Dave Mows Grass on Values

I'd actually been to Pack Rat several times looking at trekking poles just to familiarize myself with the Leki product line. I've had a Leki Wanderfreund for many years and the damn thing is indestructable, so I wanted to shop carefully to get the exact right trekking poles. I would be stuck with them forever!

Anyway, I was messing around on the internet and noticed Moosejaw had last year's "Trail" model on clearance for only $60 which is a terrific price. I had played with the 2012 Trail model at Pack Rat and liked the feel of them but I didn't really care for the bright red and white color scheme. The 2011 version at Moosejaw is identical mechanically but has much more understated black and gold paint. I still wasn't ready to order, though. I needed to feel the grips in my hands and "spend some time" with my future trekking poles before making such an important purchase, so I went back to Pack Rat.

After half an hour of looking and feeling, I narrowed it down to the Trail model and a similar set with a different grip shape. I walked around with them both, adjusted the lengths, adjusted the straps, and otherwise got to know each of them for a while. In the end, I settled on the Trail model, exactly like the ones Moosejaw had on clearance except with a paint scheme I didn't like quite as much.

I like Pack Rat. I am personal friends with several Pack Rat employees. I enjoyed spending more than an hour "experiencing" trekking poles that Pack Rat actually had in stock. The total with tax was about $110.

Values.