It Only Takes One Good Experience to Ruin Your Pride (and Your Wallet)

I never understood the obsession with trekking poles.You know the type — people decked out like they’re racing UTMB when they’re really just hiking up the local hill. It felt excessive, even pretentious. The same way someone running 6 min/km in carbon-plated shoes feels a bit too eager for speed.

Then one morning at Cerro de la M, my friend Memo — yes, the same Memo who’s always convincing me to do things I swore I wouldn’t — insisted I give them a try. I resisted, obviously. But he didn’t stop, and eventually, I gave in. The moment I grabbed them, I already felt different. I wanted to look like the pros. Before I even started hiking, I wanted a photo. And then I started climbing… and everything changed.

UTMB champions run up mountains. I take selfies halfway through the first climb.

Suddenly, the trail felt smoother. Easier. Safer. Every step had rhythm. What used to feel like effort turned into flow. It wasn’t just hiking anymore — it was almost meditative. And in that moment, my skepticism dissolved. Those poles I used to mock? Now I couldn’t imagine going without them.

That’s how brands win. They don’t always need a clever slogan or a viral campaign. Sometimes, all it takes is getting the product in your hands once — that first experience that flips something in your brain. The moment you realize, “Oh… I get it now.”

Marketers call it the Hooked on First Experience. It’s the art of designing a product moment so good, so aligned with your unspoken need, that resistance becomes loyalty. You go from rolling your eyes to refreshing your browser, looking for which model to buy.

And the smart brands? They plan that first hit perfectly. They know exactly how to make it feel effortless, exciting, and slightly aspirational — like you’ve just joined a secret club you didn’t know existed. That’s Entry Point Marketing. They don’t just sell you gear; they sell you belonging.

This is the exact moment I stopped judging people with trekking poles. Character development

From there, it’s Brand Laddering in action. Once you’re hooked, they guide you up the hierarchy — from entry-level to pro, from “trying the sport” to “identifying with it.” Salomon, On, Satisfy… they’ve all mastered this progression. Each product level feels like a badge of growth. And what started as a simple purchase becomes a quiet evolution of who you are.

I used to think trekking poles were ridiculous. Now, I check for new drops. That’s the beauty of good marketing — it doesn’t feel like persuasion. It feels like discovery. And somewhere between skepticism and obsession, a brand quietly wins.

So if you ever see me on the mountain, poles in hand, don’t judge. I’m not pretending to be a pro — I’m just living proof that the right first experience can change everything.