Review CAMP Backcountry Carbon 2.0

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MCS AlexClimb Mountain Climbing School

Such “works” ruin the reputation of the already not ideal CAMP brand

I took a model of CAMP Backcountry Carbon 2.0 trekking poles from a local dealer for independent testing, used it once on the approach to the route to Cerro Torre in Patagonia, the poles did not last more than 1.5 days of a level approach.

CAMP Backcountry Carbon 2.0 Trekking Poles

This manufacturer is already familiar to me from some “products” released into the market without testing or running-in. Such an approach is unacceptable in the manufacture of climbing equipment, for which the reliability is the first and most important requirement.

The first impression was "new and beautiful". These seem to be high-quality trekking poles with a nice design, a classic telescopic construction, and adjustable external locks. The weight of poles is something fantastic, a pair of poles weighs less than 400 grams.

CAMP Backcountry Carbon 2.0 Trekking Poles

The classic-shaped handle is made of foam plastic, pleasant and warm to touch. The folding parts are tightly fitted to each other, there are no backlashes or mobility in the locks.

In theory, such a low weight of the poles could justify some of the fragility of its design, but let's take it in order.

In general, the product in the store looks quite solid and attractive.

Now I’ll explain why you should never buy this model.

Breaking the middle part of a trekking pole does not happen often - it is a strong part of the pole's design

Literally at the beginning of the second day I was left without one pole. Damage to the structure of the carbon fiber that was almost invisible to the eye (the pole slightly hit a rock, which is inevitable in the mountains) that led to an unexpected break in the middle leg of the stick (the thick one).

This was so unexpected that I suspected some kind of individual defect - the poles should not break so easily, especially the upper thick and strong parts. The fracture occurred in the upper third of the middle leg and I tried to save the situation by shortening the broken part. The pole broke again an hour later, this time hopelessly - in the lower part close to the point.

A simple fall of a pole onto the terrain is a guaranteed prerequisite for subsequent fracture

Let me clarify that the breakdowns did not occur due to harsh or careless use. But exclusively due to the extreme fragility of the material. Any, even the slightest lateral damage, even a scratch, disrupted the structure of the carbon fiber, after which the stick broke from a light vertical load.

What's left of the CAMP Backcountry Carbon 2.0 trekking poles after two days of light use

As a result of this test, I was not only left without trekking poles - the second one, left alone, did not last long. After a fall (the stick was blown away by the wind and fell on the terrain next to the backpack), the upper part of the pole broke. This is generally nonsense; I have never seen such breakdowns of trekking poles in all my mountaineering and hiking practice.

To my delight, this equipment was given to me free of charge. But I found myself in a situation where the lack of poles could easily lead to serious problems for the safety of the route.

So, I'm not just rejecting this model. I am trying to convey to the manufacturer the idea that any fault in the quality of the climbing equipment can affect the safety and even the life of the end user of this equipment. Such an approach to the production of such an important category of goods is unacceptable.

Argentina, Patagonia

By the way, this is not the first CAMP product in which the critical defects were discovered. Read my review of the CASSIN Alpininst Pro climbing crampons

The author of the review and photos - Alex Trubachev
Your professional technical mountain guide

MCS EDIT 2024