Like the idea of carbon fibre ones but I’m quite ‘heavy’ I wonder if they’ll flex/snap under load.
They’ll bend under load, but mostly if you’re using them badly. They shouldn’t break under normal use, though I guess if you jam the tip in a crack and apply lots of force, they will probably snap – the lower tubes are by necessity, quite narrow.
Two tips: one is, before buying, to lock the poles in position and put your bodyweight through them to make sure there’s no slippage. I’ve seen both cam and twist-lock version concertina if badly designed, not what you need if you’re lowering yourself over a step for example with a lot of weight momentarily on the poles. And make sure you can adjust them wearing gloves if you’re going to use them in winter. Personally I prefer the camming lever type closure, but people use twist-locks without dying on a regular basis.
Second, get some advice on how to use them properly. As with climbing axes, most of the load should go through the wrist loops rather than via the grip, which means holding them properly, which isn’t always instinctive. You also need to adjust the length of the poles to work with the terrain – shorter on climbs, longer on descents.
There’s a lot of guff out there about poles reducing the load on your legs/knees, by some totally unrealistic amount – think it through, do you really believe your arms are going to support 50% of your bodyweight for long? – but they’re good for balance and stability, which in turn means you may walk more efficiently and avoid loading your joints and connective tissue in odd directions.
I’m not a huge trekking pole fan – I’m lucky I think, my legs have mostly survived without and I’m quite good on my feet – but they’re brilliant for carrying heavy loads on uneven ground when you’re so trashed from being up a mountain for days that you can barely walk in a straight line.
Blah… sorry to blather on.
