Review of Stansport Outdoorsman Hiking Poles
Stansport makes a variety of products meant for
those that love the outdoors, and the Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Poleis
their foray into the trekking and hiking world. Unlike Black Diamond and
Leki, Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Poles are designed more for convenience
than for functionality, and as such are generally a little less expensive.
But those that are looking for a pole may find the Stansport Outdoorsman
Trekking Pole interesting, and there is a chance that the product will be
what you need.
Features of the Stansport Outdoorsman
Trekking Pole
·
Lightweight aluminum shaft.
·
Designed with cork handle with an
included compass built into the handle.
·
Collapsible pole that allows it to fit
into a very small area, such as a backpack or included bag.
·
Mild shock system for improved support.
Pros
The pole itself is the least interesting part of
the Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Pole. The most interesting aspect of the
pole is the collapsible design. The pieces are tied together with a string
in the middle, but can be easily taken apart (while still connected via the
string), allowing it to fit in an 11 inch bag – MUCH smaller than even the
most compact trekking poles. In fact, while most trekking poles can barely
fit into carry on luggage, the Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Pole can fit
into a small backpack.
The cork handle is acceptably comfortable and the
compass is a great little addition. The shaft itself is not prone to
breaking, which is a plus.
Cons
The Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Pole is not the
best hiking pole around. The handle can come loose and move while you walk
on the trek. The pieces of the shaft (which you put together when you take
it out of your bag) can be a little loss and flimsy, which can be irritating
on the hike. The pole is not adjustable, since you cannot remove the pieces,
and it is also difficult to clean which may cause it to degrade over time.
Overall Impressions
Creating a final thought on the Stansport
Outdoorsman Trekking Pole is difficult. It is certainly not that great of a
hiking pole. The flimsy shaft is not likely to withstand tough terrain (and
lose some of its usefulness for support). The loose handle can be especially
irritating and may cause you to slip as you walk. It does not have an
adjustable size but does not come with the stability or lightweight that is
most often seen with non-adjustable poles.
But the Stansport Outdoorsman Trekking Pole may
easily be the most portable pole in existence, and this is a tremendous
strength. Few other poles can fit into such small bags, and those that are
unsure if they will even be using their pole (or how often) will find it
especially valuable that they can easily pack away the pole in a simple
backpack and only take it out if they need it.
If you want a true hiking pole, it is best to look
elsewhere. But if you need to have a pole on hand even though there is a
chance you will never use it, the ability for the Stansport Outdoorsman
Trekking Pole to fit into a small bag cannot be overlooked as an obvious
benefit.
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