with a cork grip. The right one is an Aluminum Quick Lock with an EVA grip. As a novice hiker (yes I consider myself a novice), I couldn't tell any difference when using between a carbon fiber and an aluminum trekking pole. It has something to do with durability as they say anyway.
So what's in an Aluminum Quick Lock Trekking Pole? A telescopic trekking pole with a lever-lock mechanism called a quick lock, you can adjust the pole's length according to your needs and the situation. With a weight of around 590 grams per pair, the pole comes with a travel bag, rubber tips, mud basket, and snow basket as well.
For those interested, you can buy them from Amazon UAE: Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Quick Lock Trekking Poles
Product Specifications:
According to Cascade Mountain Tech,ย the product details are as follows:
- Made of lightweight 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum
- Quick lock mechanism to easily adjust the height from 26โ to 54โ
- Moisture-wicking cork grip with EVA extended down grip
- Equipped with rubber baskets, boots, and tips
- Adjustable wrist straps for secure grip
And it won't even cost you more than $30*.
P.S. The $30 retail price is applicable if bought directly from Cascade Mountain Tech within the USA. There may be small price differences if you are buying it outside the USA/from retailers/distributors.
Trekking Poles Review:
As a new user of trekking poles, this is a good choice. It's a decent trekking pole without compromising its quality. Despite my heavy use of it, it is durable and still good to use. There are only scratches and worn-out rubber tips. My pair of trekking poles were able to support me (I weigh around 61 kg if that matters) through so many challenging hikes and has proven itself very well.
The only thing that I want to complain about this pole is my love-hate relationship with its lever lock (the quick lock). Despite making sure it is fully locked, it loosens up and the poles slide in little by little over time. When the length becomes too short, then I eventually need to stop just to re-adjust the length, again.
It's not a big issue but it's a hassle to re-adjust the length when I'm at a tricky spot (steep terrains/loose rocks).
Apart from my issue with its lock, I initially complained about its length (too long to fit into my Osprey Ace 50 Backpack). That's why I ended up buying my Northland Aluminum Trekking Pole in Kyrgyzstan. To my surprise (and stupidity), I forgot that I could disassemble each pole section. I can unlock the lever locks and pull it all the way to remove each piece to make it shorter. I take that complaint back but I guess that's the downside of a trekking pole if it's not foldable, disassembling it takes a lot of time.
Overall, my Cascade Mountain Tech Aluminum Quick Lock Trekking Pole is good enough as my practice poles. It is not bad at all considering its price. Not the lightest and the best one but it's affordable for those who want to start using one without splurging money.
Disclaimer:
This post is not sponsored. I bought the trekking poles with my own money back in 2020. I can't find the screenshot of the cost since I asked my friend to order it on my behalf. But if I remember correctly, we paid no more than AED 120.00 per pair as it was a promotion at that time.
