Hiking/Walking sticks. 'Oh the places you'll go'

[majorhavoc]

I am going to have to get more serious about researching the collapsible snowshoeing poles. From my limited reading it sounds like the ones that fold in half are lighter but not as adjustable while the ones that telescope are more adjustable but heavier.

It would be nice to get some I can hang from a belt as I always seem to be breaking trail somewhere and poles are great for that but then when I get back on my trail I don't need them anymore.

The Internet has gotten really bad about finding decent info with a quick google search though. So many fake review sites advertising cheap Chinese junk, while on the other had sometimes those Chinese products are actually pretty good and the same exact thing as a high-end product without the markup from a brand name slapped on them.

I have a pair of the telescoping kind.  I think I got them from REI or maybe LL Bean.  I find them particularly useful ascending and especially descending steep trails. I often end just carrying the pair in one hand while walking level or gently sloping stretches. Sometimes they're handy on level trails when the terrain underfoot is particularly uneven, or crossing a bog bridge.

Also agree that Chinese products can be high quality,  especially if it's from the same manufacturer that's producing the gear for reputable US or European brands. Problem is, a lot of garbage outdoor gear comes out of China too, and you have to sift through that to find the good stuff. Especially hard since you're usually relying on online pictures, hyped up product descriptions and a mountain of bogus buyer reviews.

Best advice I can give is try to handle the gear in B&M stores before buying. And if that's not possible, order from a reputable, domestic vendor like EMS, REI, etc. They're more likely to only carry quality gear, regardless of the country of origin.  Just as importantly, those companies tend to have decent customer service and return policies.