User Review: Columbia Cathedral Peak

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July 29, 2012

Mike Swienton
5 reviewer rep

Rating:
Source: bought it new
Price Paid: ~$15 (marked down from about $80)

Summary

Excellent telescoping walking stick with a few essential outdoor accessories.

Pros

Lightweight
Saw, knife and compass features
Telescoping (fits in a car or backseat of a truck)
Price

Cons

Noisy
Compass holder tends to break... needs to be re-glued
Not a great deal of strength on threads (where knife/saw come out)
After a while, locking threads to telescope slip.

Saw the reviews... Good news, these are back! Check out Bud K website, they sell knives (new version is not Columbia, but United Cutlery,) Likely same base manufacturer and I'm happy to say less than $20, I'll take the risk on a pre-review being I can speak to my previous Old faithful'.

Originally got one from Sierra. I've been looking since my lil one decided to use for something other than its intended design (picked up something heavy/sword fighting) and the threads broke at base of where the handle attaches to the staff :-((

With that, had the original for over 10 years and probably put at least 1,000+K on it, not including quick walks and a few camping/scout events. Also handy for cutting medium sized dead fall for campfires or making other 'natural' walking staffs for friends or our scouts.

To note, this is not one of the 'trendy' anti-shock ski-pole designs that some spend 100s of $ on, particularly here in Europe. Personally, I think those are kind of silly, maybe more 'cliche', but certainly overpriced. For those who require support on both arms, it would be just as good to get a few of these or old ski-poles at a rummage sale :-) I guess time will tell on that opinion, then again... I'm more utilitarian and kinda cheap (my wife will attest to that).

Accessories (again) are excellent idea and design, but you get what you pay for. I could not have seen spending the original MSRP in first place. My original, the compass did get loose off the bracket piece around it (glue gave out or whatever, but had lots of banging around in back of truck). DIY fix, no problem.

The Saw and Knife set... though was good for me, my suspicion is that if one were not careful, could break. Cut about 100 limbs/branches, no problem! I never really used the knife, but thought it might be good item if you had to dress a deer and had nothing else.

So, minus bringing a camp axe and full up folding saw set like Gerber has (also a good item), for the the trails and camping events... really good item to have one or two of!

Mike