One more design flourish helps give the Vantage the highest marks for safety: Smiths Hybrid Shell construction
It's important to choose a material that suits your fishing environment and storage needs
My picks are based on testing all of them (and many other poles) extensively on backpacking trips, dayhikes, mountain climbs and scrambles, backcountry skiing, and/or ultra-trail runsincluding backpacking in Wyomings Wind River Range, Idahos Sawtooths, Utahs High Uintas, Montanas Beartooths, Colorados San Juans, southern Utahs Owl and Fish canyons, and on the Grand Canyons Gems Route, plus dayhikes from Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion national parks to the Tetons and Idahos White Cloud Mountains, to name some places Ive hiked just in recent monthsas well as my experience ambulating thousands of trail miles over more than a quarter-century of testing and reviewing gear, formerly as the lead gear reviewer for Backpacker magazine for 10 years and even longer running this blog
A well-constructed pack offers support and long-term reliability, so comfort doesn't compromise durability
Confidence-inspiring - Enjoy a seamless ride with the Flourishs lightweight and durable aluminum frame that features an effortless step-through design, as well as dependable disc brakes that ensure safe and secure stopping power in any weather or road condition