Rob also brought the latest developments from Leki.
Aye, you’re seeing it right, that’s flick-locks on Leki poles. There’s a few models in the range that are getting this option, and knowing how popular Black Diamond’s poles with flick-lock length adjustment have been, it looks like a good move.
Weight is still low, and I was swinging them about while extended and I don’t think there’s going to be an issue.
The mechanism itself is pretty much a quick-release like you would find on a seatpost on your bike, and a good one like a Hope too, and it’s been finely engineered as it has to be small and take the load of a hiker tripping onto it as they struggle round the Fairfield horseshoe wearing a 45L pack in high summer (aw come on, I haven’t used that one in ages…).
The other important word in the photie is carbon. Leki carbon poles without antishock, and with flicklocks sound like a proposition you can work with.
The sticky length adjustment was one wee issue I had with the carbon Leki’s, and the other was the strap adjustment. People power has prevailed and below is the new tool and faff-free adjustment mechanism in the handle. A handle so light incidentally, that without the strap it would float away.
2010 sees some new finishing on the poles, so the range looks quite fresh. I was really disappointed though when I was squinting at one white pole without my glasses saying “That’s skulls isn’t it? They’ve put skulls on a pole…” and Rob looked at me as if I was daft saying that it was just wee Leki logo’s in a pattern.
Ach.
don’t you think wee flashes of red on things makes them instantly look better. It’s like the red grille that they recently reintroduced on the Golf GTi’s – instantly recognisable… cool.
..or skulls. Skulls on things are cool…
I love my Black Diamond ally poles in winter, the flick-locks are the easiest, most secure way of adjustment, especially in mittens. I tried a pair of carbon Lekis in the shop a couple of months ago for summer use but didn’t like the twisty adjustment. These new ones look perfect.
Skulls would have been ace!
I know, it’s a bugger isn’t it.
I’d even wear Berghaus if they put skulls on it.
Maybe.
:o) ok here you go http://twitpic.com/eir2f
technically it’s not a skull, rather a face outline? but it is on a Berghaus! Get one.. crikey!
My mate found it in a Blacks in Liverpool. :o)
(link may or may not work, cut n paste!)
I love that t-shirt, it’s Chris Bonington photographed in the 70’s on a Karrimor sponsored expedition :o)
Aye I know. It was my mate Andy who was on the trek that found it and emailed the pic. Chris Bonnington was staying at our hotel in KTM and Andy & the others met him and his son Joe again when they went to base camp, so he’s bought the t-shirt! Daft :o)
Ach, Bonington is a proper hero, that’s allowed.
On Monday after we were done at Montane we met up with Mike Parsons for a cuppa, the very man who sponsored the Bonington trip and made all the kit. He was just back from a month in the Alps, and he wasn’t sitting in teashops :o)
Those two and a few others that are still around are national treasures.
No way! Cool.
Aye CB was a thoroughly nice bloke. His advice on the trek… make sure your camera timezones are set correctly or you’ll have a nightmare when you get home & photies are all out of sync! Class. :o)
That’s concentrating on the essentials :o)
Do you know when these new sticks will be in the shops PTC*?
March next year, the start of “Spring/Summer” !?
Bah!