Short Person’s Trekking Poles/Collapsible to 13 1/2" / Hiking Poles/Walking Sticks (Buy 1 Pole or 2 Poles)

I bought two of these to take on a river cruise for the walking excursions. Lots of cobblestones and hills in those old cities! I have numerous issues with walking and had used a stick before on one of these trips. These appealed to me because they are COLLAPSIBLE and become quite short when collapsed... easy to put into a little backpack or carry when not needed without stabbing anyone in back of you! They were perfect! Comes with nice carrying bag. Collapses and adjusts in a snap. The grips are very comfortable and extended - you can grip at the top or if the stick is in front of you you can grip a little lower. The top of the grip is also comfortable for leaning on. The locking mechanism - often the weak spot on these cheaper sticks - never failed. I adjusted the height many times a day when opening and collapsing and it never ever let loose on me when I was putting stress on the stick. The rubber cup never fell off either - and we were on a lot of cobblestones! LOVE these sticks and highly recommend them for travelling if you need a little help walking.

These poles are a unique and finely designed/manufactured piece of hiking gear. The folding poles make then very compact and easy to store for travel. The unique locking system at the folding joints makes the poles as rigid and strong as a continuous poll with no folding joints. Just make a simple one time adjustment at the joints(clearly described in the supplied instructions - no tools required) and they twist together as tight and rigid as a solid pole. A simple twist the other way disassembles the polls for compact storage and travel. They also telescope to the range specified on amazon with a fine locking system on the telescoping section. The handles are great and comfortable with a grip section below the handle should you be on a very steep grade and want the pole a bit shorter. They are also very light. In a world of sloppy design and shoddy manufacturing these poles stand out as fine quality/design at a reasonable price. It is actually a pleasure to support such a good manufacturer. Obviously I love them.

I purchased these poles so that I could pack them down into a small suitcase, and because I'm 5 feet tall. I've used them for 3-5 mile walks in the past few weeks. I have only used one other pole, the Leiki walking pole. I like the tightening system on the Sterling poles. It stays tight and the length can be seen because of measurements printed in the pole. I did have a little difficulty keeping one of the poles tight, although I never felt it would come apart; it just feels a little less solid when the lower sections are not tight. I have since learned to tighten the sections better, and will update my review if they become loose again. They are very lightweight and collapsible, and seem sturdy so far. The hand grip is comfortable.

Using these Sterling Endurance Trekking poles for the last 4 months has made hiking uphill and on rough terrain an absolute pleasure. Two poles provide extra support for better balance, enhance forward momentum uphill, and provide extra aerobic conditioning by using my arms more. Maybe it's my imagination, but my upper arms seem firmer since I started using these poles! I use them exactly like a ski pole and the grip is the same. If you've never used poles before just check out you tube videos. The technique is easy and natural to pick up. Being 4'10", I find the short person's version perfect as the poles are easily adjustable to my height. The poles are very easy to assemble and are sturdily constructed. After your purchase, Mike, the owner sends info on assembly and contact information. Thank you, Mike, with these poles even with my balance starting to waiver (I just turned 65), I can imagine hiking confidently for many decades to come whether in the mountains or on the flats. Purchase each pole in a separate transaction to get a travel bag for each pole. Being collapsible is a plus ... they'll fit easily into my carry-on or backpack for our hikes in Cinque Terre!

I like these poles. Some background: I am 5' 3 3/4" in my stocking feet, and I am definitely a plus size woman. I like to use walking poles instead of a cane (messed up knee and hip). Poles help me with stability and balance. My previous poles have been telescoping, which were good, except when I needed them to collapse down or bring back up to the needed height quickly (a crowded carpool). My motivation for buying new poles was to find some that would fit into my small suitcase for traveling. (TSA website says that poles must be checked and cannot be in carry on). These poles definitely meet that criteria. The poles are very easy to fold and unfold, taking only seconds. This is good for when I go into a restaurant or on public transportation and I need to put one or both away due to space, or I am seated. Adjustment of the poles is in the upper portion of the pole. It is telescoped and has the measured markings to help me find the height I need. After I have found my mark, I tighten the bolt with my finger and thumb, and then flip the latch. I do not lower this portion unless I need my poles to go into my suitcase. Every once in awhile, when I am starting out, the pole will slide down (collapse). I am not sure why. I just check to make sure to put some weight on them before heading out. It takes less than 30 seconds to adjust the height and tighten the bolt. I have not had them slide during the walk, if I checked them before. I really like how light weight they are, yet they feel very sturdy. I have used them to help me stand from a seated position. I use them when I walk my dogs on sidewalks and trails. I have been using them for about two months now. I am looking forward to taking them to Europe with me.