APPLICATION - Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Trekking Poles (amytys)

I am applying to test a pair of Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus Trekking 
Poles. Should I be fortunate enough to be selected to test these 
poles, I would request that the pole lengths be 115 cm (45.25 in).

I have read the BackpackGearTest survival guide, ver. 1202, and agree 
to fully comply with the rules outlined within.  I have also signed, 
sealed, and delivered the tester contract, and have received 
verification that my contract has been received.


Date of App     09/15/2005


Personal biographical information:

Name            Andrew Mytys
Age             33
Gender          Male
Height          6'1" (183 cm)
Weight          165 lbs (75 kg)
E-mail          amytys (at) highstream (dot) net
Location        S/E Michigan


Why I would like to participate in this test:

I initially started using trekking poles to relieve the strain that 
walking across uneven terrain with a backpack put on my aging knees, 
particularly on the downhills. I quickly found that the poles were of 
value in establishing a rhythm to one's stride, in addition to 
providing balance and traction when moving up steep grades, muddy 
inclines, fording streams, etc. I've also found that trekking poles 
make great supports for tarp-type shelters.

In reviewing the trekking poles available to test, I noticed that 
these poles are not collapsible, do not come with wrist straps, and 
have grips made of EVA foam. In addition, the poles have a working 
strength much less than that of traditional trekking poles, and are 
even prone to breakage in certain conditions. The manufacturer even 
stresses that for extreme activities, where reliance on sturdy poles 
is necessary, customers may want to choose a different brand.

Nevertheless, I am eager to test the Gossamer Gear Lightrek Trekking 
Poles in order to see how they perform in the field - will the poles 
meet up to all the uses and expectations that I have in mind? I feel 
that I am a well-suited test candidate because I tend to put in high-
mileage days that usually exceed 20 miles (32 km). In addition, I am 
light on my feet, and I use trekking poles mostly for balance and to 
give provide rhythm to my stride, something that really helps once 
fatigue has set in. In terms of putting a large amount of pressure on 
the poles, I've never noticed any of my LEKI collapsible trekking 
poles bending while I rely on them on downhills. I don't believe that 
put the types of pressures onto trekking poles that Gossamer Gear 
would consider to be "extreme" and ill-suited for their product.


Field information:

If selected to test the Gossamer Gear Lightrek Trekking Poles, I 
would be using them while either dayhiking or backpacking. Simply 
put, they will replace my current poles for the duration of the test 
and will be found either in my car, ready for a hike, or out on the 
trail.

I'll use them in all sorts of topography and terrain. The poles will 
be subject to being wet from rain, stream and river crossings, and 
lakeshore hikes. The pole tips will be exposed to sand, silt, dirt, 
and mud, in addition to sections of dry, maintained trail. Should I 
find myself in deep snow-covered trail, I would also attach a pair of 
LEKI snow baskets to the poles, which I already own.

Test locations would include Michigan (both lower and upper 
peninsulas), specifically The Waterloo and Pinckney State Recreation 
Areas, The North Country Trail, and various State and National 
Forests within Michigan.  

Uninterrupted time in the field would range anywhere from 2 to 5 
days.  Temperatures are expected to range between 10 F (-12 C) and 75 
F (24 C).  Elevations would range from around 300 to around 1,500 
feet (90-450 meters).


Specific trip plans include:

October 6-10 - During this time, I plan to either attend ALDHA or, if 
I can't get together a carpool of fun people, turn this into a 
weekend trip (Oct 7-9) in Michigan.  The plan is to only show up for 
Andy Skurka's presentation of his Sea2Sea hike, using the remaining 
time for peak bagging in New Hampshire's high country.

October 15, 29th - 20+ (32+ km) mile dayhike in the Waterloo 
Recreation Area.

November 8-13 - From November 8-11, I will be hiking along Michigan's 
North Country Trail for about 75 miles (120 km).  I will be hiking 
into White Cloud, MI, where there a gathering of local Michigan 
hikers (greatlakeshikes (GLH) Yahoo! group) is commencing.  The 
Gathering will include dayhikes of 6-12 miles (10-20 km) on both 
Saturday and Sunday.

December 2-4 - GLH Winter Gathering, Waterloo Recreation Area.  This 
event will include dayhikes of 6-12 miles (10-20 km) each day, in the 
Waterloo Recreation Area.

December 21st - GLH Winter Solstice Death March - location to be 
determined, but it will be a dayhike of anywhere from 20-25 miles in 
length (32-40 km).

January 13-16 - Winter outing, location to be determined.


Test Plan:

I plan to use the Lightrek poles as my sole trekking poles for the 
duration of the testing period. They will be used in all sorts of 
field conditions, as described above. In addition to being used while 
hiking, I will also be relying on the poles to support tarp-type 
shelters.  With a current base load of 9 lbs (4 kg) for outings in 
temperatures above freezing, and an avid "tarper," I feel that I have 
a solid understanding of lightweight and ultralight backpacking.

If the poles should last three-months without failing, I would like 
to spend my last month of testing trying to break the poles ? that is 
to say providing our readers a case study highlighting on the level 
and types of abuse necessary to break the poles. My concern is that 
the Gossamer website gives little detail in terms of what types of 
stresses can break the poles. As a reader and potential customer, I 
feel the poles are a "crapshoot." As a tester, I would like to 
resolve this uncertainty, giving our readers a better feel as if 
their hiking style and conditions are appropriate for the Lightrek 
poles, given their limitations. I would hike using a single Lightrek 
pole in conjunction with a single LEKI pole, giving me two distinct 
scenarios to break the poles in. I would intentionally set up 
exercises such that the second pole would not be exposed to the
same conditions that led to the failure of the first pole, assuming I 
can get the poles to fail at all.

I will not try to break the poles by entering any scenarios 
lightweight hikers would not find themselves in.  My thinking is that 
I would, for example, find steep hills and really lean down on them 
as I walk, perhaps use the pole as a break while sliding down slick 
hills covered in mud, ice, or snow, etc.  The question is, if one 
where to stumble or really need to rely on the poles for leverage, 
how would the poles respond?

The poles come equipped with a small loop of Spectra cord at the 
bottom of the handle to allows users to attach "keeper" straps or 
cords, allowing hands to be free while doing things like taking 
pictures. I tend to lean my poles against objects when not using 
them, and see having two long poles attached to me and dangling at my 
side as being potentially dangerous. As the "keeper strap" is a more 
of a technique suggestion, and "homemade" to boot, I do not plan to 
be testing this aspect of the poles. I will, however, try and find 
another convenient use for the Spectra loop ? perhaps I'll hang a 
Photon LED light off of the cord for "emergency" purposes.


Questions and issues that I will be addressing include:

How do wet poles perform when the air temperature drops to below 
freezing? I'm not familiar with carbon fiber in terms of its level of 
strength across temperature extremes. Will it continue to perform in 
temperatures that are below freezing as in above freezing 
temperatures, or will the pole become more prone to breakage in the 
cold?

How comfortable is the EVA foam grips that are found on the Lightrek 
poles? How do they feel when hiking for 10-hours in the rain - does 
the wetness have any comfort implications? How quickly does the foam 
dry after being exposed to hours of rain? Does the foam absorb sweat 
and become a damp sponge? Do the grips feel abrasive over long 
periods of use or trail abuse ? does any chafing or blistering occur? 
Do odors from sweat find a home in the foam? Does trail dirt and dust 
find itself being imbedded in or adhering to the grip ? if so, how 
does this effect comfort and durability? Is there any texture to the 
EVA foam grip and, if so, does it wear down over time? I once put on 
a cheap set of headphones and, after taking them off, had black ears -
 do any of the dyes used in the foam leak when exposed to sweat or 
body oils over a period of time?

When used as supports for a shelter from the inside, how well do the 
EVA foam handles stay balanced under the tension of a tarp, 
particularly when the material is slippery (e.g. SilNylon)?

When used as shelter supports from the outside, can the poles be used 
to as attachment points for guy lines, or is the horizontal pressure 
put on the poles more than the carbon fiber material is designed to 
deal with?

According to the manufacturer, these poles float in water. I use a 
PVC coated collapsible nylon bucket to pull my water from streams, 
lakes, and ponds. In many cases, I extend my reach beyond the bank 
using a trekking pole so that I can avoid debris near the shoreline. 
Having a pole that floats means that there's on less thing to worry 
about. I will be testing the floating
characteristics of these poles in the field.

The poles do not come with wrist straps, a feature that I am 
accustomed to, but not necessarily sure that I use. Sure, the
straps of my current poles are wrapped around my wrists. But, I 
cannot say that I actually use this feature for the purposes of 
leverage. I tend to always hold the handle of my poles, allowing 
their tops to pivot back and fourth in the palm of my hand as I walk. 
Will I notice the lack of a wrist strap? I look forward to finding 
out.

Also, a regular inspection of the carbide tips and trekking baskets 
will be held. Durability and performance across various terrains will 
be noted, with emphasis placed on the "industry standard" carbide 
tips, trekking baskets, EVA foam grips, and the carbon fiber pole 
shafts themselves.


Additional Background/Backpacking style:

I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, 
although I've camped since I was 6 years old.

I consider myself a lightweight hiker, meaning that I carry the 
lightest gear I can find that meets two simple deliverables -
providing a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately 
supporting the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance 
oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles/hour. I 
rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my 
way.

The amount of gear that I carry varies extremely, depending on who 
I'm with (solo, wife, kids, dog) what the nature of the trip is (day-
hike, fast-packing, expedition), and the hobbies that I will be 
exercising during the trip (photography, fishing). My base 
packweight, therefore, can weigh anywhere from 9 lbs (4 kg), which is 
my current level of ultralight comfort, to an excess of 35 lbs (15.8 
kg) - again, this is base weight... no food or water. As the Lightrek 
Trekking poles are marketed towards ultralight and lightweight 
backpackers, I will be keeping my base weight down under 15 lbs (6.8 
kg) for my test cases.


A Word on my Current BGT Work Load:

Currently, I am involved in two tests, one that is in the Long Term 
phase.


Current Tests:

Ibex Wool Glove Liners - Currently Long Term testing (next test due 
September 27)

Wayah Press; A Wildly Successful 200-Mile Hike - Currently Field 
testing (next test due October 4)


Tests Yet to Start:

  None.


Outstanding Application(s):

  Five Ten Insight trail shoes


Previously Completed Test Series:

  Black Diamond Lighthouse tent:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Shelters/Tents/Black%
20Diamond%20Superlight%20Lighthouse%20Tent/Andy%20Mytys/

  Ultimate Direction SpeeDemon Backpack:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Frameless%20Backpacks%
20and%20Day%20Packs/Ultimate%20Direction%20SpeeDemon/Andrew%20Mytys/


Additional Test Series Completed:

  . OR Motion Fleece Balaclava
  . Highgear Axis watch
  . Rocky Gore-Tex socks
  . Bear Vault BV-200 black bear resistant food canister
  . Insul Mat Max-Thermo
  . Magellan SporTrak Topo 2003
  . Six Moon Designs Starlite pack
  . HSSC Fluid Pack
  . Bite X-Trac OS Sandals
  . Rite in the Rain All-Weather Pocket Journal
  . LEKI UL Ti AE PA AS Trekking Poles
  . Psolar.EX Mask
  . Granite Gear Vapor Trail Backpack


Previously Written Owner Reviews:

  Everest Designs Sherpa Hat
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Clothing/Hats/Everest%
20Designs%20Sherpa%20Earflap%20Hat/Owner%20Review%20by%20Andrew%
20Mytys/

  Aloe Gator Waterproof Gel
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Health%20&%
20Safety/Sunscreens/Aloe%20Gator%20Waterproof%20Gel/Owner%20Review%
20by%20Andrew%20Mytys/


Additional Owner Reviews:

  . Kenyon K+Tape
  . Porcupine Mountains Companion
  . Clever Toothbrush
  . Porcupine Mountains Companion
  . REI Folding Bucket
  . GSI Outdoors 16oz Lexan Flask
  . REI All Mountain Mitts
  . Osprey Aether 60 Pack
  . GoLite Snow Cap
  . REI Half Dome Backpack


Additional BGT Participation:

  . active in the Mentor program
  . active in the Test Manager program


I thank you for considering my application.

Andrew Mytys





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