Trekking poles for use with hammock

[mountainlaura]

I’m hoping to buy my first trekking poles soon and was just wondering if I should look for any particular features to make them usable for porch mode? Does anyone have any specific model recommendations on those? Also, it seems like I saw someone using their trekking pole as a spreader bar between two hammocks. If so, how does that work? Do they need any special modifications, parts or weight ratings?

[ufdigga]

I can't speak to the spreader bar information, but no particular features are needed for porch mode. Just stick the tip into the ground, wrap the guyline around the handle a couple times, and stake down the loose end. You can do the same thing with any long stick you find in the woods.

Technically, the greater the max adjustable length of the pole, the higher you can set your porch. But that's never been a concern or issue with any poles I've used.

PS: I used to live in G.R.! Grew up in Hastings, and lived for a few years off of M-37 and 60th.

[mountainlaura]

Thanks ufdigga. I was thinking that was the case with the poles, but just wanted to make sure.

Very cool that you used to live here. I technically live in Jenison, to the west of G-rap. I'll bet you have a lot more opportunities to hike in Colorado than here. I'm thankful we have so many parks here but it is hard to find many hikes with any sort of significant incline to them. I'd love to get to Colorado someday. I've been fortunate to have travelled quite a bit but have never gotten quite that far west. I'm sure it's lovely.

[sidvicious]

any trekker should do for porch mode. sometimes i have the handle on the ground, and sometimes its the business end. just depends.

sv

[Caminante]

I purchased the Mountainsmith FX 7075's based on a recommendation that I read here. They fit my budget (~$22/ea at Amazon, just watch the price) and they convert into a monopod for a camera when you screw off the piece of foam on top. I an avid photographer and also want to get some video on my trips, so that was a nice selling feature for me.

I've used them on one backpacking trip and several hikes and have no complaint about their use as trekking poles.

[Tumbleweed]

Sweat-soaked cork grips can be attractive to critters seeking salt. Just a thought regarding hiking poles. Tips Up is for fishing, down if porch mode. Maybe no critters where you hang though.

[ufdigga]

I will throw out there for consideration. After going through several pairs of poles, I greatly prefer the flick-lock style (external locking tab) to the twist-to-lock style. IMHO, they are more reliable and more durable.

[Makowski]

I will throw out there for consideration. After going through several pairs of poles, I greatly prefer the flick-lock style (external locking tab) to the twist-to-lock style. IMHO, they are more reliable and more durable.

Id second the clasp lock over the twist lock less finicky for sure.

[njsurfer]

After dealing with adjustable poles where the locking mechanism ultimately failed (for me anyway), and always at the worst possible time, I switched to Z-Poles. Picked up a set of carbon Zpoles from Black Diamond and havent looked back since. At 515 grams for a 4 season poles they are hard to beat. I attach my guy lines to my tarp with loop I larks head to the d-ring. I stick the tip of the trekking pole through the remaining loop to set my tarp into porch mode. Works for me.

[Daywalker]

The spreader bar is from Dutchware. It's a simple mode that doesn't need but a couple of parts