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REI Hiker Shock Light Staff

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Product Description,
Product Specs,
Reviews

This telescoping, super-lightweight aluminum hiking staff features internal springs to absorb shock and protect your joints.

Antishock springs can be turned on and off with a twist of the pole—use the extra cushion for going downhill; set it rigid for support uphill
Shocklight springs are located inside the inner shaft; thus, are quieter and smoother than other pole springs
Foam grip and wide, padded wrist loop ensure a comfortable and secure hold; cork knob unscrews to create a monopod camera mount
Small-diameter trekking basket keeps the durable carbide tip from sinking into soft dirt and sand, yet resists catching in underbrush
The three-section shaft compacts small enough to strap to a daypack
Measures 51 inches open and 28.5 inches closed; grip length is 8 inches
Sells as a single staff

Imported.

Item 745686

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Manuals and Instructions:

manual How to adjust the strap length

manual How to turn the anti-shock on or off

manual How to adjust the length with an internal lock

manual How to change the basket on a pole

REI Hiker Shock Light Staff Specs

Specification

Description

Best use

Hiking

Aluminum 7075-T6

Foam

Yes

51 inches

28.5 inches

129.54 centimeters

72.39 centimeters

Twist lock

Yes

8 ounces

Unisex

Yes

Shaft material

Grip material

Adjustable

Maximum length (in.)

Minimum length (in.)

Maximum length (cm)

Minimum length (cm)

Locking mechanism

Shock absorbing

Camera mount

Weight

Gender

Adjustable pole(s)

REI Hiker Shock Light Staff Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Hiker Shock Light Staff

4.3

(based on 32 reviews)

94%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Lightweight (31)
Good grips (27)
Well built / quality (27)
Easy to adjust (24)
Flexible (13)

Cons

Best Uses

Hiking (28)
Backpacking (25)
Day trip (20)
Car camping (3)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (17), Casual/ recreational (9)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (17), Survivalist / minimalist (10)

Reviewed by 32 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-10

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Dec

2012

3.0

Not what I hoped for

By railrider

from Davis, CA

See all my reviews

Pros

Sturdy

Cons

Loose Mechanism
Not To Spec

Best Uses

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

The product's listed weight is 8 oz but on a postal scale the pole I received weighs 10 oz (10.5 with cup). Disappointing because even 8 oz is more than I'd prefer. The anti-shock mechanism doesn't fully lock out (there's still a small amount of travel). What's worse the lock doesn't hold well and tends to revert to spring action. On the plus side the pole is sturdy and the pole sections don't slip. It's made in Austria by Komperdell. On a personal note, I found the pole unbalanced, too top heavy. I returned it.

Comment on this review

Sep

2012

5.0

Excellent staff for Rough Trails

By beemstroll

from Minnesota

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Camera mount
Easy to adjust
Flexible
Good grips
Lightweight

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

Used a hiking pole for the first time for a 5 day backpacking trip in the Rockies. Trail was rough and rocky with some places being simple rock slides. The staff is great for maintaining balance on down hills. The cork ball on top fits nicely in the palm of the hand when going down hill and looking for just a little support. It's so light that it was never uncomfortable to use. The monopod feature is a nice addition - makes taking pictures in low-light conditions a breeze. Also is good for time-delay photography.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Just what my knees ordered!

By Sophtware

from Dacula, GA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I've never owned a Trekking Pole before. But now that I'm getting closer to 50, I thought I would give one a try. Let me tell you, I wish I had purchased one (or two) of these years ago!

I went hiking last weekend at Unicoi State Park on the Smith Creek Trial and used this pole for the first time. Hiking the trail was 'so' much easier! My knees did even hurt durring, or after the hike. The pole made it so much easier to navigate the trial. Especially in the steep parts.

About the pole: I found it rather easy to adjust the size of the pole. I only needed to do it once at the beginning of the trail. I know some people adjust the length for going up vs going down. I didn't have to on this trail.

I took the rubber boot off the bottom after the first 10 minutes of hiking. I found the pole gripped better with the boot off. I know one reviewer said the tip wears out and can't be replaced, which may be the case. But I'm not sure how the tip could wear out so quickly sticking into mud, dirt, and tree roots. Maybe he uses it on pavement and concrete, which would wear out a tip quite fast. But I think that's what the rubber booty is for. So don't throw out the booty when you purchase one of these.

The pole also has a camera mount on the top when you remove the ball grip. I haven't used it yet, but looks like it will come in handy. Now I won't have to carry my heavy mono-pod with me all the time.

Comment on this review

Aug

2012

5.0

not your ordinary walking stick

By prettycounselor

from Chicago, IL

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Flexible
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Walking with a cast

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I needed support to walk with a boot after my cast from my broken leg came off. This product offered great support, helped me balance myself and is lightweight and adjustable. It has been a real help

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May

2012

5.0

The best REI Hiker Shock Light Staff

By Laurie multitool

from Brookline, MA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Balanced
Comfortable
Easy to adjust
Flexible
Good grips
Lightweight
Perfect strap
Strong

Cons

None

Best Uses

Backpacking
Car Camping
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I've tried many but when I lost an earlier version of this stick & was forced to use a substitute, I just had to come back 7 get a new one. I was thrilled with the new lighter shock absorbing improvements. Not only a great stick, but perfectly balanced to knock sticks off a trail (grooming it) as you walk. I highly recommend it!

Comment on this review

Apr

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

The Crippled hiker

By Wobbly HIker

from Portland, OR

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Flexible
Good grips
Lightweight
Monopod
Strong

Cons

None

Best Uses

Day trip
DSLR stabilization
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I have Muscular Dystrophy and seriously weak ankles but nothing makes me happier than hiking with my camera. I bought this pole because hiking was becoming really difficult, as my balance is something awful! The pole works like a charm, and it's so lightweight that it didn't weaken my hand/arm at all. The top round part unscrews to reveal a monopod screw. It works great for when my hands start to shake and I need a little assistance in taking vibration free pictures. It's sturdy enough to stabilize even the klutziest of trekkers!!!

Comment on this review

Mar

2012

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Can change the tips

By Oldsampeabody

from Sedona, AZ

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Collapses Too Easily

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I put in new tips. It just takes a couple vice grips, some brute force and manliness, not hard to do. I love these sticks. They are my front legs. With them I am a bi-poler quadraped who hikes many miles a year. I use them very hard and put alot of weight on them as I "polevault" down steep trails so I have to tape them to keep them from collapsing. However, I am certain, understanding the technology used to make an adjustable pole, any other brand would also collapse.

Comment on this review

Feb

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Mixed upgrade

By hiker001

from New York

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Shock absorbers

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

The previous generation of REI Hikers earned 5 stars from me. This new version has greatly improved twist locking mechanism, but replaced the elegant Vibrastop technology with the annoying shock absorbers, a.k.a. balance breakers. If properly used, the poles transfer 20% of the load from the knees to the arms. When you regularly hike with 40-50 lbs. packs, it is welcomed relief. Shock absorbers interfere with efficient use of that function by causing springy dip with each step. If I could just lock the absorbers out, it would be OK. But these poles stubbornly keep unlocking absorbers after every few steps. On the average day hike I have to re-lock them more than 100 times. For unknown reason, the manufacturer provided shorter springy dip in the locked position as well. So there is no way to use this version of Hikers in solid state. For me, that calls for return of the poles. But there is nothing else on the market like the cork knob on this model. Contour grips are blister makers if the hiker uses the arms to relieve the load off the knee joints. The cork knobs on REI Hikers can be used heavy duty for days without gloves with no harm done to the palms of the hands. Plastic and wood knobs of other straight grip poles are not as comfortable. So I have to keep the Hikers. Instead of replacing them, I am going to contact manufacturer to see if it possible to remove the shock absorbers without damaging the section locking mechanism.
One advice for reviewers with bad knees – do your knees a favor and get the second "staff." They are really just the hiking poles with straight grips.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Unexpected high value with camera

By 1943andstillgoing

from Australia

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Balance
Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Day trip

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I bought this to help with personal balance and also for the camera. Travelling with an older DSLR, the camera seemed to grow in weight hour by hour. Having a hand grip for it, rather than a neck strap, saved me from being hit by a swinging camera; the wrist grip allowed me to drop the camera to my side and relax my hand. Still heavy.

After buying this monopod, the experience was transformed, the camera stayed on the pole most of the time, easy still to use the pole for walking using vertical handle and strap. I had expected to have to go through a muck around of taking the camera on and off the pole. But I found it best to keep the camera on the pole for extended periods. NOW THE CAMERA'S WEIGHT WAS ON THE GROUND MUCH OF THE TIME and the pole was still easy to use.

I had correctly anticipated the value of the monopod sitting on the ground. However, that generally required adjustment of the pole length, irksome.

However, I had not realised that the pole would also provide much improved overall balance in use of the camera, with the pole OFF the ground. No need, for most shots, unless wanting an extremely long exposure, to put the pole on ground — just lift the camera to the eye and the length of the pole, though its weight is very little, held the camera steady in landscape position, with left thumb and forefinger round the top of the pole, holding the weight of the camera effortlessless; right hand free to work the camera.

Surprise, surprise: I could also use the camera on pole one-handed with great balance in portrait mode. My camera having a shutter release on its right bottom corner for portrait shots made it possible. Thumb under the pole, one finger to the release, very steady and swift. Left hand not essential. However, working with two hands for more stability, the right hand could hold the very top of the pole to steady the camera, my left hand very free of lifting to adjust aim, work the lens and use the normal shutter release.

Of course, I was not doing this in a crowded place, with a sharp stick swinging sideways to clear the tourists!

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Nov

2011

3.0

versatile..

By borneo4x4

from Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Lightweight
Monopod
Strong

Cons

Jammed
Stucked

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about REI Hiker Shock Light Staff:

I do a lot of treks in Borneo and buy items from REI through friends who live in the US. One often needs a 'third leg' walking and balancing on wooden logs walking past mud pits and streams. And since I take video more than photos, the monopod feature is great. The cork handle is also great. But the pole has jammed on the bottom section probably due to the mud and sand although I clean it after every use.

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