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REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair

GRAY

REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair

$79.50

(20)

Item # 784263

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Our Traverse Shocklight trekking poles provide quiet stability and support so you hear the sounds of nature and not the clicks of poles.

Shock-absorbing poles reduce fatigue while improving stability; lockout mechanism creates a rigid pole when needed for more efficient climbing
Shocklight shock absorbers weigh less than common spring-loaded mechanisms and won't rattle within the shaft as you walk
DuoLock internal locking mechanisms apply a wide area of pressure against pole walls to lock in length adjustment
With the new Stop Lock system, poles won't come apart; system makes the pole sections into 1 unit for security and stability
Twist-locking pole sections let you tailor the length to fit your terrain: make them shorter for the way up, longer for the way down
Strong 7075-T6 aluminum 3-section telescoping poles extend to a maximum length of 55 in. and compact to 28 in. for easy storage and transport
Soft EVA foam hand grips have an ergonomic, contoured shape that is easy to hold; adjustable padded neoprene wrist straps add support
Fitted with trekking discs and extra-durable tungsten carbide tips; included tip protectors are strictly for travel/packing protection, not intended for hiking

Imported.

Item 784263

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Manuals and Instructions:

manual How to turn the anti-shock on or off

manual How to change the basket on a pole

manual How to adjust the length with an internal lock

manual How to adjust the strap length

REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair Specs

Specification

Description

Best use

Hiking

Aluminum

Foam

Yes

55.1 inches

28.3 inches

140 centimeters

71.9 centimeters

Twist lock

Yes

18.8 ounces

Unisex

Yes

18.8 ounces

Shaft material

Grip material

Adjustable

Maximum length (in.)

Minimum length (in.)

Maximum length (cm)

Minimum length (cm)

Locking mechanism

Shock absorbing

Weight per pair

Gender

Adjustable pole(s)

Weight (pair)

REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair

3.2

(based on 20 reviews)

65%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Good grips (17)
Lightweight (14)
Easy to adjust (11)
Well built / quality (9)

Cons

Collapses too easily (8)

Best Uses

Hiking (14)
Backpacking (12)
Day trip (6)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (10), Casual/ recreational (7)
- What Is Your Gear Style:
- Comfort driven (8), Survivalist / minimalist (7)

Reviewed by 20 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

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Dec

2009

(10 of 14 customers found this review helpful)

2.0

It might as well be a 2-section pole

By ineedmycoffee

from Albany, NY

About Me Casual Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Solid feel

Cons

Collapses Too Easily
Not carry-on compatible

Best Uses

Backpacking
General fitness
Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I purchased these poles on recommendation from an REI salesperson. On picking them up, I was pleasantly surprised at how light they were, how easily they adjusted, how solid they felt at first, and the fact that the inner springs didn't rattle around like other poles I've tried out. The shock absorber system also felt very solid when I put a little weight behind it in the store. And, as these poles are made by Komperdell for REI, I figured they had to be decent quality since I've heard very good things about Komperdell poles.

After bringing them out of the store, the first thing I found out about them was that they would not fit into any carry-on sized luggage. As I was advised by a phone call to the airline that I wouldn't be let through security with them in hand, I was forced to borrow larger luggage and check that luggage.

After getting these poles home, I was all set to take them for a test run at a local trail. I started to adjust the bottom section of one pole when the tip came off in my hand. That was a bit of a surprise. I then discovered another problem with this pole - the bottom section of the pole slowly collapsed on me when I put my upper body weight on it. This happened with both the pole that had the tip come off and its twin. It happened no matter how much I tried to be sure the bottom section was locked into place. On the other hand, the middle section of the poles have no problem staying in place. Once those are twisted in place in either the locked mode or the shock absorber mode, that section is very steady and does not collapse under my weight at all.

I never did take these poles onto the trail. I was too afraid that the tip would come off while I was hiking around. These poles are getting returned as soon as I'm able. But, considering my experience with these poles, to anybody who purchases them, I'd recommend them for use only on easy to moderate trails and as general fitness poles, where your only need for these would be balance checks. If you have to take it on anything more difficult than a moderate trail, don't use that third section. Keep it collapsed and just use these as two section poles. That third section might not hold up under your weight on an ascent or descent.

Dec

2009

(4 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

Good poles, middle of the pack

By Blue Jaguar

from North Carolina

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good grips
Lightweight

Cons

Caused blisters

Best Uses

Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I'll start by saying I'm not concerned whether these, or any poles, fit into carry-on luggage. And I would not unfairly ding a good product based on my misconceptions or lack of experience with them.

I'm a veteran [day] hiker and have never used poles. But last time on an ascent up Grandfather Mountain without poles got me wondering. So next time up I used these poles. I used these on a couple of hikes in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park prior to going up Grandfather again a few days ago. I can say that the poles are steady, easy to adjust, and generally very good. I was able to go up Grandfather this time and did not feel exhausted when I came back down as I did last time without these poles. On what flat ground I had I was able to use the poles in the classic Nordic synchronized method and that felt really good. I'm looking forward to taking these out to Yosemite next year.

Sep

2009

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Good Enough

By Intrepid Explorer

from California

About Me Avid Adventurer

Pros

Good grips

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Day trip
Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I've used these poles for approximately a year now and been fine with them. People have complained in the past about them collapsing easily, but I never had a problem with this. It seems more likely that people were not tightening them properly. Adjusting can be tricky at first until you get used to them... to tighten I found that if you provided a little bit of pressure transverse to the screw direction it helped... otherwise you might not be catching the threads inside.

For the average person these poles will do fine... They are a decent weight and fairly adjustable. I've used them on dirt, mud, in streams, on hard-pack ice, and on granite and never had an issue with slipping.

My only complaints are that they become difficult to adjust when wet (i.e. rain) and are a bit long even when compacted down (made them difficult to take on the airplane).

Aug

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Faulty Lockout Mechanism

By dcb

from College Station, TX

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Good straps

Cons

Faulty lockout mechanism

Best Uses

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I've owned a pair of REI Traverse trekking poles for several years. After breaking my old pair, I bought a new pair in preparation for an upcoming trip -- my brothers bought some as well. Everything about the new poles was very familiar and I was happy with my purchase until it came time to use the lockout mechanism to make the poles rigid as we ascended a steep incline. I was shocked to discover that after a few steps the lockout mechanism failed and the shock absorbers were activated, which also absorbs a good deal of your energy as you are trying to use the poles to help you climb. The problem occurred in all three sets of new poles no matter how many times we tried to lock them out. I can't believe these trekking poles would pass even a subpar quality control test. DO NOT BUY these poles if you will want to use them in their rigid configuration.

Jun

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Time to get a different set of poles

By PDX Bear

from Portland, OR

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good grips

Cons

Collapses Too Easily

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I have had a pair of these poles for about 2 years. On about half of the day hiking trips one of the sections comes loose and collapses. On occasion, the pole section will not lock in place no matter how much twisting or spinning. FAILED on me yesterday on a long 10-mile hike with 4,000ft of elevation gain. Enough. Time to get another set of poles because I can't trust these poles.

Jul

2009

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

They've done good

By Daryl71

from Everett WA

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I've had these for quite awhile but only use them when I really need poles as I'm not a big fan of them, but do like them for long up hill sections. They have held up great through some pretty nast use though. Only problem is the "shock absorber" on one no longer shuts off. I don't even notice when they are on or off (other then the squeek) anyway, so no big deal.

Feb

2012

3.0

Had to Return My First Pair

By Zach the Hiker

from Travelers Rest, SC

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Good grips
Lightweight

Cons

Collapses Too Easily
Locking System failed

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

I bought these trekking poles and used them only on two hikes and after two hikes one of the poles locking system failed/jammed and I was no longer able to adjust/extend the pole. It was stuck on one setting. The local REI was willing to exchange, but when I went to get a replacement pair they charged me the difference, because I bought them on sale for [$] and they were no longer on sale and were full price at [$]. It wasn't really an "exchange" more like a credit and then had to pay the difference because they were no longer on sale. I will give this new pair a try and hopefully they will last longer.

Jan

2012

5.0

Better than expected...

By Newt

from Bloomington, MN

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking
Hiking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

After reading the reviews on this product, I nearly returned them for the Black Diamond Trail shock Compact ones (without even trying them out). I went back to the store and actually walked around with the BD ones. However, the compact feature made them just a hair too short. I'm actually glad they were too short, and the regular sized BD ones were the same length as the REI ones I had purchased and felt basically the same to me. Anyhow, I decided to give them a workout...see if the negative reviews had any merit. Worst case scenario, I'd utilize REI's liberal return policy.

It turns out the reviews were wrong (in my opinion). These things are awesome! I actually figured I'd be annoyed with them (based on the reviews of course) but I wasn't...not in the least! It was lightly snowing and I took them on a fairly diverse track (a bit rocky in some spots while quite soft in others with a lot of up and down) and they performed beautifully; even adjusting them when wet was not a problem. At first, the "shock" functionality of this pole did annoy me, until I realized that my wrists and shoulders were not sore like with my previous poles. For some areas, I did lock out the shock aspect and found the rigidity and strength of these poles overwhelming.

I'm fairly aggressive when it comes to trekking poles and thought I'd burn through these quickly. Wrong. I've probably put about 25+ miles on them so far and they are really holding up well! Once again, all I have to say is that I am impressed with an REI version of a top rated product.

Dec

2011

2.0

OK but they fail easily

By LV Tiger

from San Diego and the Eastern Sierra

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Good grips
Lightweight

Cons

Brittle
Collapses Too Easily

Best Uses

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

Nice looking poles and they worked well...until the locking system failed. We had 3 different sets we owned that have failed. The latest just failed yesterday and will be returned. Get the Black Diamond lever locks (or maybe the REI lever lock types) and be much happier. The poles failing was almost as bad as the REI sales associate telling us "you just aren't smart enough to know how to fix the poles."

Dec

2011

4.0

Good poles for the money

By caboose

from Perrysburg, Ohio

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to adjust
Good grips
Lightweight
Strong

Cons

Best Uses

Backpacking

Comments about REI Traverse Shocklight Trekking Poles - Pair:

2 sets bought for 3 day rim to rim hike of grand canyon from Vegas store. One tip broke (came off pole and could't be re attached) before trip started, replaced pole set without problem, We had to go to another store though (out of stock at orginal store).. all employees were great to deal with!