Trekking pole straps and caps

Look online for cross country ski pole straps.

Or just use 3/4" wide nylon webbing and QR buckles for straps. (At REI, among others.)

Caps-> Try Leki rubber end caps. I use 'em on different poles. Duct tape them on to prevent loss. I prefer rubber caps for most 3 season duty.

Poles without straps, packs without straps, boots without laces–all share the same advantage.

The straps on trekking poles aren't just to keep you from dropping/losing the pole, they are/can be/should be an integral part of how you use the pole. I know some don't do it this way to save weight, but the straps are designed so you slide your hand up through the loop, so that the strap rests on the top of your wrist. Held this way you barely need the hand grip and you transfer the weight onto the top of your wrist. This is much more comfortable and sustainable over a long period of time because you are transferring the weight to your lower arm bones, which are held up by the elbow and large muscles in your upper arm, rather than supporting the weight with your hands (which transfers the weight into the wrist joint, a much weaker support). For me the straps are a key part of the functionality of the poles.

Function depends on who you are and how you use the poles. I use the mostly for balance and support on downhills. I am a rock climber first so even 20mi days i've never had hand fatigue from not using straps. I hold the poles mostly with my thumb and first finger at the bottom of the grip and have no problems.

people claim they push themselves along XC ski style… problem is that you don't glide like on snow so I think this is wasted effort. like pushing your steering wheel in the car doesn't make you move.

I duno if caps are worth having.. i like having a sharp point and you can replace the tips with similar $ as caps i'd think.

Don't use caps, but I do switch to rubber tips on pavement sometimes.
I eliminated the straps off my poles after I took a fall with the poles, I did not like being hog tied to them and they do not bother me the slightest without straps. No arguments on teqnique here, to each his own.

Yes on straps, no on caps. I don't like the grip of a capped pole, unless I'm on flat granite or a (paved/dirt) road. I generally do not used them. I like the straps for the same reason as others, it's easy to lightly hold the staff – like a pencil – and still get the quad-pedal boost and balance (sounds like a shampoo quality).

I've taken the straps off my poles, not for weight savings but because I found them useless. Plus, I always seem to be futzing around with my camera, water bottles, snacks, etc.; the straps made all that a little too complicated for my liking.

As for caps? I removed them the minute I bought my poles, because I didn't see a reason for them. My inkling was "This ain't Nordic skiing." But I reattach them from time to time, when I know I'll be trekking through snowfields or other areas where the poles might poke down and/or get caught.

Harrison, he's talking about the little rubber end caps that go over the tips.

I took all of my baskets off too, unless it's snowing i don't need them (and would make setting up my tent annoying)