Trekking Poles for short people...

[annbk]

I am about 5'2" and all of the poles I have tried are too long especially when I am going up hill. Has anyone had any experience with shorter poles for shorter people?

 

[robpatterson5]

you can cut down the Al BD poles with a hacksaw, just slip the lock off and go for it - you'll need to cut a new expansion joint once you cut it down

[tradhead]

Probably better off using a plumbing copper tubing cutter than a hack saw if given the choice; I've cut two cracked poles off this way and it works very well.

 

ALso, possibly easier to cut the expansion joint with a die grinder or angle grinder? I'm pretty sure this only applies to flicklock poles - I've only repaired the kind with the plastic wedge mechanism, which I glued in place afterward in the now-shortened pole with JB weld. Given how the plastic end was only staked in place originally, I figure my repair is stronger than new and hasn't failed on me after much use (so far anyway...)

[Lisa_D]

I am also 5'2" and found some BD poles with extra-long handle grips (about 2 times the size of normal grips). So instead of cutting the pole, you can just hold the pole at a lower point when you need a shorter pole. Works well for going uphill and also for the side-hilling that happens when skinning.

[robertjoy]

Buy a pair of Black Diamond 3-section flicklock trekking poles. I just measured mine at 25" (collapsed). 5'2" is not so short that you can't use a collapsible trekking pole. http://www.rei.com/product/768624

[tomtom]

REI sells poles for kids:

 

http://www.rei.com/product/784268

 

Another advantage is that they are cheap. Also try Fred Meyer.