REI Ultralite

Review Date
August 28, 2004

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Backpacker Girl ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $75.00 at REI

Summary:
Wondering if these poles are worth the money? YES! I bought these poles a few years ago at REI and have been using them ever since. They are very durable, well-constructed, and well worth the money. The anti-shock construction is wonderful. You can twist it on or off. That way when you are going uphill you can set it to no shock and when you are going downhill you can set the shocks on for easier decent. I mean lets face it, going downhill is much more harder on your body than going up.

Review Date
April 25, 2003

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Reviewed by: ckishlar(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $95.00 at REI

Summary:
When one of my Komperdell poles "froze" and would not extend, I took it to REI to see if they could help. They couldn't get it to extend, so I figured it was time for a new pair of poles.

I decided to buy the REU Ultralite Anti-Shock poles (made for REI by Komperdell) because of the 4 good years I had gotten out of the old ones -- BIG mistake!

The new poles were two "left-handed" poles based upon the straps (a lot of poles come with left and right hand grips). The thickness of the straps should be on the outside of the hand for comfortable support and to prevent chafing. I returned the poles to REI and they did all that they could to no avail to reverse one of the pole straps to fit my right hand. They could not get it adjusted.

The end result was that all of the REI Ultralite Anti-Shock poles in the store -- all 22 prs. -- were left handed poles.

I returned returned these poles and bought Leki Makalu Anti-Shock poles and love them. I should have bought these in the first place. It's obvious there's more quality in the Leki's.

If you do decide to buy the REI poles, check first to make sure you have a right and left handed pole!

Customer Service:
Very good customer service at REI -- always has and hopefully always will be

Similar Products Used:
Komperdell X-Tours, Leki Makalu Anti-Shock

Review Date
November 16, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: rxrjh (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $75.00 at rei

Summary:
Bought these poles after trying a friends Leki. Anyone thinking whether the money is worth it or not...it is! I used these poles on a backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon. After years of hiking and backpacking without trekkin pole, I found out truly how wonderful they are.

These poles provided plenty of support for my 6'2", 205lb frame without any problems. The on/off on the spring mechanism is simple to use, although I found that the mechanism was turned on accidently on occasion because it was so easy to change back and forth. Only other complaint was that the springs squeeked upon compression. But a little wd50 cleared this up after the trip.

Great value.

Customer Service:
not used

Similar Products Used:
leki