How to Repair a Swiss Gear Hiking Pole

When hiking, humans are awkward. We are bipeds. Watch moose, bear or any four-legged animal walk over the same surfaces and trails and you notice their efficiency. When using a set of hiking poles, you give yourself something akin to a quadrupedal ability. The poles add extra balance points and help prevent slips and falls. Swiss Gear Hiking Poles are retractable poles that telescope into each other and lock into position with round barrel adjusters. Over time the moving parts on the poles need repair or replacement.

Things You'll Need

  • Needle nosed pliers
  • Replacement spring
  • Clear super adhesive
  • Small rags
  • Metal flies
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unscrew the two barrel adjusters on the poles. Swiss Gear poles have three-section poles with two barrel adjusters. Once unscrewed, pull the rod blanks apart.

    • 2

      Inspect the edges of each rod blank. Look at the ends and check for little cracks in the metal. If present, squirt some clear super-adhesive onto the cracks and quickly rub off any excess or drips on the blanks. Let the glue dry in the cracks.

    • 3

      Inspect the pole springs while the glue dries. If the springs are stretched out and offer little bounce and compression, replace them. Pull the old spring out from the center of the rod blanks and push the replacements down into the tubes.

    • 4

      Reassemble the rod blanks and tighten the barrels. Check the tips on the bottom of the poles for dull and flat ends. If present, use the file to clean off the flat spots and remove any loose metal flakes and spurs.