Lomo TR – Pro Running Z Poles Carbon Fibre
Award: Best Value
Pros: lightweight, adjustable, includes snow basket, affordable.
Cons: not recommended for heavily loaded hillwalking
Materials: carbon fibre, aluminium, EVA foam grip
Features: flick-lock adjustment, foam handle, webbing strap,
trekking basket, snow basket, hard ground tips
Size: 35-135cm
Unisex
I found these neatly adjustable Z poles to be far more versatile than even Lomo intended them to be. Lomo advertises them as running poles, and they are certainly light and packable enough to do this job very capably. However, they aren’t the lightest running pole out there, thanks to an aluminium mid-section and sturdy design that adds weight, but this means that they are durable enough to be of interest to lightweight hillwalkers too. ~ Lomo says that these poles are not suitable for backpacking or heavy hillwalking, which is fair enough as a carbon fibre pole
will always be more vulnerable to damage if leant on forcefully.
Undeterred, decided to put them through their paces anyway, and used them on several multiday expeditions, and took them walking in winter with a pack full of winter gear. Perhaps was lucky, but had no problems, and they show little
sign of wear after a season of heavy use. did take them out running too; the tungsten tip grips well on rock and loose gravel, and the ergonomic foam grip feels good even in sweaty palms.
The four sections fold down into three 35cm lengths (two sections slide together telescopically), small enough to fit into my 18-litre running sack. The maximum length of 135cmi is fine for me, but taller users will find it limiting and probably too short on descents (I’m 172cm tall). like that Lomo supplies a range of tips and baskets, including a snow basket (which is what tempted me out in winter with them in the first place). The impressively low price tops everything off nicely and makes them an attractive set of poles.
