TrailStik

I have owned one for a year now. I love it and Bruce is great. To tell you how tough it is; I had it leaning against my car. The tip of the TrailStik was within the arc of the closing trunk. I slammed the trunk closed, only to have it spring back. I had bent the TrailStik more than 90 degrees with no damage. The only problem I’ve had with it is manuevering it to get it into my small 91 Ford Escort, and having it sink in soft mud or soft snow. I don’t do much hiking in these conditions, so it is not a real problem for me.

Scott –

Is it possible to attach any kind of basket to the TrailStik to prevent it from sinking in the conditions you mention? I don’t plan to do much hiking in the snow – but we get a lot of rain here in Washington and hence, a lot of mud.

I haven’t really tried anything yet for a basket. I don’t encounter a lot of snow or mud, so it is not a big concern with me. Sorry.

The entire TrailStik is hollow, so the bottom has a hole in the center that you can use to attach a pad for mud or snow if you are clever. My observation was 99% of hiking miles were on hard ground and those baskets catch on rocks, branches, etc and are really a bother that 99% of the time. And they add an ounce of weight. During a recent hike in the Grand Canyon there was a section of swampy ground on the North Kaibab Trail. But there were still some rocks and hard spots to use… since the hardened aluminum tip is very sticky on wet rocks you can get pretty bold with your pole plantings and trust it to hold.

The ability to plant the TrailStik and rely on it holding is a plus. I can pretty much place it on a rock and the tip holds it there very well. I have used it on quite a few rocky trails and have seen no real decrease in the tip’s length, just nicks and scratches.

As for the strap, it is truely adjustable. I can simply slide my fingers above or below the Prussik know and it slides, but once my hand is using the strap for support, it doesn’t budge. It has eased more than one miss-step.

Scott,

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the TrailStik. It is appreciated.

I use (two) trekking poles ‘religiously’. Have you used trekking poles in the past? How do you cp using one TrailStik (or do you use two?) vs. using two trekking poles? Pros & cons? Any thoughts on using two TrailStiks simultaneously in a manner similar to using two trekking poles? Dumb idea?

Is the aluminum beefy enough that you could thread chase it, and attach something using a nylon nut?

I’m thinking pole extended for a Hex 3 type tipi tent, or a camera mount.

I use one TrailStik. I have used a single adjustable trekking pole before. I guess pro would be having one hand free. I just switch hands every so often. A free hand lets me use it to balance while boulder hopping. Con would be that it may be a little easier to vault over a creek using two. The Stik does not collapse, but it is so light, I sometimes just carry it by my side balanced in my hand.

The aluminum is thickwall Easton 7075-T9 and can be threaded if you find a tap of the right diameter. But I just set my camera on the top of the TrailStik, press it down and click the shutter. It is just the right height for a person 6′ tall.

I carry just one TrailStik to leave one hand free, but many TrailStik users use a pair. On a recent hike down the South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon, I borrowed my son’s Stik and, with two TrailStiks, I was actually swinging down over those tall steps (some are 18″ tall), not using my knees at all. Plant both Stiks down below the step and put max weight on both straps and kinda swing out and land on both feet. I weight 180 plus 25 for gear. On flat spots I just carry them horizontally.

I do the same thing with the camera. I find that putting a lot of my weight on the TrailStik helps when going down “steps”.

Bruce,

Many thanks for the info on the use of two TrailStiks simultaneously. It is appreciated.