Featuring a traditional twist lock mechanism, the Supertrekker trekking poles have a built in antishock feature that can be switched on or off as desired. To turn it off, the twist lock mechanism between the top two sections should be tightened hard, until a click is felt. At this point, the antishock is off, and twisting a little further ensures that the length is locked in place.

Lucy Wallace’s Recommends

Mountain King sell their poles singly or in pairs, and although the build quality is great (part of their USP is that they are made in the UK), they are relatively inexpensive.
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Durability
  • Antishock
Cons
  • Basic twistlock
Quick specs
Price: £48/each
Weight: 255g (standard length)
Pros: affordable durability, antishock
Cons: basic twistlock design, long pack size
Materials: 7075 aluminium, carbide tip, EVA foam grip
Features: extended grip, webbing wrist loops, snow and trekking baskets, twist lock mechanism
Size: 65-135cm
Men’s version: Unisex (compact version available)
URL: https://mountainking.co.uk/

To switch it back on, simply twist back- until a click is felt. It’s really simple, but I’ll admit it took me a while to figure it out.  The antishock is subtle, which I like, giving just enough, but not so much that it feels saggy when you lean into it.

The lovely long foam grip with ergonomic handle is another plus point. It’s comfortable, with no skimping on padding in the lower section. The poles also feature a soft webbing strap and come with both trekking and snow baskets. As a winter walker, the latter is an important element for me.

I’m not a huge fan of twist lock mechanisms in general however, as they are prone to corrosion and can be tricky to tighten.  Working as a mountain leader, I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time helping my clients adjust the twistlock mechanisms of various brands of trekking pole. The trick is to keep the insides of the aluminium sections free of moisture, taking them apart to dry and store when not in use.

Mountain King sell their poles singly or in pairs, and although the build quality is great (part of their USP is that they are made in the UK), they are relatively inexpensive. They also make a compact version for smaller people, with accompanying weight savings.