For some reason I only started using walking poles five years into my walking career by which time I'd started to notice a dull ache coming from my right hip when on long drives and I didn't quite realise what was causing it. I later learned that by not using walking poles I was putting extra pressure on my leading hip which was causing my discomfort. Weeks later I'd purchased my first walking pole which came in the form of the Leki Makalou and hey presto the dull ache disappeared and from that day I wouldn't leave the house for the fells without a set of walking poles in my boot.

Since the beginning of 2014 I started to walk using two poles from leaving the car park to returning to it sometime later, I hadn’t really quite grasped just how much using two poles can help not just with steep descents but steep ascents too (stands to sense really) The Black Diamond Trail Poles were this time bought as a pair, the upper grip is a narrow shaft of foam which isn’t as comfortable as the Leki Makalou but when held as a pair after a short time walking it's hard to tell the difference. A key feature to the Black Diamond Trail Poles are that they are handed with a handy L & R on each wrist loop, this is because the wrist loop drops neatly into each hand without twisting or leaving your thumbs feeling uncomfortable.

I'm a huge fan of Black Diamond walking poles so after my Leki Softlite's were starting to show quite a bit of wear and tear and I thought I would treat myself to a new pair of poles. The Pro Trek came with great reviews so I ordered a pair and used them on my next walk. The poles have a two part locking system the upper lock is the flick lock type which is quick and precise however the lower lock is a twist lock which even when locked has a slight tolerance of play. This tolerance can be quite annoying when walking over soft ground where if the tip of the pole sinks into the ground once retrieved this tolerance snaps back which to some maybe minimal but I found quite annoying. Its such a shame that after just a few walks I couldn't put up with the poles any longer and found myself searching for a new pair. This hasn't put me off Black Diamond walking poles but it certainly has put me off the Trail Pro's,

I can't fault the Leki brand, which is, above all else, my favorite brand of walking poles. I purchased the Softlites around spring 2015 and used them weekend in and weekend out until January 2024, when the grips finally gave out. That's an incredible 9 years of use without failure. It goes without saying that my next set of poles, the Makalu's, were a no-brainer. The lock system's are identical to the Softlites, sturdy and reliable and I'm a huge fan of the wider head of the grip which increase stability during decent, however the nylon loops are non-handed but that doesn't mean you can just slip your hand in and be on your way, you've really got to make sure that when you do your thumbs fold flat on the handle which can take a couple of annoying attempts, adding to this is the nylon handle sticks to sweaty skin and instead of twisting around your wrist during usage the nylon grips against your skin meaning your constantly adjusting the handle, considering the nylon handle is the only flaw its not enough to stop me purchasing another pair in another 10 years time.

The Leki Makalu walking poles were a real disappointment for me, and almost entirely because of those nylon loops. The moment my wrists began to sweat, the loops clung like Velcro. Fine in winter with gloves, infuriating in spring and summer when the straps stuck to bare skin and refused to move. I kept the Makalus for the colder months, but after slipping on ice I bent the main shaft on the right pole. I only realised when I tried to slide the lower section back into the upper and it simply refused to go. In the end I raided my fourteen year old Leki Softlites for their lower shafts and created my own accidental hybrid. Three years later the Softlites themselves began to show their age.

My thumbs had worn the handles smooth, and eventually the loop-locking mechanism started to fail. I decided they deserved a proper send off, so in the summer of 2026 I took them over the Scafells via Piers Gill, Lord's Rake and Deep Gill one last outing before retirement. I'd used those Softlites as my main poles since 2015, and I'd grown genuinely attached to them. When it finally came time to replace them, I found the Skysolos. They looked the part, and thankfully it seems Leki have returned to non‑stick nylon loops. Here's hoping they'll see me through another decade, just as the Softlites did..

The 2ltr Camalbak hydration bladder pack is possibly the best hydration pack on the market, expect to pay £20.00 plus, yes they are expensive but you do get great value and a life long warranty, described as indestructible I have had my Camelbak for two years without a problem from the bladder itself although I have replaced the bite valve once and added a stop valve to avoid leakage.

Purchasing snow goggles was never something that had occurred to me, it was as simple as keep your head down and walk the spin drift out. I had the opportunity to purchase a pair of snow ogggles from my local Go outdoor store without wanting to pay through the nose I settled for a pair of entry level goggles which cost just £20.00

It was only did I encounter fierce winds and spin drift during December 2014 while on Helvellyn did I realise just how well my new snow goggles helped me as winds approached 65mph across the summit tops, it was here did I realise that my £20.00 purchase was possibly the best money I'd spent on gear for a long time as the protection they offered was second to none with increased visibility which also aided with reading a map or GPS