Customer Reviews

Hammers HP5 Anti-Shock Hiking Pole with Compass & Thermometer

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have used several hiking poles over the years and I like this one the best. It is sturdy and held up well climbing up rock walls at Havasupai Falls. I only wish it would telescope to a smaller size as it is hard to fit in my small luggage when I am traveling light.

I've had this pole for 3 years, and it has been my constant companion on every hike. The cork handle and light weight combine to make it a part of your hand that you don't ever have to think about, until you need it. I've used this pole to see me up steep rock faces, slick wet rocks, and rock-hard ice with never a buckle or slip. It has seen me down boulders that would have surely led to mangled ankles were it not for the assist. It rides in my car with me constantly; for if I were to need it, I would feel naked if it weren't there. Best Amazon purchase I've ever made.

I bought this to provide a substitute for a traditional cane to support my bad back after disc replacement - canes are much too short to help when going downhill or down stairs and I wanted something I could keep in the car or throw in a suitcase.

Pros: Sturdy, tall enough even for me (6' 3"), comfortable to carry; wrist strap wide enough to be comfortable and provide support; anti-shock device definitely helps on concrete. Thermometer and compass are toylike but better than nothing in an emergency.

Cons: Lock mechanism difficult to work (I'd hate to try it with wet or gloved hands or if I had arthritis); non-replaceable tips will limit useful life of pole. Poorly packaged and arrived with minor cosmetic damage.

Summary: Well worth what I paid for it ($26), but my next hiking pole will probably be a Black Diamond or Leki because they feature better locking mechanisms.

After Action Evaluation: I used it in the central New Mexico mountains to walk along trails and in and out of streambeds. It was comfortable to carry and more than sturdy enough to support my 240 pounds. I'd buy it again without hesitation; anything better is probably going to be much more expensive.

The price was certainly right for these poles but within an hour of starting to hike with them, the plastic retaining pin that holds the straps in place fell out on each pole Now if you're going to use this to walk to the local park, that might not be a problem but I was hiking Mt. Washington and relying on these poles to get me up and down, so the inferior construction actually put my health at risk. I was able to construct an improvised repair by using some wood pieces and threading them carefully through the holes for the retaining pin.

One of the poles also bent when it was temporarily caught in some rocks. That was perhaps more understandable. And the two poles did survive heavy use up and down the mountain. Still if you were going to rely on these and found that you dropped it or could not use the strap to help hold the pole on any kind of climb up or down, you'd be in trouble.

Should not be sold in this condition.

Used the Hammers hiking poles in September '08 while hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park. First time using hiking poles in eight years in the rockies. My wife(Colleen) purchased Lekis while I went less costly with the Hammers. The Lekis stood up well as compared to the Hammers which lost the bails right away and a clearly noticeable difference in the wear on the tips. The Lekis hardly showed wear while the Hammers were nearly worn out after about 30 miles of hiking. Replaced the bails with Leki brand which didn't fall off and will have to find replacement tips. The Hammer brand did not have owner information to advise on repairs. Hiking poles do make a difference on body wear and tear. Happy hiking, Dick.

Over the years my preference was to find a sturdy stick and hike with that. My upgrade to a hiking pole was an extravagance - though I must say there's much to be said for carrying a pole that's the right size and weight "out of the box". I would definitely recommend the purchase, even if it doesn't match Harry Potter's "Nimbus 2000"!
The cork handle is comfortable to hold. The pole is easily adjustable, lightweight and quite sturdy. I used this during a strenuous two week hiking trip in Utah. I found the temperature gauge to be quite fun - though knowing how hot it was didn't make much of a difference, of course. I frequently switched between the rubber and metallic tips, depending on the terrain, and found the extra traction and "push" quite helpful in both instances. (I used rubber on bare rock, and the unsheathed metal tip pretty much everywhere else. The rubber tip easily fits over the metal end;I simply popped it into my fanny pack when the ground softened.) Unfortunately, the screw-on basket fell off on the first day while I was transporting the pole on the back of my back pack. Frankly, I really didn't miss the basket - even in sandy terrain the pole maintained its grip. The pole collapses for storage/transportation very easily.

I bought these trekking poles because of the reviews I read. The poles were put to the ultimate test - I used them on my 8 day trek to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro (highest peak in Africa - 19500 ft).

The poles more than met the challenge. The poles didn't collapse or break.
The trekking poles withstood all the different elements - from jungle - to sand/gavel, lava rocks - every terrain Mt. Kilimanjaro had it handled it perfectly.

I know there are other a lot more expensive and higher end trekking poles but why pay for those one when these ones can handle the challenge.

My first hiking pole purchased at Target - fell apart after just a few uses. This Hammers HP5 hiking pole seems better built and wasn't too expensive. The handle is made of solid cork, which gives you a good grip, but also helps prevent sweat build up, etc. There's a small spring in the lowest section that helps cushion each step just a bit, but it's still plenty sturdy. The attached compass and thermometer are pretty much a novelty, but better than nothing.

This replaced my older (broken) one. It's well built, good quality and the cork handle sure is a big plus for comfort!! No complaints!

I went to Cusso, Peru and used the poles to explore the Inca ruins. As a person with back problems, I found the poles to be of top quality and exceeded my expectations. I also liked the fact that it is light weight, and folds up to fit in a packback, yet strong enough to hold my weight.