Top 5 Tips from Hikers for Using Trekking Poles

Trekking poles, hiking poles, walking sticks – these handy poles go by a few different names. Most hikers would agree, however, once you’ve hiked with them, you’d rather not go without. Trekking poles provide a lot of support whether trekking uphill, downhill or on a steady hike, increasing speed and stability. They are especially handy when you have to steady yourself over fallen trees or when crossing streams.

Even the avid backpackers who weigh every last gram of dehydrated food – will make room for their trekking poles. Here’s some of the best advice we have for using your hiking poles properly, to get the most benefit and make you a firm believer:

1) Properly adjust the height – this is an important one to get the most comfort and support. Your arms should be bent at a 90° angle with the tip on the ground and your elbow at your side. This makes the top of the pole right about waist height as a good starting point. You’ll want to adjust your poles when hiking uphill or downhill, shortening them for uphill hiking and lengthening when going downhill, about 5-10 cm to get the right support.

2) Use the pole locks – make sure your poles are secure, test them on the ground to make sure the height doesn’t adjust before using them. Whether you prefer a twist lock or a quick lock, make sure it’s quick and easy for simple adjustments. Some twist lock and quick lock poles provide some added shock absorption. You should store your poles unlocked to preserve the longevity of the locks.

3) Learn how to properly use the wrist straps – too often we see people not really getting the right benefit out of the wrist straps. When used properly, you shouldn’t have to exert as much energy to grip the handle, the straps will help support your weight.

4) Evaluate the trekking pole material for your hike – trekking poles come in various materials such as

• Carbon fiber

• Lightweight carbon fiber

• 3k carbon fiber

• Aluminum

Depending on your weight limits, select the right pole that offers a lightweight and collapsible option to stow when you want to walk with your hands free.

5) Get in the rhythm – swinging your arms while walking is natural, the use of poles can be just as natural once you get used to the rhythm. You might even feel like you’re floating on air a bit as you get into it and feel the assistance propelling you forward. This is not only great for support but is also a little bit fun.

Once you get used to using your trekking poles we’re sure you’ll be a firm believer and set off with your best foot forward on every hike. You can find everything you need for your next trip at Cascade Mountain Tech, such as roto-molded coolers, comfortable camping chairs and foldable, stadium seats.

The outdoor explorers at Cascade Mountain Tech offer many options of trekking poles and help you find the right pole with the right material and accessories for you. We are committed to making exploration available to everyone. Contact us with any questions on selecting the best hiking trekking poles for your next adventure.

Pro Tips for Packing Your Roto Molded Cooler

Now that you’ve made the smart decision and upgraded to a roto molded cooler, following some simple guidelines in food preparation and packing will make sure you have plenty of good food for your adventure. Follow these tips from the pros that know the best way to:

• Prepare your food

• Select your ice

• Pack your cooler

Preparing Your Food 

Planning ahead is key to prepare all the food you’ll need to make some excellent campfire meals. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a great marinated steak, potatoes and veggies fit for a king. Plan ahead the day before with these tips for food preparation and packaging:

• Prep your food – prepare as much food at home in advance as possible. Make your marinade ahead of time and portion condiments in smaller, leak-free containers rather than taking a full bottle. Chop your veggies ahead of time and pack in small, sealable containers. You want to save as much space for ice as possible.

• Reduce the amount of packaging – packaging can take up valuable space in your cooler, so reduce and repack what you can in sealable containers. Take only what you need and use packaging without a lot of excess room.

• Leak-proof containers – most food purchased from a grocery store is not in a leakproof container. By repacking into sealable, leak-proof containers you reduce packaging space and protect your food. You can count on your food getting wet and the last thing you want is meats and cheeses floating next to your beverages.

• Freeze what you can – since the roto molded cooler keeps ice for several days, you don’t want to freeze what you plan to eat on the first night. But there’s no reason you can’t freeze the steak you plan to eat in a few days. You can freeze some water bottles as well, this serves two purposes – to act as an additional ice source and then you can thaw them out and drink them as needed. If you do freeze some water bottles, pour out about ¼ of the liquid first to account for expansion.

• Use refrigerated food – this only makes good common sense but packing food that is already chilled is the best way to pack your cooler. You should avoid packing food that is at room temperature. This makes your ice work harder at bringing down the temperature of your food instead of maintaining a nice chilled temp.

Selecting Your Ice

Ice is ice, right? Well to some degree, yes, but there are different types of ice you may consider depending on where you’ll be and for how long.

• Freezer packs and block ice – freezer packs and block ice make a great foundation for your cooler and take longer to melt than ice cubes. Put your block ice at the bottom and build up on top of them.

• Ice cubes – cubes will melt quicker than freezer packs, although they are great at filling in the cracks. Fill in the spaces in between your packed food and drinks with cubed ice.

• Dry Ice – dry ice will last longer than regular ice and may be an option for extended trips. Dry ice is extremely cold and will freeze everything it touches, including finger tips. Here are some tips for handling dry ice safely to prevent injury.

Packing Your Cooler

Whatever you do, don’t wait for the last minute and just throw in your food and throw ice on top of it, this might be how our parents took us to the beach but there’s a better way. Here are some time tested best practices for packing the perfect cooler:

• Pack your block ice first, on the bottom

• Use a cooler basket for fragile foods

• Use cooler dividers to separate food types

• Keep in the shade when possible

• Use two coolers for a large group, one for food and one for beverages

While just using a cooler divider might do the trick for a family vacation, if you are camping with a large group of people, using one cooler for food and one for beverages can make the ice in your food cooler last longer as the beverage cooler is typically opened more frequently. And finally – make sure the cooler is the last thing to go in the car. Pack everything else first and then load your cooler up last as you head out to your destination.

Follow these tips from Cascade Mountain Tech to get the most out of your roto molded Super cooler.

Cascade Mountain Tech offers quality made hiking and camping gear, with many styles of trekking poles and stadium seats with back support for your continual comfort. We believe in providing affordable exploration to everyone. Contact us with any questions and for more tips on selecting and packing the perfect cooler for a perfectly chill adventure.

Pro Tips to Select and Prepare a Roto Molded Cooler

Selecting the right cooler for your hiking adventure is just as important as planning out your hiking and camping gear, the location and trails you plan to pursue. Without plenty of cool water and nutrition, your trip could turn from a fantastic, epic adventure to one that stays in your memory bank for all the wrong reasons. Keeping your hydration up and keeping your food from spoiling is key to an enjoyable expedition no matter where you set up camp. 

Roto molded coolers have taken over as the best super coolers on the market and for good reason. Roto molded coolers are rotationally molded as one continuous thick wall around a thick layer of insulation, with little to no imperfections. This barrier keeps ice for several days and provides protection against forest creatures. High end roto molded coolers are designed to last a lifetime, holding up to high degrees of abuse and are even rated bear resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. (using a lock on these coolers is still the key to keeping bears from ravaging through your food rations) 

One or Two Cooler Systems

Some people prefer to use two coolers to keep types of food perishables and beverages separated. This of course depends on the adventure you have planned, the amount of food you need to pack and number of days you’ll need to access your food and drinks. 

Cascade Mountain Tech offers a Super Cooler in a 45 Qt. or 80 Qt. size, with a divider just for this very reason. It’s like two coolers in one! You can keep your perishables on one side and drinks on the other, that way you don’t have to constantly move Tupperware out of the way to get to your beverages on the bottom. The cooler divider combined with the cooler basket alleviates the need to pack, and carry, two different coolers. 

Roto molded coolers by Cascade Mountain Tech are popular for any outdoor adventure such as:

• Camping

• Fishing

• Hunting

• Sporting events

• Tailgating

Pro Tips to Prepare Your Super Cooler

The key to keeping your food, beverages and ice lasting for days is to pre-chill your cooler before packing. The day before you plan to pack your cooler, make sure it is thoroughly cleaned and always PRE-CHILL. Pre-chill your cooler by placing a bag or two of ice inside your cooler the day before your big trip. Getting your cooler’s core temperature as cold as possible will make a big difference in how long your ice lasts. Be sure to bring your cooler inside if it’s sitting in a hot garage or attic and place a bag of ice or at least some cold tap water inside to lower the core temperature the day before you plan to pack it.

Cascade Mountain Tech for Roto Molded Coolers and all Your Camping Gear

Cascade Mountain Tech offers super coolers, a wide selection of hiking gear such as lightweight, super lightweight and aluminum hiking trekking poles and stadium seats with back support for your ultimate comfort. Our gear is tested by outdoor enthusiasts in the Pacific Northwest, aimed to make enjoyable adventures accessible to everyone. 

High end roto molded coolers by Cascade Mountain Tech are proven in the wilderness to keep ice for 7 to 10 days. Our experienced hikers have put it to the test and offer these tips and many others to make your journey an epic one, with fond memories of fun, excitement and good food. Contact us with any questions about our coolers and for help in choosing the best cooler and the right accessories for you.