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chick-on
... and Leki sent me new bottom sections when my abuse of them cause them to start to get loose. They get abused so much the once gold bottom
sections are now silver. It's one piece of equipment I just don't see "upgrading" until I somehow lose them. They are guaranteed for life.
I haven't had much problem with them coming lose. Although nowadays I just leave the bottom section fixed open.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy the snap locks. I would NOT buy carbon. I would NOT buy the positive angle handles.
I WOULD only buy cork handles. I WOULD only buy a pole with Anit-Shock.
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I've had my Lekis for about four years and (maybe) 800 miles now. Overall I've been very happy with them but now one of the anti-shocks (a pressurized gas cartridge, I suspect) has lost all its pressure. The anti-shock seems to be built into the bottom section with no way to replace it separately from the section. What can anyone tell me about repairs and replacement parts?
REI says they don't deal in pole parts except for the little stuff like rubber caps, carbide tips, and snow baskets. I found some places in the UK that sell pole sections but at least one of them makes it clear that they don't ship internationally (I'm in the US). I didn't see anyone in the US, including Leki, advertising parts or repairs for Leki poles. Leki says in the little folder that came with my poles, "Worldwide Lifetime Warranty on defective materials and product. Warranty parts are available for up to 10 years after product is manufactured." However, their website now seems to be saying that the warranty covers only "shaft breakage" and they make no mention of other repairs or replacement parts. I've emailed them an inquiry but it's too soon to expect a reply.
Btw, my poles are "hybrid" with one twist lock and one flip lock each. I extend the twist-lock section to its maximum length, lock it there, and check it every few miles to make sure it's still tight. I
do vary the length of the flip-lock section according to the terrain -- "normal" length for level or uphill, much longer for downhill. A few months ago I noticed one of my flip-locks slipping a little so I tightened the tension nuts on both. I've never tried poles without an anti-shock feature but I suspect I'd miss it if I had to give it up. The pole with the failed anti-shock does feels a little odd to me. I can't tell if it's actually affecting my performance, but my hand on that side started getting sore and asking for a glove while the other one was still happy.
I usually take YARTS in and out of Yosemite. I walk to the bus stop using my poles; collapse them and strap them to my pack for the actual ride; extend them when I'm ready to start walking; and collapse them again for my next bus ride. I've occasionally met people halfway up the Four Mile Trail with poles strapped to their packs. I wondered why they'd carry them all that way if they weren't even going to use them.
. Also, they have the usual "twist-to-tighten" mechanism which is not always reliable (I've never had one collapse on me but they do occasionally get slightly (but noticeably) shorter if I'm putting a lot of weight on them). I'm thinking of upgrading to something with a quick-release locking system (which are at least SUPPOSED to be more secure) and which will fold down to no more than about 22 or 23 inches (for use, I never set them much higher than 44 or 45 inches)). Don't need exotic materials to minimize the weight but it would be nice to keep it below 16 or 17 ounces.
