INITIAL REPORT FOR LEKI PATHFINDER JR. TREKKING POLES

By Traci Wheiler

January 29, 2004

 

 

Personal Data:

 

Name: Traci Wheiler

Age: 17

Gender: Female

Height: 5'1" (1.5 m)

Weight: 112 lbs (51 kg)

Email Address: jmwlaw at ida dot net

City, State, Country: Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA

Date: January 29, 2004

 

Dad/advisor:  Michael Wheiler

 

Initial Report:

 

The poles arrived undamaged via UPS in a plain brown long box.  It is always exciting to know that there is a box at home waiting for you, with your name on it!  I was so excited for these poles to come and when they did, I couldn't wait to open the box to see what they looked like.  To my surprise when I opened the box, the poles looked too short for me.  But to my rescue came my "super hero" dad.  He sat and contemplated on what to do. After twisting the lower poles several times clockwise, the locking system loosened and he was able to extend the poles to the size I needed them. The poles looked like what I saw on the LEKI website.  However, some of the features described on the website are different on the 2004 models.  The LEKI Pathfinder Jr. poles have the following features:  (1) Turbo sport kids grip, two-section adjustable poles with a twist locking system, performance baskets, steel flextip, a weight of 14.4 oz (408 g) per pair, and an ability to adjust the length from 80-115 cm (31-45 in).  Dad promises that he will weigh the poles on his postal scale at work and report to me what they weighed so I can add that to the field report.  Fully extended, the poles are 45 1/2" (116 cm) in length from the top of the grip to the tip of the steel point.  The grip is a somewhat sticky feeling black plastic with the LEKI name printed on the side.  (See photograph below.)  The wrist strap on the grip is 3/4" (2 cm) wide black webbing material with a plastic buckle on one end through which the other end of the strap is threaded to adjust the size of the opening for my wrist.  The basket is also black plastic about 2" (5 cm) in diameter with little "teeth" on the bottom.  The basket also has a cut-out for locking the two poles together at the bottom.  The poles came with a black plastic attachment to hook the tops of the poles together.

 

My initial use around our living room left me with the following impressions.  The grips feel comfortable in my hand.  The poles are a very pleasant, bright blue color with various silver colored animal tracks all over them.  The straps on the grips adjust easily.  There were no use instructions included with the poles but there was a child's pamphlet which talked about nature and had a place to color.  It would be nice to have some written instructions on how to properly adjust and use the poles.  After my dad showed me how to adjust the poles it was easy for me to twist the lower pole clockwise to loosen the locking system and then move the lower section up or down to adjust the length.  There are eight lengths marked on the lower poles ranging from 80-115 cm (31-45") at 5 cm (2") intervals.  These markings will help me adjust the poles to the same length. With several twists counterclockwise, I was easily able to lock the poles in place.

 

Field Testing Strategy:

 

Other than using the poles as I walk for exercise around my neighborhood, the weekend of February the 13th my family and I will be going to Grand Teton National Park to do some snowshoeing.  A National Park ranger is going to take us on a one mile (1.6 km) (90 minute) hike.  In February, Dad and I are planning to do a snowshoe or cross-country ski trip near Kelly Canyon.  We may also do some snowshoeing in Island Park and sleep in snowcaves.  In early summer, Dad and I plan to hike the Cascade Lake to Grebe Lake trail loop in Yellowstone National Park.  This is a 7.5 mile (12 km) trip.  I will be attending girls camp in mid-July and we always participate in either a backpacking trip or a long hike.  This year we are going to be in the Warm River area.  My family and I are also planning a backpacking trip into the Sawtooths in July or August.  Most of these outings will be in very mountainous terrain--5,500-8,500 foot (1,670-2,591 m) elevation.  I will be using the Pathfinder Jr. poles on all of these trips.

 

Mostly, I want to find out if using trekking poles really does give you more energy like I've heard.  I would also like to find out if the Pathfinder Jr.s provide as much support in snow as on the hard ground.  I will be testing their durability by using them in various weather conditions.  I will be testing the strength of the performance basket.  I want to see if the baskets can withstand pressure applied when hiking in normal conditions.  I want to see how well the baskets hold up in cold weather.  I will be testing the comfort of the Turbo Sport Kids Grip with and without gloves.  I also want to see how easy it is to adjust the straps with and without gloves on.  I will be testing how well the twist locking system keeps the upper and lower sections locked in place while hiking. I want to see whether the poles will collapse or hold strong.  I want to test how easy it is to adjust the two-sections while using gloves and without gloves.  I will see if cold conditions make it harder to adjust the two sections.  I will be testing how well the Steel Flextip can withstand use on pavement, accidentally striking rocks, and just general use while hiking.  I want to see if the Steel Flextip will break or chip with normal use.  If any parts of the poles break, I will be checking on how easily parts can be replaced.