|
Testing Location
Overview: The hiking environment of the south-west of Western Australia
allows for hiking and backpacking from coastal plains to forest.
Elevation ranges from 0 to 585 metres (0 to 1,920 feet). Within this region, I hike in varying
conditions from forestry roads, to sandy tracks to single-purpose walking
trails, to rock hopping, to beach walking to completely off-track walking
through open and dense country.
[Click here to return to the top]
Weather Conditions: During the summer period, daytime
temperatures average 30° C (86° F), whereas from March through to December the daytime average temperatures range from 15° C to 26° C (59° F to 79° F). During the
autumn, winter, and spring periods the normal weather pattern is fairly
wet with frequent heavy rainstorms evident. It does not normally snow in
Western Australia.
According to The Times Atlas of the World (Concise Edition - Revised 1997)
our weather is described as being "Mediterranean - rainy climates with mild
winters, coolest month above 0° C (32° F), but below 18° C (64° F); warmest
month above 10° C (50° F)." The atlas depicts the coastal area north of
Los Angeles as having the same climate.
[Click here to return to the top]
Field
experience:
Since posting my
Initial Report in June 2004 I have used
the Overland Carbon poles on three weekend walks in a mix of on-track and
off-track walking environments. The walks were in late May (Plavins
Block, Dwellingup), Noggerup (south of Collie) in late June and in the
Avon Valley National Park in late July. I have covered approximately 50 to
60 km (31 - 37 mi) with the poles. I have also used them as pitching
poles in combination with a
MSR Missing Link shelter.
In my
Initial Report I outlined a number of features of the poles and my
intended testing of same. These comments follow along with my field
testing comments. The points from the
Initial Report are in teal.
From the hangtag attached to the
poles:
"Three-section telescoping poles compress for compact
storage." I will report on the general functionality of
compressing the poles in various usage and transport roles;
The poles collapse, the poles lengthen.
That side of things works fine. I have carried these poles on the
side of my
Macpac Cascade pack without trouble. The length is fine for this
pack. I have had some "problems" with the LockJaw expander, but will
comment below on this aspect. In terms of storage when not
bushwalking, I store the poles at home disassembled, that is with each
section separated. This seems to have had no adverse effect and on
the positive side has not in any noticeable way affected the function of
the expander.
"Full carbon fiber construction for light weight."
I think the comment I made in my notes
after my Noggerup walks sums up my thinking ..." light; really noticed the
light weight this weekend." Compared to my aluminium poles, I find these
poles light! They are sweet, I don't feel any stress on my arms or
wrists from using them.
"Reliable LockJaw expander keeps the desired length."
I will report on the functioning of the expander both to keep the poles
locked as well as ease of release for adjustment. MSR also provide
instructions on how to release the poles should the mechanism get locked.
This suggests that the LockJaw expander can lock. Should this happen, I
will apply these instructions and report back on my experience.
Ahh, the LockJaw expander. I must admit
until I started using these poles, I had my doubts about this type of
expander/lock on poles, having a preference for the flick lock style. Am I
won over? Not really. I find that the LockJaw expander either really does
lock down and I have to bang the poles to get it loose or I don't lock it
properly and the pole gradually gets shorter. The expander locking tight
is fine once I have the length right, but can be frustrating if I want to
vary the length as I go from flat ground to hill climbing to descents and
so on. Easy adjustment can be frustrating if I have over-locked the
expander. I also find that the movement when it is not tightened enough
frustrating. I guess I find the certainty (or ability to judge the
tightness) that I have experienced with the flick-lock style of lock
missing from LockJaw expander. All that said, once the expander is
locked in properly it sure hangs in there :-).
"Lightweight foam grips with anti-shock straps for
comfort." Comfort of the grips will be examined in varying conditions
and will be reported on.
A comment on the foam grips. I have
used the poles on a cold night walk, well cold by my standards, on warm
days and in rain. I have found them comfortable in all circumstances and
have not experienced any stickiness or other similar discomfort from the
grips. I find they fit my hands comfortably and I have not experienced any
discomfort in the hand after a days walking. All up pretty happy with the
grips. In respect of the wrist straps, once I worked out how to adjust
them ... you know, pays to read the instructions drungo :-) I have found
them comfortable and supportive. I don't think I would claim that they are
anti-shock; I don't feel that they absorb shock as such but they do
provide some support to the wrist. Again in the varying weather conditions
I have found them comfortable. Nothing negative to report on this aspect.
From the website:
"Ideal for Fast & Light trips where weight is of
paramount importance."
"Full carbon-fiber construction reduces weight and
dampens impact forces each time the pole strikes the trail."
"Anti-shock wrist straps absorb shock for a soft ride."
"7° Natural Angle grip provides the ultimate in
comfort."
The last three points
relate to comfort and use of the poles. I intend to use the poles in
varying conditions including off and on-track walking and will report on
my experiences in the later reports.
In addition to these points above I will be examining the
strength and durability of the poles; the ease of cleaning and stripping
the poles down after use in varying bushwalking conditions; continuing
ease of adjusting and locking the wrist straps.
As outlined above, I am pretty happy
with the poles. I have found them comfortable, easy to use, functional
(with the exception of the LockJaw which is okay, but not as good as it
could be in my view), easy to strip down and clean and easy to put back to
together. I have not experienced anything to date to suggest
strength or durability issues and I have used the poles in some off-track
walking conditions where it is easy to catch and bend or break poles. So
far, no damage.
I have as I alluded to early in this
report, also used them as the poles for the
MSR Missing Link shelter. I have found that they work fine in this
role and in fact I now take two less pegs, using the poles in their place.
The poles expand to the ideal length for this shelter.
Overall, my experience so far with the
poles has been very positive and I thank
BackpackGearTest.org and
MSR for introducing me to two-pole
walking ... you have a convert!
[Click here to return to the top]
|
