Go farther faster
Written: Oct 27 '03 (Updated Oct 27 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Very durable, collapse for easy storage or placing in your pack.
Cons: Shock absorbers don't stay latched / unlatched.
The Bottom Line: They save my knees on downhill treks and help me get up that extra stretch. I recommend them to anyone that has bad knees or carries a heavy pack.
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| brandle's Full Review: Leki Makalu Anti Shock |
I got my Leki Makalu Antishock poles as a gift this May and have been testing them ever since. So far I have no real complaints.
I started out by doing a few short hikes on basically level ground to see how I liked using two poles as opposed to grabbing the nearest stick I could find to improvise. Right away I could tell the difference. The poles seem to propel you when used correctly. Imagine you have 4 legs instead of two, you can transfer the weight off your knees, legs, and lower back. Instead you transfer the added work to your arms that usually just hang there useless. If you are trying to lose a few extra pounds the poles are even more of a bonus. With no pack you can burn more than a 100 extra calories by using poles. Add a 30 pound pack and you burn can burn 175 or more calories on top of the usual amount.
On flat ground I was already enjoying the poles. I also found out right away that they come in very handy in wet conditions. You can use them to cross over large water puddles or small streams. The real test was when I first took them to Colorado. I put them through a 16-18 mile course going up and then back down 4000 feet in elevation. Not only did the poles help me to pull myself uphill they work great for slowing the descent. If you have ever hiked down a mountain you know that your knees can take a real beating as gravity pulls you downward. The poles can be used to slow you down and transfer the burden to the poles and off those sore knees.
I'd like to note that you can use the poles one at a time if you like. I sometimes share them with my wife or friends instead of using both. Although you don't see the benefits when only using one. They are also handy to use when poking around and exploring areas. I'd much rather stick my pole into rocks or logs instead of reaching in with my hands. This can be very handy for those that geocache. When I don't want to use them at all or are climbing rock slopes, I just collapse them and lash them right to my pack. I sometimes forget they are even there.
Finally, they are very durable. I have yet to give them a good scratch although I have hiked into very rocky areas where they get banged around. The carbide tips look the same as when I bought them. They are very tough and I expect that they will last for a long time. I have also noticed, like others, that the shock absorber tends to latch and unlatch at times. Although I don't really notice it most of the time. I've yet to decide if the built in shock absorbers provide any benefit when used or left locked in.
Overall I really like my hiking poles. I would recommend anyone that has bad knees or carries a very heavy pack to give them a try.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
brandle
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Location: Tulsa, OK
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 5 members
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