Gear Review

REI Peak UL Carbon Trekking Poles

Adjusts from 27-55"
Carbon Fiber Shafts
Tungsten-Carbide Tips
weight: 13.5 oz

REI's Peak UL Trekking poles feature the performance and low weight of carbon fiber shafts at an economical price.

Made in Austria by ski pole specialists Komperdell, the Peak Ul is sold under the REI name at a discount price while offering essentially the same level of quality and features found in the marquee brands. Going for the jugular, the Peak UL comes in at 13.5 ounces per pair ('06 model, measured), making them one of the lightest adjustable trek poles available.

The Long Trek Down - Whitney Region

Trekking poles help reduce the strain on weary hikers' joints and muscles, and aid balance.

I find Trek poles especially useful when hiking down rough ground, such as talus. Poles also make it easier to hike and climb on snow.

Older climbers, or those recovering from an injury, will find Trek poles an invaluable addition to their gear list. Used judiciously, trekking poles can actually make you a more efficient hiker.

The Peak UL is a three-segment pole. Each segment can be adjusted, allowing a versatile range of lengths from a short 27 inches up to 55. You can thus shorten the poles while ascending, and lengthen them for the descent, tailoring their length for the perfect fit whatever the situation.

The locking mechanism is REI's patented DuoLock™. REI says their lab tests showed the DuoLock has 50% more holding power than other locking mechanisms. That's important, because you'll be putting a lot of weight on your poles while downclimbing. Just twist the shafts to tighten or release the lock, and then adjust the length as desired.

Persons with diminished grip strength (such as those suffering from arthritis) may find it difficult to fully tighten or loosen the small-diameter shafts. Other locking systems, such as Black Diamond's Flick-Lock, may be a better choice for you.

Beware pulling the three sections completely apart. This can reset the locking system, making it difficult to engage on reassembly. I like the smallish baskets that ship with the Peak UL. These won't tend to catch on trees or rocks, and won't be as likely to interfere with solid placements on angled ground. Thanks to its ultra-hard Tungsten-Carbide tip, the Peak UL has an excellent bite even on bare granite. Thanks to the small-diameter carbon shafts, you'll also enjoy reduced vibration, which enhances comfort.

For my somewhat modest-sized hands, the Peak Ul's foam grips are a tad large in diameter. Hopefully they'll compact a bit for a custom fit. If you have especially small hands, you may find the grips uncomfortable over the long haul.

Can these double as backcountry ski poles? Yes—but be aware that your ski edges will tend to carve up the tender Carbon fiber shafts over time, as they are not reinforced. Given the quite low weight of the Peak UL, that may be a perfectly reasonable trade off. Just don't expect these poles to last as long as a good aluminum model if you're skiing on them. For all other applications, the Peak UL's relatively low price and high-end feature set make it an appealing choice.