Fenix HP11 "Top 10" Gear of 2011 Award from Gear Junkie

'Top 10' Gear of 2011 Awards!

November 21, 2011

From South America to the Austrian Alps, with dozens of domestic stops in between, 2011 was a year of high adventure for the GearJunkie crew. On mountain climbs, ultra runs, adventure races, bike events — and plain-old camping and backpacking trips with family and friends — we tested a serious load of outdoors equipment. The list below, Gear Junkie’s annual “Top 10 Gear” awards, gives a nod to our favorite new products, tested and approved, after a year of fun outdoors and around the globe. —Stephen Regenold, editor of GearJunkie.com

Fenix HP-11 Headlamp. In a week-long adventure race this year in Idaho, where Team GearJunkie/YogaSlackers was in the dark for nearly 50 hours of the event, the HP-11 literally shined. With a rated 277-lumen L.E.D., our team could ride singletrack mountain bike trails at full speed with this light, which requires four AA batteries. It runs for about 4 hours on that high setting, or about 25 hours on a lower light setting, which we use for hiking. The headlamp is waterproof, rugged, and (best part) costs only $65. More info/GearJunkie review article

Komperdell Contour Titanal Power Lock Poles Review by YMMV

Komperdell Contour Titanal Power Lock Poles

Manufacturer Description

Extra slim and light, the Men’s Contour Titanal Power Lock Trekking Poles features a Contour Grip with extended grip zone designed in super light EVA foam that is perfect for gripping lower down. A Stop Lock system makes the single pole sections into one unit.

Features

• Sizes
  • Packed size – 71 cm (28 in)
  • Maximum length – 140 cm (55.1 in)
  • EVA Airfoam Contour grip

•  KOMPERDELL Airfoam strap
• Trekking pole TITANAL.HF alloy
•  3 Sections
• 16 mm diameter bottom section (0.63 in)
• 14 mm diameter middle section (0.55 in)
• 12 mm diameter lower section (0.47 in)
• POWER LOCK II system
• vario mini basket
• Tungsten/carbide flex tip
• Measured weight – 268 g per pole (9.5 oz)
• Retail – $140

YMMV Review

With the C3 Carbon poles , Komperdell let me test out a set of their Titanal.hf alloy poles as well.  These also featured the Powerlock system rather that the twist lock systems I have come to despise.  If you would like to know about trekking poles, check out my article by clicking on the link below.

Design 

The Komperdell Contour Titanal Power Lock Poles are part of the signature collection. These are the Hans Kammerlander poles. Hans Kommerlander has been on thirteen 8000 m peaks (there are only 14 in the world) and was the first person to ski down Mount Everest. The Komperdel Contour Titanal Poles are a 3 section trekking pole made of Titanal.hf alloy. Titanal.hf is also used in space industry – especially for parts exposed to excessive use. Titanal.hf most important property is that it has a high density at comparably low weight. Titanal.hf is an aluminum alloy. Its mechanical density is comparable to steel, but its weight is only one-third of steel. Each section is slightly smaller than the above one so it can adjust to the length for the user.

Grip and Strap

The poles feature Komperdell’s Power Lock II adjusting system. This system locks the poles via a latch system rather than a twisting mechanism. It is super easy to use and according to Komperdell, it increases the holding power 90%. The Contour Titanal poles are able to be adjusted from a packed size of 71 cm (28 in) to a maximum length of 140 cm (55.1 in). The poles have a hard plastic top with a foam grip below. The grip extends down the shaft as one piece with some texture lines for to aid in grip. The straps on the Contour Titanal poles are adjustable behind the hand. It is a thin webbing strap with a sliding pad for comfort. The poles come with the vario mini basket for general hiking and firmer conditions.

Numbered Pole Sections

Performance 

Just like the C3 Carbon Poles these poles are lightweight and easy to swing. The poles have a comfortable foam grip that extends down the shaft for more gripping options. I really liked this grip. The foam seems softer than some of the others I have tested. The strap is also very comfortable. It is a wide strap to distribute pressure over a larger area, and since it is padded it is soft on the wrist. I liked the width of this strap, and it was easier to adjust due to the adjustment being made behind the hand. The Titanal.hf feels very durable. I did not bang the poles excessively on anything but how solid these poles feel just exerts confidence. Both bottom sections have numbered length measurements making it really easy to get the right length.

Padded Strap

The Power Lock system is great. The poles can be locked and unlocked quickly. My other poles were twist lock poles, and I plan on not going back. These are so much easier to use, even with gloves on. The poles come stock with the vario mini basket for firmer conditions. If it is needed it is really easy to change these out for a larger basket in the winter. Extra baskets are around $5.

Overall 

A gave these an overall rating of 4 just like the C3 Carbon poles. While the Contour Titanal may be slightly heavier than carbon poles. The grip and strap are more comfortable than any other poles I have tested thus far. The poles have a good feel to them and are just solid. They may transfer shock up the shaft a bit more, but the foam grip will help with this. I like how these poles are numbered on both sections, once I knew the length I liked. I could just tighten the poles and go. At $140 these poles are on the expensive side but are a top of the line alloy pole. Komperdell has been making poles for some time now, and you can tell. As always, your mileage may vary.

Locking Mechanism

Pros

• Lightweight
• Well made and solid feeling
• Comfortable grip
• Power Lock mechanism works well

Cons

• Expensive but you get what you pay for

Komperdell C3 Carbon Power Lock Poles Review by YMMV Reviews

Komperdell C3 Carbon Power Lock Poles

Manufacturer Description

100% Carbon especially designed for Trekking, extra light for perfect swing dynamics.

Features

• Sizes
  • Packed size – 69 cm (27.2 in)
  • Maximum length – 145 cm (57.1 in)
  • EVA foam grip

•  KOMPERDELL Trekking strap
• G´Reptile grip zone
• 3-sections
• upper section – 100% carbon, 16 mm diameter (0.63 in)
• middle section – 100 % carbon, 14 mm diameter (0.55 in)
• lower section – TITANAL.HF, 12 mm diameter (0.47 in)
• POWER LOCK II system
•  Vario summer basket
• Tungsten/carbide flex tip
• Measured weight – 242 g per pole (8.5 oz)
• Retail – $200 per set

YMMV Review

In writing my knowledge base article on Trekking Poles, I wanted to review a couple of poles with lever locking instead of the twisting lock that my current poles have. I actually have used trekking poles for some time but mine were a basic model that was no comparison to the ones Komperdell let me review. If you would like to read more on Trekking Poles in general, click through to the knowledge base article below.

Design 

The C3 Carbon Power Lock Trekking Poles are a lightweight 3-section trekking pole. The poles are able to be packed down to 69 cm (27.2 in) in length when not in use and can be extended up to 145 cm (57.1 in) long when in use. The top two sections of the pole are made of 100% carbon. Carbon is extremely light and strong material. It also has shock dampening characteristics, which help dampen the vibrations up the shaft. The lower sections of the poles are made of Titanal.hf alloy. Titanal.hf is also used in space industry – especially for parts exposed to excessive use. Titanal.hf most important property is that it has a high density at comparably low weight. Titanal.hf is an aluminum alloy. Its mechanical density is comparable to steel, but its weight is only one-third of steel.

G'Reptile Extended Grip

The grips on the C3 Carbon poles are made of EVA foam. The grip section is this material while the top is made of a hard plastic. The strap is adjustable to your hand and wrist size. It is made of webbing with a softer texture on the inside. Below the main grip, the pole is wrapped in G’Reptile material. This grip zone is a special coating for extra firm hold even when wet. This lower grip zone is great for times when you need to use both hands on one pole or grip down the shaft. Overall, the materials and features of these poles were developed to create light weight poles with excellent swing dynamics. Komperdell does make a women’s model of these poles with a shorter length, smaller grip, and feminine color scheme.

Performance 

These are the best trekking poles I have ever used. The C3 Carbon Poles hardly weigh a thing making them easy to swing and not adding any extra effort to use. The poles adjust really easily. After having other trekking poles with the twist locking mechanism, I am so happy to test out a pair with a lever lock. Not only are they easy to lock, but they are also easy to unlock. With twist lock poles, it has always been relatively simple to lock them, but many times it is darned near impossible to get them unlocked. I ended up getting marks on my palms from gripping and twisting so hard. I like the power locks. The poles are 2/3 carbon fiber, and it seemed that the carbon dampens the vibration from rocks and the ground when putting the poles in the ground.

Main Grip and Strap

The strap is comfortable around the wrist. I did have trouble with one of the straps not adjusting easily. I always seemed to want to go back to the same spot. After some working with it, I got it where I wanted. The grip is nice and comfortable in the hand. I also tested the Contour Titanal poles and did actually like the grip on those poles a bit more. This grip was nice but I just liked the other slightly more. The G’Reptile below the main grip is very easy to hold onto. The material used for this extended grip does not slip, ever. The poles come with the vario summer basket. This is a good size for most applications except for snow. The vario system makes it really easy to adjust baskets if needed. The other baskets can be purchased separately. Melissa also tested these poles out and was an instant fan. Not only did they give her more balance on confidence on the trail. She also felt like they were very light and liked the grip as well. She did not feel like the grip was too big for her, but I must add that she does not have much experience with trekking poles. After testing these, she definitely wants a pair for our adventures from this day forwards.

Power Lock Mechanism

Overall 

These are some nice trekking poles. They are well-made and feel solid all around. The main grip is very comfortable, and the extended grip is tacky and has an interesting feel to it. The locking mechanisms are such an improvement over the twisting lock trekking poles. They are easy to adjust, and since they are so light they take nearly no effort to swing. The one thing I find puzzling on the poles is the lower section does not have any length numbers for sizing. This makes it a bit more difficult to get the correct length every time so little adjustments might need to be made to get it right. There is a price for getting such high quality and lightweight trekking poles, but if you plan on using them a lot, you cannot get much better than these. As always, your mileage may vary.

Bottom Section is Not Numbered

Pros

• Carbon dissipates shock up the shaft
• Lightweight
• Comfortable grip and extended grip
• Powerlocking mechanism is easy to use

Cons

• No numbering on lower section of poles
• Expensive but worth it