Locus Gear Trekking Poles

they make a sort of a rattle noise due to vibration. Do a search and you will find some fixes for that.

billy

I have these CP3 poles, they are great, and mine have NEVER shaked, rattled or rolled, notwithstanding heavy use. Locus Gear also sell a joiner tube that allows two poles to be joined together to form a long tarp pole, as well as the DPTE that allows an A-frame pitch to support a mid.

If you are looking to save some money and don't mind just a bit more weight, these are $50. Carbon, flip lock, under 8oz. I don't have them, just doing my own research into this as well and wanted to share.

Costco carries these poles (flick lock) for around $30 a pair at certain times of year; I think I saw them recently in a Bay Area Costco. I have two pairs that I got there – work great!

My wife and I have the LG CP3 poles and they are fantastic. They're considerably stronger than the Ruta Locura or LT4 offerings. Ours don't have any problems rattling or making noise. The grips are fantastic and never get sweaty and the flick locks are hassle free. I use one of them at 135CM for my shelter with no issues. Even though the costco/amazon poles are "only" 8oz, it's still 150% of the weight of the CP3. Just like with shoes, weight in your hands is 3x-5x more fatiguing than in your pack, so that extra 3oz is more like 10-15oz. Just something to consider.

Some will tell you that theirs don't 'rattle'. And I'm sure that is true. But a year or two ago there was a change in the design that caused the rattle. Some have said they don't mind the rattle. Some have never even bothered using them before selling them they felt the rattle is so bad. It's possible it varies. Do a search on the CP3s if you want to know more about the rattle and some 'fixes' that have been tried.

billy

I have these poles and think they're great. Ultralight, strong, easily adjusted. The only thing I think is just average are the foam grips. They are fine but not really a stand out feature. I'm considering changing the grips to the gossamer gear korkalon.

I can't believe how many people mention the rattle. I do notice it every once in a while but it's not a big deal. Get over it people. :-) It does not affect the performance. It's just from the vibration of the carbon fiber pole when it hits the ground sometimes. It's common with any type of carbon fiber pole whether it's a fishing rod, trekking pole or tent pole.

Don

i have the CP3s and honestly, it's the only piece of gear I NEVER think about changing!

Mine rattle like crazy, but I rarely notice it and frankly, it doesn't even bother me – the sound the poles make clicking and clacking on rocks make far more noise than the rattle. I've read about the fixes, but frankly it's just not bothered me enough to do anything about it.

I've fallen on them, put them through the ringer on several really tough desert trips (lots of falling on sharp rocks, tripping on loose desert rock stuff) and a JMT through with absolutely no issues whatsoever.

I did swap out the grips for the GG ones (which I really like, by the way) but only because the EVO foam tends to give me blisters (and these did). I didn't do a good job the first time and had to re-do it with a second pair after my JMT, but other than that they are perfect.

Seriously – i change EVERYTHING about my kit all year long, but these are the same year after year…..love 'em.

I have the Locus Gear poles and love them, I have no rattling with mine and I highly recommend them. If you are looking to go a lot cheaper the the ones from Costco are good and of course a bargain, I owned them and they are carbon fiber with flick lock and nice, I ended up giving them away to my sister and she likes them. I would definitely change out the grips on the Costco ones if you go that route.

I want to chime in and clarify a couple things about the rattling. It is not just that all carbon things rattle. I have a set of these poles and one has a very significant rattle while the other does not. After trying many of the "fixes" I've come to the conclusion that there isn't a good permanent remedy to the noise and that it is loud enough to make me want to avoid using the poles. It is a shame because I really like them otherwise.

To say something more positive, I've found the Fizan Compact poles are the perfect pole for me. No rattle, much better wrist strap, and less than 1oz heavier.

Another fan of Fizan here. These poles are so so so good, I absolutely love them. I cant stress how rough I am on poles (I know people say this all the time but I am pretty bad) and these have somewhere around 1,000 miles on them if I were to guess and are still going strong.

I weight anywhere from 190-205 and I am 6'1 and I found the length of the Fizan more than adequate. I frequently use them to hop over streams and I have also got them wedged in rocks 'n stuff and kept walking forward several times without breaking them.

"After trying many of the "fixes" I've come to the conclusion that there isn't a good permanent remedy to the noise and that it is loud enough to make me want to avoid using the poles."

I had the same conclusion until I removed the bottom carbon fiber pole section and replaced it with the bottom section of my aluminum Leki poles. This totally changes the vibration that causes the 'rattle'. And in my view makes the poles better as I really like having the bottom section aluminum as it withstands the rocks better than carbon fiber. I really feel I now have the 'ultimate' poles now. And BTW… the weight was not changed at all by doing this substitution.

billy

Really helpful, thanks everyone! I'll probably go ahead and try a pair.

We often end up shthwacking through dense alder and salmonberry, which tends to open some types of flicklocks. This means you get to go back and look for your missing pole section after plowing through dense patch. The old plastic BD flicklocks wrapped pretty far around the pole and didn't grab the brush and stayed closed. The new metal BD flicklocks are more prone to opening. How much friction is there on the CP3 pole flicklocks, and has anyone had them open when going through insane vegetation?

"This means you get to go back and look for your missing pole section after plowing through dense patch."

Duct Tape !

"How much friction is there on the CP3 pole flicklocks, and has anyone had them open when going through insane vegetation?"

The amount of friction depends on how much you have tightened the thumbscrews. You can make them pretty stiff if you want, but there's a fine line there between super securing the lock and compressing the pole shaft to much. Were it me, I'd simply wrap the locking mechanism with a strip of duct tape to secure it.

"Duct Tape !"

Oops, I missed your post.

There you go Tom… stealing my ideas again :)

Or… perhaps great minds think alike?

billy

"Or… perhaps great minds think alike?"

;0))

Im not against home spun fixes, but duct tape can suck on plastic that gets baked in the sun, worked over by vegetation, and needs to be removed regularly (sometimes I stow my poles if it's a long alder thrash, sometimes not). The gooey residue is not my favorite.

One thing you can do is spin the pole handle so that the flicklocks face in a direction so the oncoming brush doesn't grab the lock levers.

I kind of like the BD Z-poles because they are collapsible but there is nothing to get hung up on brush.

I really wouldn't use poles in brush at all…

billy

Do you hike a lot in coastal Alaska?

Snap! Who wants popcorn?

Wonder if the OP ordered already?

Mines are just like two rattle snakes. I suppose all the wildlife is curious when they hear:
peeeiiiing
peeeiinng
peeeiiiing
peeeiinng
peeeiiiing
peeeiinng
(the owners will understand)

When you are walking on grass or some soft ground this rattle is the only sound you hear. And it may annoy you. When you are crossing hard rock the annoying sound comes from the pole's tips striking the rocks and you do not pay attention to the rattle.