The good things about the BAFX trekking poles are that they are cheap, fairly light, and you won’t cry when you break them. If you’re a serious hiker, investigate the higher quality poles and save these for your “leave in the car” set. Each pole can be extended to any length from 25.5 to 53 inches in length. The poles extend by turn locking system and each pole has measuring on the middle section for easy adjustment to your preferred height on every trip. They also have a durable steel tip hidden under the rubber foot at the bottom for trekking on more rocky and uneven terrain.
Materials
The slender BAFX Products trekking trail poles are made of aluminum alloy and weigh around 12 ounces. The handles are plastic, which is great for durability but not so great for “give.” Some owners though a different material would have made them more comfortable. As is common, there’s an adjustable wrist strap and a foam grip area just below the handle for carrying the trekking poles when not in use.
Adjustability & Features
In terms of adjustability and features, the BAFX hiking poles are much like the Neewer and Hikker products we have reviewed. The same kind of turn and lock device allows you to open and close the poles between 25.5 and 53 inches. Each hiking pole is fitted with a metal tip and a rubber cover. (BAFX calls it a “foot.”) You also get a spare pair of covers with this product – presumably in case you do a lot of road work and wear them out! The removable snow disk is perhaps a bit more robust than others, but in the end, it does the same job.
Performance
BAFX trekking poles are one of the most popular purchases on the market due to the cheap price and respectable quality. The BAFX poles are designed for beginner and moderate trekking but some trekkers have used them in difficult situations! A few hikers found the handles uncomfortable in hot conditions (made of plastic) and the twist locks also receive some criticism. Like most trekking poles with replaceable tips, the carbide tips and rubber ferrules have been known to fall off.
Price
At first glance, there’s little to separate the BAFX Products Trekking Poles from the Hikker poles. They share a similar design and have a similar extension range. Both have anti-shock systems, and both lock via a turning collar. The only difference appears to be that the Hikker has a thermometer and compass (albeit not that accurate) and the BAFX has extra rubber feet. According to our research, BAFX hiking poles are considerably more popular. Indeed, customers are highly satisfied with their BAFX hiking poles.
Ordering
You can purchase them directly from their website or at Amazon.com here. It is cheaper to purchase them from Amazon.com.
Conclusion
The adjustment process is fairly tedious, and we found ourselves adjusting them pretty often (maybe 30 times over the course of 5 hours). The handles were not comfortable, and we have some blisters forming. (Side note: the tiny compass that comes in each handle is 100% useless, but I’m sure that’s expected. Gimmick). They are cheap and low quality and we would not recommend for any serious hiker.
BAFX Products Anti Shock Trekking Poles
Pros
- Clear instructions for use
- Extra rubber tips
- Cheap
Cons
- Tips fall off easily
- Plastic handles are uncomfortable
- Anti-shock can be defective at times
- Locking mechanism can be difficult
