Blog

This spring we sent Cnoc trekking pole prototypes out with some hikers that we knew would put them through very rough use. Along the way, they found some problems with our poles and we went into a problem-solving mode to get them into peak condition for our Kickstarter backers. One of our testers was Artemis who used our three-segment telescopic poles on the Arizona Trail, using the poles for climbs, fording, stability, descending steeply graded trail, and for pitching her tarp shelter. Here's what she had to say about the trail conditions. Testing on the Arizona Trail "The Arizona National Trail is...

Our Cnoc Trekking Poles  were fully funded on Kickstarter in nine hours (and a few minutes). These fully repairable trekking poles are officially happening. We're sold out of some of our early bird prices, so pledge as soon as possible to get the best price on your poles. Our Kickstarter was featured in Forbes, proving that tiny, determined businesses with good ideas can become major national players. It's not over yet. Our Kickstarter ends October 31. We're thinking about stretch goals. Have a feature you'd like to see? Let us know. Have you pledged yet? Here's what Darwin on the Trail,...

Update: We raised $2078 for The Venture Out Project! Each September, Cnoc Outdoors pledges 10% of the revenue from our website to an organization working hard to keep up our trails and care for our communities. For 2019, our recipient is The Venture Out Project, an organization that leads backpacking and wilderness trips for the queer and transgender community. In the past, Cnoc Outdoors has donated Vectos to make it easier for The Venture Out Project to take groups on trips with long stretches between water sources. Perry Cohen is a trans man who saw a need to create safer spaces in the outdoors...

Three years ago, at PCT Days of 2017, I had the unfounded courage to take my fledgling company to present at PCT Days: the official event along the Pacific Crest Trail, at Cascade Locks. It was a funny time for Cnoc Outdoors. It was still a one-person company and I just finished a Kickstarter, to launch a brand new product that no one even thought about: the Vecto. I was selling the Vertex Z-poles and had more dreams than real experience, but I was full of enthusiasm! PCT Days that year was hard, running it all by myself (2 days...