dgassa

We are traveling to the UK in September and after a week in London we will be heading north to Scotland and returning to London. We plan on doing some hiking (walking) on our trip. Because we can’t carry on our on trekking poles nor will they fit in a checked bag, I would like to know where in London I can buy some. There are some here in the States that collapse down small enough for a check bag, but there are very expensive, around $125 a pair. I was thinking I could buy some in London for less and then just give them away before we return home.

Improviser

Why not just buy a cheap collapsing set at home.
http://www.backcountryedge.com/mount...6061-pair.aspx

There are some cheap poles available in the UK but no cheaper than elsewhere. You also run the risk of NOT finding a cheaper pair and ending up having to buy an expensive pair.

I'd ask, how much walking will you do and do you really need trekking poles. A stick found lying on the ground isn't good enough? I'm asking a serious question. Does it really make sense for the amount of walking you will do?

dgassa

Yes Improviser, we will be doing plenty of walking. Three weeks in scotland, wales, lake district then off to Germany and Switzerland for two more weeks. We own collapsing poles, but they don't collapse small enough to fit in our carry on sized bag which we will check into baggage. So the question remains, where in London can I buy poles?

PalenQ

http://www.millets.co.uk/walking-hik...rekking-poles/

Millets is a chain on every High Street and all over London - cheapest possible source I would think.

Dickie_Gr

Try googling like the rest of world.

PalenQ

Try googling like PalenQ?

dgassa

Thanks PalenQ, Millets looks good. Tried Google didn't find Millets on Google US or Google UK. I guess it depends on your search words. Anyway that's why I asked here.

Fra_Diavolo

Lillywhites in London tends to be expensive but has some on sale: http://www.lillywhites.com/outdoor-e.../walking-poles

Toucan

I wonder if you can carry them on? I'm planning a long distance Swiss trek for '14 and have heard both yes and no. Was planning to be 'splurging' for good collapsables, $125 vs $75 or so but any way to save a little is welcome.

Improvisor, for long distances trek poles are a must.

dgassa

I checked with the TSA and the answer is no. There was talk about changing the rules but they haven't been changed as of yet.

indy_dad

No issues with carry-on on this side of the pond (UK to Zurich via CDG) but that doesn't help you with TSA.

I ordered my wife a cheap pair before our trip. You could use this as a baseline price. It might even be possible to order them to your London hotel?? I'm sure you'll find some options in London -- just not sure of the price.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

unclegus

Are Millets still on the go, the one I used to use in Edinburgh closed about 6 months ago.
Mountainwarehouse is a dicount store that sells good value stuff and they have some pretty cheap walking poles.
http://www.mountainwarehouse.com/out...walking-poles/
Go Outdoors also do cheap poles and they have places all over the country,you need to get their discount card (£5) but you do get some good deals with them.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/walking/.../walking-poles

MissPrism

The Millets in Chester has closed too.

chartley

If you go to www.millets.co.uk, and click on store finder, you will find a list of stores, which are presumably open. Chester is not shown. Millets is in fact now part of the Blacks Leisure Group, which has its own, identical, website at www.blacks.co.uk.

You could also check out Cotswold Outdoor at www.cotswoldoutdoor.com, although you may find they sell better quality gear at higher prices.

Heimdall

Blacks and Cotswold Outdoor would certainly be good places to check. You may also try Lillywhites, a well known sports store on Piccadilly Circus in London. I'm not sure what they stock in the store, but their website has a good selection, including a couple of inexpensive models: http://www.lillywhites.com/Outdoor-E...Walking-Poles/

flanneruk

The words "cheap" and Lillywhites can't be used in the same sentence.

Southampton St and Exeter St in Covent Garden have possibly the world's densest concentration of stores selling walking equipment. Pay more than £30 for a pair of springed poles and you're being ripped off.

Heimdall

Flanner, you are correct about Lillywhites, but they have one walking pole for sale on their website for £4.99, and that's cheap by anyone's standards. Another, by Karrimor, is on sale for £14.99. I don't know what they have in stock at their Piccadilly store — probably nothing that cheap. I suggested checking Lillywhites because it is easy to find, and just about every visitor to London ends up on Piccadilly Circus sooner or later. It does no harm to walk in and look. ;-)

dgassa

Hey everyone, good information. I'm sure I'll find something to my liking and budget. Thanks for all the responses.

Grindeldoo

Kensington High Street is another possible source: there are a good half dozen sporting goods shops there in the same block, all pricing competitively.

Gordon_R

A bit late to this, but Robert Dyas hardware shops sell telescopic trecking poles for under 7 quid - we bought a pair in there a year or so back and they've been fine. http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/