Komperdell Hikemaster walking poles are part of the 2018 summer collection and have a newly designed grip called the Fatso Grip. The rubber grip is slimmer than many other Komperdell poles and the new shape is “ergonomic and comfortable to use”. The grip design is also “seamlessly integrated into the shaft to provide a new and unique look and feel’.
Other features include:
- Available in regular length 105cm to 140cm and Compact version 90cm to 120cm.
- Aluminium poles in three sections.
- Power Locks for adjusting height.
- Telescopic adjustable height.
- Packed size: 58 cm
- Trek 170 grip
- Padded strap
Powerlock 3.0 mechanism - Vario trekking basket
- Tungsten/carbide flex tip
- Weight : Regular 258g / compact 240g
- 3 year guarantee and service.
- Price: SRP £79.95
- Find a retailer: First Ascent.
On test: Komperdell Hike Master walking poles
Although not the lightest poles, these are strong and sturdy sticks that are ideal for hill and mountain hiking. Find out why more people are using walking poles.
They feel nicely weighted when you walk with them. What I mean by that is they swing perfectly in step with your stride. The grip is very comfortable and although I didn’t notice them having a slimmer grip I certainly didn’t have any reason to complain about how the grip felt.
The wide and padded strap is really comfortable.
The Power Locks allow you to easily adjust the length of the poles. The lock feels very secure when closed and if you feel a lock becoming looser in time, you can simply screw the bolt a little tighter when you are at home. This is an excellent feature because I have known poles to be rendered useless because the lock has become too lose with time and wear.
The poles can be shortened to a minimum of 58cm, which is handy if you want to carry them in your rucksack or when travelling abroad for a walking holiday. Some poles stay at a set length and this doens’t make them so easy to transport. Saying that, there are poles that fold into three bits, rather than telescope, so they are often even smaller when packed away.
However, I thought the telescoped length was good and I like that they can be adjusted to suit a range of different heights. This means, for example, that two people can use the poles at different times even if they are of different heights.
You have the choice of a simple tip or a basket on the tip. The basket is useful for times, for example, if you are walking on snow (you might be snowshoeing) or in very soft terrain.
While these are not the cheapest or lightest poles on the market, I feel like they are made to last and and they are also sold by a respected brand.