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 Alpkit Carbonlite
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Alpkit Carbonlite
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Average Rating: 4 out of 5
No. of Reviews: 11
RRP: £35
Year: 2005

Description: Lightweight, carbon-fibre trekking poles with either EVA or Synthetic cork handles.

 REVIEWS
 
1 to 10 of 11 reviews, to post a review you need to be a member - Join now.Page: 1  2  
Sam Newmark 
Posted: 19/07/07
Updated: 16/07/08
'LIGHT AND CHEAP'
Strengths:
Light
Stiff
Cheap
Great service from Alpkit
Weaknesses:
A bit long when fully shortened
Rubber feet tend to come off, but it's £1.50 for a spare pair and free next day delivery so not much of a problem.

[Update 16/07/08] Since I originally reviewed this, I've encountered more issues with these. The handle has come off which is easy to fix with glue, but not if you're in the middle of nowhere. As well as the rubber tips falling off, the metal ones loosen, and as far as I'm aware they can't be tightened again. When they eventually do fall off, you can't buy replacements without spending £10 on a completely new section. After they've been used a while, it seems that the poles shorten by themselves as you walk, unless you tighten them really hard, in which case they jam and take ages to release.

Overall:
Great value lightweight poles

[Update 16/07/08] but not very reliable.

 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
40%
Value
 
80%
Overall Rating
 
73%
 
nick mcguirk 2 
Posted: 08/02/08
'VERY GOOD'
Strengths:
very light
very cheap
Weaknesses:
i agree with eddy, they have worked loose a couple of times , but easily fixed
Overall:
good solid poles at an excellent price.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
60%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
80%
 
Eddy Lemon 
Posted: 18/01/08
'GOOD, BUT NOT FAULTLESS'
Strengths:
Price, strength and weight.
Weaknesses:
Myself and two friends of mine have all had the same problem, with the grips working loose. Nothing that can't be fixed with tape & glue, but having used other pairs for years without this happening I do think there's a small defect here
Overall:
For the money you can't fault them. As a fat git who's used them on snow, rock, ash and mud and they've coped with strain and various conditions admirably. The only issue I've had was easily fixed, so really I think they're splendid value.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
60%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
80%
 
Christopher Higgs 
Posted: 10/04/06
'£35 A PAIR AND THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICES I'VE COME ACROSS!'
Strengths:
Very light, very cheap, take snow baskets and spares available (+ ultra-fast delivery)
Weaknesses:
Could possibly use better glue on handles and baskets. (Minor whinge- easily sorted.)
Overall:
These poles are the bollocks!- Very light. Knackered the clamping mechanism useing the sections as tent pegs winter camping on Briariach. The spares cost a pound each, were dispatched postage free the day I ordered them and arived the next day. Great company. Give them your support. Most other companies would charge double for these poles and over the odds for spares. Alpkit rock!!
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
60%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
87%
 
Neil Binnie 
Posted: 07/04/06
'NO LONGER AVAILABLE :<'
Overall:
Was wanting to get a pair but I don't have these mainly because they're no longer available so before anyone else gets too excited see:
http://www.alpkit.com/colab/develop/comments.php?id=52_0_3_0
 
Performance
 
60%
Reliability
 
60%
Value
 
80%
Overall Rating
 
67%
 
MALCOLM POWELL 
Posted: 04/04/06
'EXCELLENT VALUE AND PERFORMANCE.'
Strengths:
Lightness,comfortable grip(cork),easy adjustment.
Weaknesses:
None as yet.
Overall:
Used in Alps on hard dry summer trails and snow trails in winter (as well as snow shoeing).One slight slip of locking mech.when crashing off-trail into a snowdrift,but pole took almost my full weight and I probably hadn't tightened it enough to begin with.Lightness makes poles effortless and manoeuverable.Didn't miss shock absorber(so no squeaks).Excellent,don't see any point in paying more.An essential item of my kit now.
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
93%
 
Dave G 14 
Posted: 08/02/06
'AWESOME'
Strengths:
Lightweight
Nice fit
Ordered and recieved following day, well packaged and friendly contact.
£35 for a pair *shock*
Weaknesses:
Carbonite poles can snap if heavily bent but even the website tells you that before you buy so its your choice, however they do feel strong so you have to be kingkong to snap these. I had a small problem of glue in the handle of the pole but was easily resolved by contacting them.
Overall:
Lightweight load baring pole.

 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
100%
 
Bobee Beaver 
Posted: 04/06/05
'very light'
Strengths:
Strong,
Little flex,
Very light which i like alot,
Cheap
Weaknesses:
A little too long when fully shortened at 68cm, but thats just me being picky
Overall:
I'm very pleased with the poles, and for 35 quid for the pair, there super value for money. Theres was a review of them in junes 2005 tgo also.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
87%
 
Paul Willgoss 
Posted: 16/07/05
'DAMN FINE PIECE OF KIT'
Strengths:
Very, very light - rock solid locks, just enough flex - they do what it says on the tin!
Weaknesses:
None yet
Overall:
I've managed to kill a pair of Leki Makula Cor-tecs (ok it took 5 years without much servicing, but at this price I was prepared to take a punt on the new kids on the block and am not disappointed!!!

Support the little guys www.alpkit.com
 
Performance
 
100%
Reliability
 
100%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
100%
 
Iain Simpson 
Posted: 11/08/05
'EXCELLENT VALUE'
Strengths:
Very light, which makes them comfortable to use as well as easy to carry.
Cheap.
Feel strong, and no problems yet with them telescoping up when too much weight is applied, or gradually shortening as I walk, as with some other poles I've used.
Weaknesses:
The tip broke off one quite quickly - but that was probably due to my habit of throwing them down short scrambly sections rather than carrying them. And you can buy spare parts from the website anyway.
No anti-shock for those who like it, though I've never found it necessary.
Overall:
Good carbon fibre poles for the price of decent aluminium ones. Strongly recommended - you'd probably have to pay twice as much to get better poles.
 
Performance
 
80%
Reliability
 
80%
Value
 
100%
Overall Rating
 
87%
 
 
 
 
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