Mountain King Trail Blaze Trekking Pole
Mountain King are a British brand and as such their high quality materials and craftsmanship have been reflected in the design of these poles, which have seen use the world over in races up Mount Blanc and the Marathon Du Sables. The Mountain King Trail Blaze are the winners of 'Best in test' for Trail Running magazine and is one of the most sought-after poles in the world due to its lightweight, durable and frankly excellent design.
The Mountain King Trail Blaze are a pair of trekking poles designed for speed and racing. The poles weigh a paltry 120g so are perfect for ultralight enthusiasts. Their 4-section construction makes them easily collapsible to a size of 38 cm but also contribute to a high tensile strength when assembled. Made from lightweight 7075 aluminium alloy, these poles come lighter than carbon fiber equivalents and also perform better.
The Trail Blaze Trekking Poles come secured with Carbide wear tip that provides a durable and safe grip to surfaces while Wrist strap provides secure handling and means you needn't put them down to use your hands. The straps are merged too Airflow grips, these are soft on the hands yet highly breathable in warm environment. Down the shaft of the poles strong perlon cord secure the segments in place and both pairs are integrated with Baskets which are provided for use on unconsolidated ground, helping you keep stabilised and supported through rough and rugged terrains.
Although hard-wearing (our resident ultra distance runner has yet to break his!) they are still a very minimalist item that is only suitable for fast and light use and not for heavy trekking or standard fell walking use.
Sold as a pair and come with an airflow carry bag.
The benefits of poles.
- Reduced weight on your hips and back by 7-11 kg per step.
- Uphill walking is made easier as your arms help support your upper body and give extra support to your legs.
- Reduce strain/weight on knees during long descents.
- When crossing streams or boggy ground, Mountain King poles can be used to judge depth and increase stability.
Pole Care
Proper care of your pole should lead to problem free use. Like all kit, it will last longer with a bit of 'TLC'. Store clean and dry and to avoid any problems, please don't clean with any lubricants, over tighten the sections or extend beyond the stop markings when using.
In addition, here are a few other helpful hints:
For hiking/walking poles, separate the three sections for a smaller pack size when putting them in a rucksack/suitcase for travelling on aircraft to prevent damage.
If you over tighten your pole - wear a pair of rubber gloves to get a firm grip to loosen the pole (do not twist the pole end caps).
Broken sections can be replaced and Mountain King can supply new baskets, ferrules etc.
Use a Mountain King rubber ferrule when walking on pavements to prevent the pole slipping.
Mountain King recommend you remove your hand from the strap when descending a gradient.
