Hand grips are important considerations too. The grips on women’s poles are usually made for smaller hands than men’s poles. Grips are often made from molded foam, rubber, or natural cork, with cork being more durable and comfortable but more expensive. “A rubber handle can be colder to the touch compared to a cork handle in cold weather,” says Martin.“It’s a small thing, but I will never buy a rubber-handled trekking pole after owning a cork handle. It’s the little things I guess,” he says.

Overall, we think the combination of solid features and accessories makes this set a great value for the price. My experience is that trekking poles make you hike 'smarter' in that your brain is receiving information from places other than your two feet when it decides to inform you how to stay balanced,” says Walker, who got his start as a guide in Switzerland where everyone carried trekking poles, “even the young ones with presumably indestructible knees." You don't have to physically buy the goods in person. If your parent, guardian or wife or husband buys the goods and services for you, then you won't be charged VAT. What counts as personal or domestic use?Two isn’t always better than one, and when one trekking pole is all you want, we recommend this sturdy aluminum pole from A Alafen. Its durable aluminum frame offers stable support to balance footing, leverage to help you up steep steps, or measure the depths of a stream before crossing. This pole’s tungsten steel rod tips help give it great traction, while the rubber tips and basket offer stability and versatility on slippery or soft surfaces. The main feature I look for is adjustability,” says Goei. “I like my poles a little shorter going uphill and a little longer going downhill.” The EVA foam upper grip and shaft extension are firm but soft as suede for comfortable handling, and we appreciated the lightly padded wrist straps that lent extra support on ascents and descents. With a smaller diameter than many, the Ascents also felt lighter than they actually are, and the reinforced carbon made these slim poles feel durable and long-lasting. But since the internal tightening cord isn’t protected, nor are the shaft pieces reinforced at the connection points, they might chip over time, hurting the design rating. The poles proved pretty solid thanks to the aluminum construction and versatility on different types of terrain. Our test parent noted that she would happily pay the somewhat steep price tag for the stability and features that provided a safe, positive experience for her child.

It does not include a frail elderly person who is otherwise able-bodied or any person who is only temporarily disabled or incapacitated, such as with a broken limb.‘personal or domestic’ use means that the supply must be made available specifically for the use of an eligible individual. The aesthetically-pleasing EVA foam handles resemble cork but are comfortable and sweat-absorbing. The extended foam grip has extra contour and texture, which we found helpful for pulling ourselves up while climbing. The wrist straps are padded and adjust nicely to prevent chafing. They also stay secure, so you won’t accidentally drop a pole while hiking, though they also need occasional retightening.We do NOT decide if an item is or isn’t exempt & we don’t make any more or less money if we charge you VAT or we don’t charge you VAT. The ample grip surface area is made with rubber designed for comfort in extremely cold temperatures and helps you navigate tough inclines, whether on the slopes or off.

Several types of material can also be combined to create a modern design and ensuring a greater comfort and safety. A chrome, acrylic and silver-plated handle can be mounted on a natural, rustic hardwood. On the other hand, a colourful, trendy patterned shaft can be paired with a wooden handle for more comfort. Sassafras is also very hardy and naturally insulates against moisture. It allows a wide expression of modern, contemporary, and traditional design. With an impressive design, compatibility, and basket tip and drawstring sleeve included, these poles are a worthy investment for anyone needing a super strong, yet light, pair of poles that are versatile for various terrains. Not all of our products are eligible for VAT relief, so we are obliged to charge VAT for those products even after you complete this form.If you fail to return any VAT exemption forms to us we WILL charge your card for the outstanding VAT. with a physical or mental impairment which has a long-term and substantial adverse effect upon his/her ability to carry out everyday activities; The poles come with added tips and baskets for traversing off-road terrain, and you can choose from a variety of colors and patterns. Regardless of their quirks, we still enjoyed these poles and recommend them for their durability, easy setup, and great value for the price.