Hiking Poles Compared: High Gear Strider and NBC M150 Photographer

Introduction

Hiking poles are easy to overlook until a long descent starts to punish your knees. The two poles compared here sit at very different points on the spectrum, and the choice between them comes down to what else you carry besides a rucksack.

The High Gear Strider is the known quantity: an aluminium pair with cork grips and anti-shock twist locks that has already been used for mountain hiking, wild camping, and as tent poles for a lantern. The NBC M150 Photographer is the specialist: a carbon pole that unscrews at the top to reveal a camera bolt, turning a walking aid into a monopod.

Both are worth a closer look, but they are not interchangeable.

What to Look For in a Hiking Pole

Four things separate a pole you keep for years from one that stays in the cupboard.

The locking mechanism comes first. Twist locks are compact and reliable once tightened properly, but they can loosen with heavy use and need a firm hand. Lever locks open and close faster and are easier to fine-tune with a screw, which matters on cold mornings when gloves are on. Neither design is better in absolute terms, but the one you find easier to set will get used more.

Grip material is the second consideration. Cork moulds to the hand over a long day and stays comfortable when the pace picks up, which is why it remains common on mid-range and premium poles. Foam and rubber grips are cheaper but can feel slick once you are sweating.

Weight is the third. Every gram is multiplied by thousands of steps, so a pair that saves 100 g is noticeable by the end of a long ascent, even if it costs more.

Finally, check what comes in the box. Tips, baskets, and protective caps are sometimes sold separately, and that changes the real cost of a set.

High Gear Strider: A Proven Mid-Range Pair

The High Gear Strider uses an aluminium shaft with a cork handle and anti-shock twist locks. It is a mid-range pole rather than a featherweight one, and it weighs around 550 g for the pair on the scales.

That weight is the main trade-off. The anti-shock mechanism adds a small amount of give when weight is applied, but the effect is subtle, and anyone expecting a springy, cushioned feel may find it underwhelming. What the pole does offer is consistency. This pair has been used through the Romanian Carpathians, pressed into service as tent poles for a lantern, and has not failed.

The finish is worth noting too. The shaft has a coated, slightly plasticky appearance that does not read as premium in the hand, even though the underlying material is aluminium.

For anyone who wants a dependable walking pole for general hiking and camping rather than a gram-counting racing setup, the Strider covers the basics without fuss, and the cork grip stays comfortable over long distances.

NBC M150 Photographer: Carbon Pole and Monopod in One

The NBC M150 Photographer is a carbon hiking pole, which makes it genuinely light at around 230 g for a single pole. Two of them come in at roughly 560 g, which is just under the High Gear pair and a little over a lighter aluminium set.

Its headline feature sits under the grip. The top cap has a walnut-style finish, and it unscrews to expose a standard camera bolt. In a few seconds the pole becomes a monopod. The design was developed in Canada, and it arrives with a tip and a small basket disc that can be fitted around the shaft.

That single detail changes how the pole is used. Carrying a camera on a strap while walking with poles usually means stopping, swapping, and losing rhythm, and a pole that doubles as camera support removes that friction. For hiking, filming, or vlogging, it is a genuinely useful combination.

Two practical points. It is sold as a single pole rather than a pair, so pairing it with a second pole you already own makes sense. And delivery took around a month, arriving the same day a trip began, so order well ahead of a planned walk.

Weight, Packability, and Setup Compared

On the scales, the numbers are close enough to matter. The High Gear Strider pair sits at about 550 g, a slimmer aluminium pair with lever-style locks lands around 470 g, and the NBC M150 Photographer is around 230 g per pole.

Setup differs more than weight does. The carbon pole uses a twist lock: twist to release, slide, and twist to secure. The High Gear Strider works the same way. Lever-lock poles open and close faster and can be tightened with a screw if they loosen over time, which is a real advantage for anyone adjusting poles often on changing terrain.

Packed length is another point in favour of slimmer shafts, which take up less room on the side of a pack and are less likely to catch on rock.

Overall Buying Advice

Buy for the job, not for the spec sheet.

If the poles are purely for walking, and especially if you camp and want something that can double as a tent support, the High Gear Strider is the straightforward choice. It is mid-range, comfortable in the hand, and it has already proven itself over long distances. Accept the weight and the modest anti-shock effect, and it will do everything a general-purpose hiking pole needs to do.

If you carry a camera, the NBC M150 Photographer is the more interesting purchase. The hidden camera bolt means you can keep both hands on your poles while walking and still set up a stable monopod shot when the view is worth stopping for. Order early, because lead times can be long.

There is also a middle path worth considering: a lighter aluminium pair with lever locks, which saves some weight and sets up quickly, provided you budget for protective tips sold separately.

Conclusion

These two poles answer different questions. The High Gear Strider is the dependable all-rounder for hiking and camping, with a cork grip and a proven record. The NBC M150 Photographer is the specialist for anyone who hikes with a camera, trading a little weight for a monopod that walks with you.

Match the pole to the way you actually use the trail, and either one will earn its place on the side of your pack.