Anyone have a MYOG for trekking pole handle covers?

[Steve H]

I was thinking of some kind of waterproof sleeve bag with a draw string or velcro closure that can be used to cover new cork trekking pole handles to protect them when used inverted with a trekking pole shelter.  Has anyone designed/produced anything like this?  Thanks!

[Gary Dunckel]

Steve, I have done exactly that – I made a pair of custom 1.43 cuben bags with drawstrings that exactly fit over my trekking pole handles. I also included small flaps in case I would want to use one of them to hold my tent stakes – dual use…  The heavier/more macho 1.43 cuben is nearly impossible for a rodent to chew through, and it is certainly waterproof.

[Steve H]

Sweet!  Are you experienced with sewing?  I have no clue.  Could you post a couple pictures?  Do they work well for you?  Thanks!

[Gary Dunckel]

Nah, Steve, you’ll have to find someone that knows how to work with cuben fiber. You don’t sew it, but rather use special double-sided tape.

[Gary Dunckel]

Steve, I did find a couple of photos of what a DCF (cuben fiber) trekking pole handle sleeve looks like. This first one shows sleeves on both poles, but the sleeves don’t cover the entire pole grips. The DCF should have been longer here, or some of the neoprene should have been cut off. I took a second photo with a different pole, but I couldn’t navigate the BPL system to include it. I decided to blow it off and have a latte. Remember, (1) there should be a little flap at the top, in case you want to use them for stake bags, (2) you need a bungee cord with a cord lock, to cinch the bag tightly to the pole.

 

 

[Steve H]

Thanks for all the work, pre-Latte.  I’ll do some digging & whip up something.

[Gary Dunckel]

I’ve been thinking about some options for you, and came up with a couple  of viable options, Steve.

1) You could buy some titanium foil, and make 2 small ‘wind screens’ to cover the entire handles. You can use small silicone hair ties to secure the foil to the pole handles. If you cut the foil an inch longer that needed, you can probably shove the foil into the dirt a wee bit.

2) There must be some sort of plastic sleeve that is long enough to cover the entire handles, and small enough diameter to snugly fit over your pole handles. Check out your local Ace hardware store, and also keep a close eye on things in the larger grocery stores. I have found a lot of items and my local Safeway store that can double as MYOG items…

Good luck,

Gary

 

 

[Iago Vazquez]

Plastic sleeves perhaps from cut off umbrella bags? Those bags you pick up at some places to put over your umbrella… The plastic probably doesn’t have much abrasion resistance…

If interested, let me know and I can send a couple your way.

[Steve H]

Gary, I really appreciate your attention & assistance to this.  Thank you!  All great advice & ideas.
And thanks Iago for the umbrella idea.

This should be elegance through simplicity.  I’ll give it some thought. Funny, my first thought was bread bag & tie.  Thanks.

[Todd T]

Make one that’s rodent proof and I’m interested.

[Michael B]

What MYOG material would work as rodent-proof?

[Todd T]

What MYOG material would work as rodent-proof?

Chain mail?

My request was tongue in cheek, but the concern serious.  I’ve never been bothered by my handles getting wet or muddy, but losing a good set of poles to a saltaholic rodent is the pits.

[Roger Caffin]

Make one that’s rodent proof and I’m interested.
Either Alfoil from a baking dish, or Ti foil (deluxe version) from an impossible-to-control windshield. Secure around the handle overnight with a rubber band or a scrunchie. Make sleeve slightly longer than handle.

To carry the sleeve during the day: slide it down the pole onto the tubing, wrap tightly, secure with smaller rubber band.
To prevent it sliding down the pole while you wave it (the pole) around: rubber band tightly around shaft below the sleeve.

Cheers

[Steve H]

What about Spectra & Kevlar like an Ursack?  This really shouldn’t be rocket science.  I sleeve bag design appeals to me more than having something on my poles all day when I don’t need or want it there.

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