ALPS Mountaineering Classic Trekker Gray

ALPS Mountaineering Classic Trekker Gray: WOO HOO! BUY TWO! I feel like going outside and shouting it:THESE ARE GREAT!!!! Most hikers use 2 walking sticks, not a single staff. BUY 2. TERRIFIC HIGH QUALITY materials and design. Also a bargain, when you compare with brands like Black Diamond, Lyke. Secure leg clamps hold length. Length labeled so you can collapse and set up again fast. Comfortable foam grip. Camera mount on top under genuine wood ball on top. Light enough weight. Comfortable wrist strap that also can be removed if you don't like straps. Look at UTube to learn correct use of 2. (Hint arms are opposite legs, just like they swing when you walk. Look online for correct length for your height.) Only issue is my usual travel luggage will not hold the collapsed length, so I still need another set for hiking on vacations by plane.

Very nice cane for stability purposes.

Bought as a "like new" warehouse deal, so mine might not be a poster child. I chose this model because the locks appeared to be metal, which may or may not be irrelevant to function. It's just a bias I have. I intend to use it for a camera so not super strenuous.Well, I got my answer--mostly cold metal, as I thought, but the loops and clamps themselves are plastic, which seems common and is honestly probably the smartest material for the engaging surfaces on a friction-based lock. I happened to run a magnet over the stick and found the only magnetic spots are the lock screws and the tip. Notably, the camera mount, lock nuts, and lock levers are not magnetic. The lever hinge pins look magnetic (it came to me in a dream) but I can't really test them. The tip probably fits "standard" attachments; the included rubber cover has an internal diameter of around 12mm, and it has a little metal washer at the bottom which appears intended to arrest the tip without touching the carbide. The camera mount currently measures 10.9mm long, but the usable length varies as the disc, 18.1mm diameter and 3mm thick, also is threaded to clamp the strap against the tube, which is the same diameter under the foam. The threads run all the way to the tube. I tightened the disc really well by pulling the strap for better grip than with bare hands--initial and hand tightness was prone to being loosened when unscrewing the wooden knob.Speaking of the knob? It's got a brass threaded insert inside--if it means anything, it's flush to the wood. The insert on mine is crooked so the knob does a bit of a dance as it threads in but it's growing on me. I measured 10.7mm depth on the insert, but the bottom is rounded. I admittedly-hesitantly tried pulling and torquing the knob off the mounted insert but nothing budged. (Weeks later, I've since pulled out the insert and used glue and oil--it seems like it was a dry fit, and it did start slipping after enough overtorquing.)The locks work well. Tightening is smooth and I trust even mystery metal nuts more than the theoretical alternatives. The stick doesn't come off to me as bendy at all, but I can't really prove that. Tightened reasonably, at the marked maximum length, shifting my weight, the stick doesn't waver except sympathetically from my shaking arms and no play developed afterward, even after purposefully deflecting it a few cm off-line. I don't know sticks but I would trust this one for whatever people do outdoors. The 3 tubes can be separated completely, revealing plastic expando-thingamabobs on the inner ends.Worst for last: one of my lock screws has an odd defect that may or may not be structural. It looks like a crack, next to the lever, incidentally the most visible part of the screw. One half is very shallow and terminates at the edge, leaving no trace on the next face. The other half is less readily dismissed but I am somewhat willing to give it the benefit of the doubt especially for my purposes. I'm also definitely willing to believe it was like this from the factory as the stick really does show no signs of use. This is why I mentioned how I bought this. If your life depends on it, you should really check your fasteners.Addendum: I went to Alps support per Amazon and they turned the lock defect away, or at least to the evergreen Amazon return, for buying used. At least they didn't take days to respond. Anyway, this is unrelated, but I happened to accidentally break a camera by screwing it in too hard--it was entirely my fault (It was an acceptable loss.). It comedically and tragically punched right through the end of the mount and said camera no longer works at all. I then crafted a plastic spacer from a cylindrical cap to go under the disc.Mine is made up of 2 nested cones that sandwich the strap, so it's super-secure, or at least makes me feel better. I recommend you do something like that as well.

I purchased these for my daughter. They worked excellently on our last hike in to the Hudson River waterfall in the Adirondacks. Excellent construction, sturdy.

Also used for your camera, holding up your tent .

A well built and sturdy support for you and your camera or device.

I have several hiking sticks over the years but I found the best part of this one was the locking mechanism for locking each section of the sticks together other sticks I have had use a friction mechanism which is not as good. Also the rubber tip on the end of the stick is excellent.

I used this pole for about 75 miles while carrying a child carrier. The pole held up well and was simple to adjust. I like that this pole has a carbide tip for added bite, some other options just had steel. I never ended up using the camera thread, but did like having the option available. I was worried about the wood knob, but it never seemed to loosen or show any sign of breaking. I occasionally had to tighten the tension on the extension levers, but it doesn't require tools of any kind. 4 stars would be 5 if the foam grip had some type of shape to it, it's not as comfortable as trekking poles that have a hand contour but still was okay for all my mileage.