Think I'd like Leki anti-shock of some sort. They seem to be the same price in most places. Any idea where I can get a good deal?

You won't go far wrong with a pair of these - good reviews from a number of people on here and carbon fibre at a bargain price:

http://www.alpkit.com/products/carbonlite.php

Yup, another vote for the Carbonlites from me. £35 (pair) inc next day delivery. The Alpkit boys also sell all the spares you'll ever need.

I'm impressed with my Alpkit carbon fibre poles - they feel wonderfully light and at £35/pair they're cheaper than most decent aluminium ones. They don't have anti-shock admittedly, but I've never really felt I needed it since I mostly use them on grass or softer paths.

Another recommendation would be Black Diamond poles - they use a flick-locking system (rather than the twist-lock used by Leki and nearly everybody else) which makes the poles much more stable and much less prone to telescoping up when you put weight on them. Some models of the Black Diamond do come with anti-shock. They're not as widely available as Lekis though - I got mine from Ultimate Outdoors. Alternatively,

OK, my attempt at a link failed miserably. I meant to say, alternatively Rock and Run in Ambleside do an own brand version of the Black Diamonds for a lower price - probably worth checking out.

http://www.rockrun.com

If you really want the Lekis you'll either have to shop around - googling Leki antishock on google.co.uk will give you some options, or try some of the OM shopping partners on the left. Gearzone, for example, has the Leki Makalu for about 25 quid a pole - not cheap, but cheaper. If you wait until later in the summer, you may find some old models being sold off cheaper, but there's no guarantee of that. New autumn/winter ranges start to reach the shops towards the end of August.

I don't actually believe that anti-shock makes a huge difference, or any difference come to that, but really that's personal preference.

If you want light and affordable, you can buy a pair of the Alpkit poles for little more than the price of one top-end Leki btw, though Leki do make excellent poles.

I also prefer the BD locking system - the pair I use for mountaineering are BD. It seems more secure and easier to use when things get wet, icy and slippy in my experience.

I have Leki anti-shock poles and I don't think the a-s is worth the extra weight and cost.Also, my poles often telescope when I don't want them to, particularly when wet, even though I've fitted new dowels and wiped inside the tubes.
I've read elsewhere that when subjected to abnormal use, carbon poles can snap but metal ones tend to bend!

Hi

I think that a/s is just another marketing gimmick - used properly 'regular' poles do not get a great deal of shock loading.

Save your money and buy regular poles.

Now if someone invented a/s for knees...................

Nick

Nick, a/s for knees is called Glucosamine ;-)

Dave

Do I need one for each leg?

Nick

I think a/s for knees is using poles.
I always thought that the glucosamine thing was utter nonsense but I tried them out of desperation and because our local HF store was doing a 2 for the price of 1 deal with free Cod Liver Oil caps thrown in.
They do seem to work. They takes about 2/3 months to really get going though. Now I need my NSAIDs very infrequently. Mind you I think getting onto the hill more frequently and for longer periods has probably helped too if only psychologically.

Mountain king poles?

Made in the UK - very good quality at a fraction of the price of Leki etc

you can find them on google