Cascade Mountain Quick Lock Aluminum Trekking Poles
Last updated: December 13, 2022
If you're tall or regularly hike in the snow, you'll benefit from these longer poles, which are 53 inches in length. The aircraft-grade aluminum gives you a durable, high-quality pole for a fraction of the price of similar poles made from the same material. You'll get plenty of extras, including mud baskets, snow baskets and rubber boot tips.
We looked at the top Trekking Poles and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Trekking Pole you should buy.
Product Details
Key Takeaway: If you're new to hiking using trekking poles, this is an easy-to-use set that will help you get started.
In our analysis of 54 expert reviews, the Cascade Mountain Quick Lock Aluminum Trekking Poles placed 6th when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.Expert Reviews
What reviewers liked
A great entry-level pole for new hikers or hikers who've never used trekking poles. It gives you the option to buy a carbon fiber pole with many of the same features as poles that cost three times as much. It wins our Best Buy Award because of features such as quick-lock levers to adjust the pole length, a cork grip with a lower extension, tungsten carbide tips, and weighing only 16 ounces.
The tips on these Cascade Mountain Tech trekking poles are made of tungsten carbide and have thus far held up incredible well. They also come with the small cone mud baskets, larger cone snow baskets, and rubber ‘boot’ tips. These poles are nice and light, and store away easily on my pack.
They’re an exceptional value if you’re looking for a lever-lock (also called quick-lock or flick-lock) style trekking pole for hiking and backpacking. These are fully featured, durable, and adjustable trekking poles with adjustable length retainer straps, cork handles, extended grips, and titanium carbide tips.
An irresistible combination of price and utility. Each spring, I see them at my local Costco for $30 per pair, and on Amazon they’re never more than their $45 MSRP. At just under eight ounces per pole, they’re a smidge lighter than other premium models, and their max length of 53 inches (135 centimeters) makes them suitable for snow travel and really tall people.
- Outside
The pole shafts had ample opportunities to break: on many occasions I jammed them accidentally between rocks, used them to catch awkward stumbles, and dropped them clumsily on the ground — yet they did not break or fail. The grips and locking mechanisms exhibit no signs of advanced wear.
What reviewers didn't like
At this price point, you'll sacrifice some comfort, packed size, and durability. The upper part of the grip on the Cascade is not made of high-quality cork, despite what it looks like. As such, the grip feels synthetic, rubbery, and firm.
The cork felt a little plasticky at first. The CMT carbon poles also come with adjustable wrist straps. The straps don’t offer the nice neoprene pads found on more expensive trekking poles.
The adjustable length straps are threaded through the pole handles and have extra padding at the bend for greater comfort. They do slip if you apply heavy pressure to them (reported by a friend).
The shafts vibrate, the grips are a bit rough, and the carbide tips don’t last as long as those from Black Diamond or Leki. The locks don’t slip or break and are easy to adjust, but they’re not as nice as the metal locks on the REI Flash Carbon poles.
- Outside
The CMT’s lever locks are less refined than Black Diamond’s FlickLock or those on the Carbon Power Lock Poles
View our Trekking Pole buying guide for in-depth advice and recommendations.