Future Gear List?

Your list seems to be well into the zone of good choices for gear preferences on these forums. WM bags are always a top choice (I have two).

If you are interested, I have a TiGoat Raven bivy (the "large" size Ptarmigan) with full net hood and side zip that is brand new (never used except indoors for pictures). I'm looking to sell it (PM for details if you want to know more).

Are you choosing the Komperdell poles because of price? Because both TiGoat and GG makes poles that weigh half as much, but do cost more. The GG are out of stock right now, and cost twice as much, but the Tigoat's are only about 50% more than the Komperdell's on sale. I just ask because your list is really good and as long as you're spending the money on something like a Summerlite, wouldn't you just go ahead and spend the extra $40-50 to get the lightest pair of poles posssible? I understand if you used up your budget before you got to poles though.

Wow, yeah I like the look of the TiGoats. However, the GG's are slightly less adjustable, which would give me less adjustability with the hight of my tarp. Thanks for the heads up on these poles though.

NICE Choices Dan but…

Have you considered that you can wrap some duct tape around a non adjustable pole to hold guylines for your tarp, and have some to use in case of on trail repairs, emergencies, etc. I've recently started hiking with BPL Stix and they are amazing!! @ 4 oz's a pole their SUL and not a budget breaker-that preform on and off the trail great. I haven't had any probs pitching my tarp at mutiple heights, so they may be a consideration for you.

I love the idea of the single piece. Every review I read of any adjustable's has at least one person complaining of the poles slipping and not locking properly. Thanks for that Aaron.

Yeah no problem! I was considering the collapsible pole idea, but have had way too many problems in the past with poles not staying extended to my settings; especially in colder environments like snow shoeing or xx skiing. The single piece carbon fiber poles IMO are the way to GO!

Now, this leads to me another problem…how do I determine an appropriate length pole? Living in Tampa, FL limits my outdoor stores to Dicks Sporting Goods and Sports Authority, neither of which have anyone staffed that knows much about hiking. Nor do I recall ever seeing trekking poles in either of the two stores.
So is there a cardinal rule for trekking pole length? Or is it solely based on personal preference? A combination of the two I assume?

Generally your arms should be bent at 90 degrees when holding the poles.

Some of us are short and have to extend our poles when we set up our tarps. Make sure before you select a fixed-length pole you're not too short.

I tried the Lightreks and quickly learned that the tightening mechanism is simple enough to force into submission when it misbehaves.

I think at 6'2 I'll be ok ; ) …perhaps one of the only times I'm happy to be tall when it comes to hiking. Thanks for the advice.
So basically the poles should reach my elbow, maybe a little taller, when held to my body?

Height Pole Size
ft.in. inches cm
2'9''-3'0'' 30'' 75cm
3'1''-3'4'' 32'' 80cm
3'5''-3'8'' 34'' 85cm
3'9''-4'0'' 36'' 90cm
4'1''-4'4'' 38'' 95cm
4'5''-4'8'' 40'' 100cm
4'9''-5'0'' 42'' 105cm
5'1''-5'3'' 44'' 110cm
5'4''-5'6'' 46'' 115cm
5'7''-5'9'' 48'' 120cm
5'10''-6'0'' 50'' 125cm
6'1''-6'3'' 52'' 130cm
6'4''-6'6'' 54'' 135cm
6'7''-+ 56'' 140cm

VIOLA!

YES! Thanks man.