Mountainsmith Carbonlite Pro Review
Quick Take Review
We’re big fans of Mountainsmith at GearGuide, having banged their gear around on a number of trips and treks. Their Discovery 26 duffel is one of our go to bags for several past international trips, perfectly sized for extended stays abroad. We had the chance to try a pair of the company’s Carbonlite Pro hiking poles recently and remain impressed with Mountainsmith quality and bang for buck.
Don’t be fooled by the name, these are not carbon fiber poles. Instead, Mountainsmith builds the Carbonlite Pros out of a blend of carbon and aircraft-grade aluminum for weight savings and strength. The Mountainsmith website lists the grade of aluminum as 7075 while the product’s hang tag claims 6061. I’m not sure that really matters, frankly. The Carbonlite Pros come in at 18 ounces per pair. That’s about twice the weight of state-of-the-art carbon fiber poles but still very respectable for the much-less-expensive aluminum.
The three sections of the poles extend from 26 to 54 inches. Extend the bottom section first to the distance clearly labeled “stop.” Then extend the middle to your preferred height. The graduated measurements on the center section make it easy to get both poles exactly the same length. The twist lock mechanism is pretty standard stuff and works well on the Carbonlite Pros.
The Carbonlite Pros employ a shaped cork grip. It’s comfortable and doesn’t get too slick when wet. The grips also use a sling wrist strap. Although adjustable and comfortable, the strap is a tad small even with bare hands. I liked it but it’s probably not very usable when gloved. In the section below the grip, Mountainsmith puts an anti-shock mechanism that provides good shock absorption. Rounding out the package are both carbide and rubber feet and baskets should you need them.
The Carbonlite Pros performed well on a recent hike into the Las Trampas area of Northern California. They provided stability on the uphill sections and additional grip on the downhills. Shock absorption didn’t overwhelm, but delivered about a half-inch worth of travel on the sections where it was needed.
In a segment where it’s possible to spend upwards of $200 for a pair of all carbon fiber poles – and many aluminum poles can cost almost $150 – the under $70 MSRP Carbonlite Pros are a real bargain.
