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.

Over the next four months, I will be using the Leki Diva Antishock Trekking Poles for any day hikes or backpacking trips I would normally use hiking poles on. I look forward to reporting on the results I experience while backpacking this season!

This concludes my Initial Report. Please check back in approximately two months for the addition of the Field Report. Thank you to BackpackGearTest and to Leki, Inc. for the opportunity to test the Leki Diva Antishock Trekking Poles.