TESTER
INFORMATION |
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Leki,
Inc.
Year of
Manufacture: 2008
Manufacturer URL:
http://www.leki.com/
Manufacturer's
Suggested Retail
Price: $139.95 US
Colour: Black and
tan.
Finish: Ultra
Sonic/Anodized.
Size:
One size adjustable from 90 to 125 cm (35.4 to 49 in).
Adjustable From:
60 cm (23.6 in) to 125 cm (49 in) to the stop mark on the shaft of the
pole.
Listed Weight: 442 g
(15.6 oz)
Actual
Weight: 439 g (15.5 oz) for both poles.
Manufactured in: Czech
Republic
Warranty: Lifetime
warranty against shaft breakage.
|
Name |
Jo
Ann Moffi |
Age |
34 |
Gender |
Female |
Height |
168
cm (5ft 6 in) |
Weight |
75 kg (165 lbs) |
Email
Address |
jomoffi
AT gmail DOT com |
City,
State, Country |
Sault
Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada |
BACKPACKING BACKGROUND |
I
was introduced to backpacking about 16 years ago when I met my husband.
We have been backpacking, canoe camping, car camping, hiking, and
participating in all sorts of outdoor activities together ever since.
We live in a border town (US & Canada), so we spend lots of
time in both countries for our outdoor excursions. When making a
decision on gear, I like to go lightweight and practical. I pack as
light
as possible without denying myself little luxuries. |
INITIAL
REPORT
May 23, 2008
Received May 17, 2008
Product Details:
The Leki Diva Antishock Trekking Poles, part of the Leki Wildflower
Series, are a three section aluminum shaft pole with a cork
grip, a padded
nylon strap, and a what Leki calls a performance basket. The
arrived
clipped together via two plastic holders, the top one with a hook for
hanging
in a retail store. This hanger will also make a nice way to store the
poles
when not in use. The carbide tips were covered with a protective
plastic
sleeve.
Upper Section:
Integrated Positive Angle Grip - For optimized swing action
and ideal
ergonomics. A 15-degree angle keeps the wrist in a neutral, relaxed,
reduced
strain position.
Comfort Strap - Lined with a wicking material that
allows for
breathability. The strap edge is soft to the touch to prevent sore
spots.
Mid Section:
Aluminum - Made using an exclusive to Leki
heat treating process
for a high level of tensile strength. The inside of the shaft is
texturized to
help hold the sections together, locking the poles at the desired
length.
Super Lock System - Locks length in 3-4 turns. 360
degree reverse turn
security.
Sleeve - Keeps dirt and debris from entering the
section above.
Lower Section:
Universal Carbide Flextip - A replaceable tip that flexes up
to 30 degrees
without damaging the shaft of the pole. Provides optimal grip on ice
and rock.
Basket - Keeps the poles from sinking into soft
ground or rocky
footing. Can be changed for use in snow and winter conditions.
Locks into
position onto the Carbide Flextip.
Super Lock System:
The adjustment of the poles is kept into place by the Super Lock
System. Leki
touts this system as being rated highest in the locking security
by TUV
Product Service, an independent product testing lab. It has the
strongest hold
of 140 kg (309 lb) per pole and the strongest locking security of 360
degree
turnback. These features combine together to prevent unexpected
collapsing of
the poles under stress.
Initial Impressions
I am relatively new to hiking and backpacking with poles
having purchased
my first pair within the last two years. When I picked out my first
pair, I had
no idea what I was looking for, so I bought a mid-priced aluminum shaft
pair of
poles that weigh in at 550 g (1 lb, 3.5 oz). My first
impression on taking
the Diva poles out of the box was how light they were.
Antishock
The most obvious difference for me with these poles will be the
antishock
feature that the Diva poles have. They have the SAS-L (Soft Antishock
System-Lite),
a combination of steel spring and Elastomer. The 2008 models SAS-L
antishock
properties are not able to be turned off. To test out the capacity of
the
antishock, I measured the difference between the poles in a 'neutral'
position
and compressed as far as possible by the antishock system. The
difference was 1
cm (0.4 in). It will be very interesting to see if I find this a
desirable
feature in a hiking pole.
Adjusting the Height of the Poles:
To adjust the poles, I twist the upper section in the direction
indicated for
'open' and slide the shaft along to the desired height mark. Then I do
the same
for the lower section. Using the guidelines provided on the hang tag
for my
height, Leki recommends setting the poles at 115 cm (45.3 in). After
adjusting
the poles to the setting recommended, I took the poles for little test
drive
around my yard. I ended up re-adjusting the poles to 110 cm (43 in). At
this
height, my arms are bent at a 90 degree angle when in use.
Adjusting the Comfort Strap:
The top of the handle of the poles has a black flip up portion that
allows for
the strap to be adjusted then locked into place to prevent slipping
during use.
It pops up easily by pulling up on the top of the strap. It clips back
into
place just as easily by pressing the black plastic portion back into
the top of
the handle.
FIELD REPORT
August 12, 2008
Testing Locations:
I
have used the poles on all my outings hiking and backpacking. Most of
my hiking and backpacking has been in the Hiawatha Highlands and
Voyageur Trail system areas in the Algoma region just outside of Sault
Ste. Marie, Ontario. These two areas have many linked trails meandering
through red and white pine old-growth forests and dense boreal stands
of jack pine and spruce linked by a network of rivers, lakes, and
wetlands. Elevations range from 225 to 315 m (738 to 1033 ft) above sea
level. I have also ventured up into Lake Superior Provincial Park,
about 2 hours north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The terrain here
consists of trails similar to those found along the Voyageur Trail with
the addition of rock and pebble beaches, long sandy stretches, and
numerous stream crossings.
I hiked approximately 20km (12.4 mi)
with the poles over the past two months. Sometimes this would be a 2 km
(1.2 mi) trek, others times it would be a 5 km (3 mi) trek.
Testing
Conditions:
The
weather has been cool for summer; temperatures have ranged from 15 to
28 C (59 to 82 F). The skies have been clear, cloudy, and dark with
thunderstorms over the field testing period.
In
the Field Performance:
On
my first outing with the poles, I trekked about 4 km (2.5 mi) in the
bush along the shore of Lake Superior, occasionally jaunting out onto
the beach. The beach was composed of large rocks from about the size of
a baseball down to ones about the size of a marble. There were also
sections of shale like rock with large flat surfaces. The poles were
great at helping me keep my balance while walking along, as some of the
rocks would move around under my feet.
On other hikes I used
the poles on hard packed trails. These were the easiest to trek along
and I would sometimes attach the poles to my pack if I was going to be
trekking for any length of time along a packed trail. I would pull the
poles out again when I would venture into the bush, cross streams, or
slog through muddy and boggy areas. They were especially helpful when
crossing streams or muddy areas. I used them to lean on when I hopped
from one rock or log to the next.
My favourite things
about these poles are the comfort strap and the grip. I have the strap
adjusted so that it rests just at the edge of my hand at my wrist. The
padding does not cause any friction or rub spots as I have encountered
in the past with ski poles. The grip is firm but soft on my hands. This
was very welcome on a hike when I had blisters between my thumb and
first finger from doing yard work. The texture of the grip did not
irritate those spots at all even though the grip was in constant
contact with the blisters while hiking.
Just after receiving
the poles, I had adjusted the height to what I preferred, which is 110
cm (43 in). This height has served me well for the past couple of
months. It is 5 cm (2 in) less than what the manufacturer recommends.
When
I get home from a hike, I collapse the poles for easier storage. It
took me a few times of collapsing and extending the poles to get used
to how they tighten down and prevent the pole from collapsing while
hiking. A couple of times I would get out on the trail and put a little
weigh on the pole and it would move down. The Super Lock System does a
great job of keeping the poles from collapsing under stress now that I
have figured out how to keep them tight.
The Antishock
properties also took a bit of getting used to. My last pair of poles
were just plain aluminum poles with no antishock properties. When I
first started hiking with the Divas, it felt to me like they were
threatening to collapse. Now that I have put some mileage on them, the
Antishock is a welcome feature. In the past I have noticed my elbows
would notice the impact of the poles hitting the trail after a long day
of hiking. I haven't experienced any of this with the Divas. For
someone who uses their arms all day long at work, it is nice to not
have any additional strain on my arms in my recreational activities!
LONG TERM REPORT
August 12, 2008
Testing
Locations:
I
have continued to use the poles on all my outings hiking and
backpacking. All of my hiking and backpacking has been in the
same
areas as in the Field Report.
I
hiked approximately 15km (9.3 mi)
with the poles over the Long Term Testing period, consisting of two
hikes approximately 7 km (4.35 mi) in length each. The poles
saw
about 35 km (21.7 mi) of use over the entire test period.
Testing
Conditions:
Both
of the days I was out hiking this fall were beautiful fall days.
The temperature on both days was 16 C (61 F). The skies were
clear
and sunny with a light breeze.
In
the Field Performance:
I
hiked the same trail on both hikes for the Long Term Testing periods.
The trail was hard packed in most places, with 3 or 4 sandy hills. This
is where the poles came in very handy for providing extra stability on
the trek up and for giving my knees a bit of relief on the way down.
For areas where the pole were unnecessary, I just carried them both in
one hand collapsed.
I still enjoy the comfort
strap and grip of these poles. They continue to provide a soft grip
that is just the right shape for my hand. I have now got the
collapsing and extending of the poles down pat. I no longer have
problems with the poles sliding down because I didn't get them tight
enough.
The carbide tips are holding up very well. The hard
packed trails I used them on had smooth rocks incorporated into the
trail. Even after many kilometers of impact they are showing little
signs of wear.
Although
the poles have accumulated very little dirt, they are very easy to
clean.When
the tips have become dirty,
I simply bang them against my boot to clean them. When the
dirt has been wet, I have just left them outside to dry then knocked
them off before bringing them inside for storage. The shaft of the
poles remain clean and blemish free.
Overall
I am very impressed with the Leki Diva Antishock Trekking Poles. They
are a comfortable, well designed pole that has been a welcome addition
to my hiking gear. I will continue to use them for many years to come
and would not hesitate to look for them again on the store shelves when
the time comes for replacement.
Likes:
Comfort Grip and Strap
Antishock properties
Dislikes:
None!
This concludes
my Long Term Report.
Thank you to BackpackGearTest and to Leki, Inc. for the opportunity to
test the Leki Diva Antishock Trekking Poles.