MOUNTAIN KING - TGO recommends

4.5 stars

TECHNICAL SPEC

Weight: 250g (single pole)

Shaft material: 7075 T6 alloy

Tip material: carbide

Max length: 132cm

Packed length: 65.5cm

Supplied with: tip sheaths, standard & snow baskets

Likes: weight, strap adjustment accuracy, upper shaft insulation

Dislikes: handle shape, ease of strap adjustment

 These are solid poles with little to dislike and the value-for-money offered far exceeds that of many (though for another £7 you could have Pacerpoles!).  Snow and standard baskets are supplied, the handle insulation extends down the upper shaft, and while internal expansion bolts might be old school, like those of Pacerpoles and Masters models these are good quality and should outlast most.  The strap is comfortable and, while I didn't find the adjustment method the easiest, it was possible to adjust the straps to the desired length without too much trouble.  The handle's foam sheath is comfortably soft but the handle's shape didn't quite suit the size of my hand - the moulded ridge between index and middle fingers was just a little too high.  AS well as the standard model tested there's a compact version, which should be better for travelling,  

TGO February 2011

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