REI Flash Carbon Trekking Poles Evaluate

Backside Line

The REI Flash Carbon is an efficient trekking pole for the on a regular basis hiker. They’re light-weight with out feeling fragile and have the mandatory options to assist your strides. 

Throughout testing, we discovered that these poles had a lighter weight than common, thanks partially to their carbon fiber shafts. Whereas they do really feel susceptible to snapping when leaned on, they survived certainly one of our gear testers falling on high of them in addition to use on a really rugged off-trail hike. 

One factor that bothers us about these poles is how troublesome they’re to develop or collapse. The telescoping poles have numerous friction, making them troublesome to regulate. Even nonetheless, they work effectively to be used on day hikes and weekend backpacking journeys. See our information to the very best trekking poles to see how the flash carbon poles evaluate to our different favorites.

Sturdiness

We have been a bit shocked by the sturdiness efficiency of the REI Flash Carbon trekking poles after testing was accomplished. These poles sustained extra beauty harm than many of the different poles in our lineup, each over the course of side-by-side testing and within the subject. They’re carbon and they’re centered on being light-weight, so they need to be handled with some care.

We threw them like a javelin, dropped them on a boulder, and hiked with them by Arizona’s pokey brush. Whereas the harm from these assessments and utilization was simply beauty, their efficiency in our bend take a look at was not nearly as good. These Flash Carbon poles have been fairly simple to bend and felt as if they’d be fairly simple to interrupt. However bending is healthier than breaking so, take our opinions and issue them into how and the kind of terrain you hike over.

Whereas we’ve got some reservations about their lifespan when used frequently in rugged terrain or for winter actions, they carried out effectively within the subject. Whereas backpacking within the Chiricahua Mountains certainly one of our gear testers tripped on a bush and fell flat on high of those poles. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any harm to the poles. In addition they did effectively being utilized in an off path wash the place it was essential to climb over burnt timber and down small rock waterfalls.

Weight

The Flash Carbon trekking poles are lighter than common, though they’re barely heavier than many of the different carbon fiber poles we examined. We place these poles on a kitchen scale to see if there are any disparities from the listed weight. They weighed in at 6.6 ounces per pole, barely lighter than the burden listed on REI’s web site. Whereas mountain climbing with these poles in Arizona, they positively felt lighter than the aluminum poles that we’re extra used to utilizing.

Consolation

Similar to weight, the REI Flash Carbon poles are barely above common for consolation, due to a snug grip and better-shaped wrist straps. We counted the variety of options that make every trekking pole extra comfy and added them collectively to raised evaluate the poles we examined. 

REI opted for foam handles, which generally enable sweat to build up on the surface and get the arms soiled. Foam additionally doesn’t take in shock from the bottom as effectively, although this characteristic is often much less noticeable. The form of the grip was pure and cozy.

We recognize that the wrist strap is barely wider than these of another poles we examined. We discover that wider straps are extra comfy to put on, particularly when used for full days of mountain climbing. 

There’s additionally a liner sewn onto the within, which is mushy for elevated consolation. Whereas we choose padded wrist straps extra for consolation, REI managed a pleasant stability of consolation and weight financial savings.

Ease of Use

The Flash Carbon is certainly one of our least favourite trekking poles to arrange because of the sticky shafts. We based mostly most of our rankings on the time it takes to develop a pole to strolling top. This allowed us to raised evaluate ease of use throughout the assorted poles in our lineup. Though the Flash Carbon poles had a decent setup time, we needed to transfer them down on the record as a result of they’re simply actually annoying to fuss with. 

The flick locks are okay; it’s the shafts which can be the issue. When telescoping shafts are being prolonged, it isn’t unusual for some friction to happen. The truth is, it is a good factor as a result of it retains them from simply sliding all the best way out. 

Nonetheless, the shafts on the Flash Carbon poles have a ton of friction. The bottom shaft particularly takes important effort to slip open. One other downside is that the underside shaft doesn’t have any measurements listed. This makes it more durable to find out when the pole has been set to the proper top and sometimes leads to extra time spent tweaking the size. On the intense aspect, these poles do have built-in adjusters for the flick lock pressure. The flipping items could be turned to regulate the strain.

Packability

General, the Flash Carbon poles are barely beneath common by way of packability, however about common when in comparison with different telescoping poles. We measured the size of every pole when totally collapsed in order that we may discover out which is probably the most packable. 

After measuring the Flash Carbon poles, they got here in at precisely 25 inches. This is identical as what’s listed on the REI web site. As a result of this size is longer than a number of the others we examined, these poles might be much less preferrred for actions resembling path working or flying with the poles. For the common backpacker, it shouldn’t make an enormous distinction. 

We had these poles stowed away on our pack for 2 days whereas mountain climbing within the Chiricahua Mountains. The size of the poles was not noticeable whereas they have been hooked up to our pack.

Options

We discovered the REI Flash Carbon poles to be surprisingly missing in options. After tallying the variety of options every pole has and evaluating them, we discovered that these poles are beneath common. The Flash Carbon poles include the naked minimal, together with wrist straps and a pair of summer season baskets. 

We additionally recognize that the strain of the flick locks is definitely adjustable with out the necessity for instruments. That stated, we’re disillusioned that these trekking poles should not have replaceable carbide suggestions like most different poles. This decreases the general worth of the poles as a result of the lifespan of those trekking poles might be shorter because of this. These poles additionally should not have a grip extension. That is considerably forgivable, as not having them helps to save lots of weight.

Ought to You Purchase The REI Flash Carbon Trekking Poles?

The Flash Carbon is nice for people who desire a light-weight, no-frills trekking pole. One in every of its strongest efficiency areas is weight, because it is among the lightest poles we examined. It additionally is a reasonably easy trekking pole with few add-ons. 

For the common hiker utilizing this pole on day hikes and weekend backpacking journeys, this pole must be greater than ample to get the job completed. That stated, different poles are extra inexpensive for inexperienced persons or larger caliber for intrepid adventures.

What Different Trekking Poles Ought to You Contemplate?

The REI Flash Carbon trekking poles are simply one of many many kinds we examined. Listed here are a number of others that we love!

Black Diamond Pursuit Evaluate: We love the Pursuit as a result of this can be very versatile and carried out at or above common in all of our assessments. This pole is fabricated from aluminum as a substitute of carbon fiber. The result’s that it’s a lot stronger than the Flash Carbon trekking poles, but additionally weighs about two ounces extra. 

MSR DynaLock Discover Evaluate: One other nice telescoping possibility is the MSR DynaLock Discover. Whereas it weighs a bit extra on account of its aluminum body, it’s also a lot simpler to make use of due to shafts that simply slide. This pole additionally has a number of extra options and a extra inexpensive price ticket.

Durston Iceline Evaluate: If weight and a simplistic design are your necessities, contemplate giving the Durston Iceline a attempt. The Iceline trekking poles are among the many lightest we examined, making them good for longer adventures. One factor that could be a bit completely different about these poles is their distinctive hybrid design: they’ve a folding part that fully detaches in addition to a telescoping portion. General, we actually beloved these poles for his or her excessive degree of efficiency throughout the board.