I have the cork on my poles, too and I like them. I mostly use them for snow shoeing, where sometimes you are really using those poles! Hopefully, I will get to use them this winter...
I am grateful my DH knows how to do so many trades. My friends are astonished that a Jewish professional guy can do plumbing, electrical work, paint, and fix bikes. He is grumbling about the condo work, but we are almost done and he does feel good about his accomplishments.