We are just taking carry-on bags to Switzerland this summer. We plan on doing a lot of hiking and are wondering if there are places to rent hiking sticks around pd Interlaken, Pontresina and Appenzell?
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
Any hiking shop in Switzerland will have a great selection of hiking poles/sticks. I have seen them for rent mostly at in-town shops that also rent skis and such...you should have no problem although I can't recommend any specific stores. You may spend less money just buying a set and then giving them away before you leave. Prices in Switzerland are really high, even for rentals, and you may get better bang for your buck to just buy them? You'll have to price it out based on how many days you plan to hike.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I´ve never seen hiking poles for rent, but they sell them everywhere. They cost less than €20 for a pair in Germany, so I can't imagine they'd be all that much more expensive in Switzerland.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
I haven't noticed any for rent. The cheaper sticks you see for sale aren't terribly sturdy with thin metal with hard plastic grips. I don't think they will last very long. The are some wooden models for sale which are about 50CHF, which are sturdier, but of course can't be adjusted.
Black Diamond now sells foldable sticks which will fit into a carry-on. Supposedly the TSA now allows hiking sticks in carry-ons.
Posted by
Used to be Steilacoom, now it’s Las Vegas
2296 posts
Michael,
Thank you for the mention about TSA- hadn't even thought that might be a problem. I did get the Black Diamond brand because they were one of the few the will collapse to fit a carry-on.
Patty
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Yeah I have that same Black Diamond stick. Just barely fits in my "Rick" carry on bag...but it works great!
Posted by
Tucson
4183 posts
Glad to hear the good reviews about the Black Diamond hiking sticks. I recently got some for a trip in the fall. The were on sale from REI online at a very good price.
Posted by
OP
12 posts
Thanks everyone. Think we will buy a set when we get to Appenzell which will be our first stop and use them for the rest of our visit.
Posted by
Bainbridge Island
3287 posts
The black diamond foldable hiking sticks are nice, but my understanding is that the proposed change in TSA regs which would allow hiking poles in carry-on bags was never implemented. They are still on the " banned" list, along with small pocket knives which they tried to allow too.
So buying the poles in Switzerland is a good plan.