Field test and review
There are generally two types of hikers, those who believe poles are useful and those who don’t. If you are one of the non-believers, I do encourage you to grab a pair off a friend to at least test them out as you will be amazed at the benefits they offer. Before I dive into the review, a few points on why you would bother using hiking/trekking poles. Poles provide the skilled hiker with at least six significant benefits:
- avoid injuries
- reduce wear/damage to lower joints
- prevent back pain/injury
- increase exercise
- improve posture
- enhance the enjoyment of hiking
Early January 2018 I was given the opportunity to field test a pair of Montem Ultra Strong Cork Trekking Poles. These are a well-priced, sturdy, value for money pole, that I was (and still am) happy to use and recommend for serious adventures. Recently I was sent a new addition to the Montem Life trekking family, a lighter (by 78g) brother/sister to these poles, the Montem Ultra-Light 3K Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles.
The overall design of the 3K Carbon Fiber poles is fundamentally the same as the cork pair I tested earlier, and that’s a good thing, because that design already has all the qualities and features you’d expect from a robust and reliable trekking pole. Rather than repeat myself on the comfort, adjustability and pack-down size that carry straight across from that earlier review, I want to focus here on what’s actually different, and what that difference is like on the trail.
What’s changed, and what it’s like to use
The first thing I noticed was the grips. They’re cork, same as the other pair, but more porous in texture. On the trail that translates into better wicking, since the textured surface lets moisture penetrate the cork slightly, drawing it away from the grip and my hands rather than letting it pool. They’re soft, durable, slightly absorbent, and they provide enough friction to help prevent blisters. The grips are also nice and wide and felt well proportioned to hold, which I think is a genuine enhancement over the cork pair.
The adjustability carries straight over from the Ultra Strong Cork poles: a three-section shaft, a flick-lock system on the lower two sections so you can adjust for terrain and for your own height, and clear measurements on each section so you can return to your preferred length quickly. What’s improved is the locking lever itself, now made from lightweight aluminium, which adds strength and durability without adding weight to the component. I still love that the measurements on these poles actually relate to each other. I can set the shaft to 115cm, my ideal length, on both sections, and know the poles are 115cm long. Other poles I’ve used have measurements that only tell you how far you’ve extended each section, so one side might read 25mm and the other 15mm, numbers that don’t tell you anything useful about the pole as a whole.
The bigger difference is the shaft material. I know not every hiker will agree with me here, since it comes down to personal preference, but I simply love carbon fibre poles. I’ve found they respond naturally to pressure, flexing enough to absorb force on the trail rather than sending all of it straight into your wrists. The shaft on these is woven from 100% 3K Carbon Fiber. The “3K” refers to the tow, the bundle of fibres twisted into a single yarn before it’s woven into the shaft. A 12K tow, by comparison, is made up of 12,000 individual fibers, and manufacturers supply carbon fiber in spools ranging from 1K up through 3K, 6K, 12K, 24K and 48K. Once those tows are woven and set into a resin matrix, you end up with a composite that’s got high tensile and compressive strength, high modulus, low density, high chemical resistance and high temperature tolerance, and it’s electrically conductive too, which isn’t exactly a benefit out on the trail. None of that is something you notice while you’re walking, but it’s likely part of why the shaft holds up the way it does, light in the hand, with enough give in it that it hasn’t felt fragile under load.
Pack-down size is unchanged from the cork poles too. Unlock the flick-lock system and slide the sections in, and they pack down to 610mm for stowing, with a storage bag included to protect them when they’re not in use. If you’re planning to stow your poles inside your pack, measure your pack first, since they won’t fit inside every pack. I always carry mine on the outside of my pack anyway, so they’re quick to reach for myself or a fellow hiker.
The Montem Ultra Light 3K Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are reasonably well-priced at USD$119.99 for a sturdy carbon fiber pole, and I’m happy to recommend them for serious overnight hikes or multi-day treks. They’ll suit hikers after a heavy-duty, full-featured, comfortable pole who don’t mind paying a bit more than the cork version for the lighter carbon fiber shaft. They come equipped with a pair of Snow Baskets, Rubber Tip Protectors, and Mud Baskets, so they’re set up for most terrain you’d take them into.
Buy direct from Montem Life for USD$119.99
Tech Specs
- Shaft Construction: 100% 3K Carbon Fiber
- Grip Material: Cork
- Adjustable
- Ultra-Light
- Maximum Length: 1350mm
- Minimum Length: 610mm
- Weight Per Pair: 442g
- Gender: Unisex
