Anatom Explorer Trekking Poles Review

I'm a big fan of walking poles; I think they're great. Not everyone is a fan, but they definitely help reduce thigh burn on hill walks.

At their most basic, they should provide support to a walker (most frequently in descent) and need to be robust, lightweight, simple to use and comfortable to hold. Being quick and easy to collapse and stow away are also useful traits.

As well as using them for ordinary hill walking, both summer and winter, I've used them for a range of other tasks: to help minor casualties off the mountain (the extra stability can make a big difference to someone with a sprained ankle); as tent poles for my tarp; pointing things out to other people; and even to reduce fractured legs (fortunately only in training!).

The only problems I've ever experienced are working out which ones work best for me - and keeping within the budget that my wife sets me.

Anatom are better known for their footwear and these Explorer poles are their first venture into this area of the outdoor market. My initial view (which I've kept over time) is that they've made a very good start indeed.

The poles look good and perform well. Anatom have not attempted anything revolutionary here, merely put together a good set of features on to a pair of sturdy poles, then given them reasonable price tag.

The poles are 6000 Grade Aircraft Alloy - lightweight aluminium to you and me.

Anatom's website states that each pole weighs 245g and, on the kitchen scales, I had them at 10g lighter. For a combined weight of less than 0.5kg (1lb in old money), you have a pretty good pair of poles. This struck me as being quite the bargain, as other manufacturers such as Leki and Black Diamond, do make lighter poles but generally ones costing more (sometimes significantly).

Being aluminium makes them robust rather than strong. My father borrowed one and managed to slip on some ice and fall on one of them. The pole bent and broke his fall, leaving him to get away with bruises (mainly to his ego).

If they had been carbon fibre, I believe they would have splintered and possibly injured him.

Fortunately Anatom were kind enough to replace the bent pole so that I could finish the review.

The poles are a three-section design and collapse down to a length of 62cm which fitted well on the side of a 45L rucksack. They did extend above the top of a 30L daysack (as do all the poles I have ever used) but not so much as to get in the way.

There is the option to remove both the lower and middle segments of the pole completely. Removing the bottom segment shortened the overall length by 2-3cm and that was enough to squeeze them into my bag.

When extended, the maximum working length is 135cm with a minimum of 110cm. This gives a pretty broad range of use and would accommodate most people.

If you're not familiar with walking poles, they basically use one of two ways of locking: internal or external. Internal locking relies on twisting the poles into to engage an internal cam whereas external locks use catches on the outside of the pole.

Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. External-locking poles are slightly bulkier (the catches remove any smooth profile) and usually slightly heavier, but are easier to use - especially when wearing gloves.

The Explorers are external locking and I found the catches on the poles much quicker to use than internal locking poles I've used previously.

In the cold, external locking is excellent as bare hands do not touch with metal and, even using heavy winter mountaineering gloves, the catches were easy to use.

I noted that my father (a sprightly OAP with imperfect hands) was very happy to use the Explorers as they were more straightforward for him to use than an internal locking system. The only issue I had when extending them is that the lower pole can slide all the way out and detach itself. With a little care, this is easily avoided though.

External locking poles don't clamp the pole sections as well as internal locking, so there is a slight rattle when using it on hard ground.

Unlike a number of other pole manufacturers, such as Leki and Black Diamond, Anatom have not built in shock absorption into these poles. This is very much a matter for personal choice but I didn't find that it made the poles any less comfortable to use.

Of course, reduced complexity also reduces cost.

The handgrips are neoprene and very comfortable. They extend for some distance down the pole which allows a fair degree of choice when holding them. For instance, if traversing a slope, the uppermost pole can be held further down the handgrip rather than adjusting the pole. The wrist straps, whilst pretty basic, are comfortable and easily adjustable.

For £35 the pair, the Explorer poles are excellent value. Both Craghoppers and Kelty both make poles that are a few pounds cheaper but there isn't much in it. Walking poles are a simple concept and the key is in finding the balance between ease of use, weight and cost.

The Explorers are a pretty good compromise of the three and make for a relatively lightweight and robust pair of poles that are easy and quick to use.

Anatom have made a good initial entry into quite a competitive field. You can buy poles which are lighter, stronger or more compact to stow - and long-distance backpackers or winter mountaineers may prefer to select from one of the more established brands. Those on a tight budget may wish to spend a little less, but there isn't much in it.

These are good poles that I'm very comfortable with them now, after a few weeks use. With a set of snow baskets on them, I'll be taking them into the snow of the Scottish mountains soon. Any hillwalker would find these a reliable pair of poles with reliable and easy-to-use features at a very reasonable price.