Hikker HP-5 Anti-shock Hiking Pole, 2-pack

by Hikker

• 3-section Light-weight Aluminum Pole Extendible from 27 to 55 Inches
• Including 2 poles
• Wrist-strap with Thermometer & Compass
• Cork Handle & Anti-shcok
• Wearproof carbide tip with snow disk included

Product Description

HP5 is a perfect companion for your weekend hiking trips. It has a comfortable cork handle with nylon strap and a small EVA grip for use when the stick is folded. The telescopic stick is made of 3 strong aluminum alloy sections and can be adjusted to a desired height between 55" and 27 1/2". It also has spring-loaded anti-shock mechanism inside which can be turned on/off with a twist between the two sections. Functional graphic on the stick includes a US/Metric Ruler. At the bottom end of the stick, there is a carbide tip hidden inside the rubber end cap. It is very helpful when walking on rocky hard surface. A snow disc is included for use on loose top soil or muddy road. Other convenient accessories include a liquid filled mini compass and a thermometer. Both could be worn on watch band if preferred. Each package comes with 2 HP-5 hiking poles.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 27 x 2 x 4 inches ; 13 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00389XY94
• Item model number: HP-5
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (160 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,667 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #4 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Trekking Poles

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 95 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice poles, but not high end pole replacement. See my first time user tips March 16, 2012

By chileheadcraig

My quest for poles began when I borrowed my brother-in-law's Leki poles when doing a 2000 ft ascent hike and immediately found them to be invaluable in increased stability and reduced knee pain on the decent. He hiked the AT (yes, the whole thing), so his poles had all the fancy stuff like shock absorbers. I didn't have the money to drop on Leki poles, so my hunt was for the best entry level poles.

I initially put these poles on my wish list for Christmas and then forgot about them. In the meantime, I found the Black Diamond Trail Back Trek Poles on sale and bought them. Lo and behold, I got these for Christmas as well! I have done 2000 ft hikes with each so I can at least say that I've formed an initial opinion.

For the money, I will say that they are indeed decent poles but they are not as good as the more expensive poles as some may lead you to believe. I view these as a great opportunity for someone to try out using poles if they dont want to make a big upfront investment. Then if you feel they would be beneficial, you can upgrade and keep these for guests to use. I've listed some pros/cons below to better help you decide:

PROS:
Inexpensive
Sturdy
Comfortable grip
Light weight (22 oz, 23 oz w/ tips per postal scale)
Snow basket
Rubber tips included (for using on pavement)

CONS:
Uncomfortable strap
Pole feedback (vibration)
No mud basket

Neutral:
Not true cork grip, but still decent
Twist lock, not flick lock

If the poles are being use to their full potential, the strap is very poor. If used per my tip below, the strap will chaff your hand and constantly comes loose. The Black Diamond Pole was designed with this in mind as the strap secures at the top so that it doesn't come loose with downward pressure and the strap itself is felt lined and has smooth edges (no chaffing).

These poles have springs, which is primarily to reduce pole feedback, but they don't seem to do the job very well. I had a fair amount of vibration when planting the pole. Conversly, the Black Diamond Pole doesn't have springs or shocks and I experienced less feedback (they still had movement, but I felt it less). This could be due to how the poles adjust. These have you extend the bottom section fully and then adjust the top for length so the pole segments are different lengths (i.e. different amounts of pole overlap). The Black Diamond Pole has you adjust both segments to get the proper length so that there are equal amounts of overlap for all the pole sections. Mind you, this is just a theory. FYI, some correlate having springs/shocks to reduced knee pain (even the REI website). That is not exactly their function in my opinion. Shocks are to reduce vibration (as mentioned) and to reduce wrist/elbow/shoulder pain from prolonged use. The reduced knee pain is from the fact that you are using poles at all.

These poles came with just one basket (that often comes loose) and its kind of in the middle, size wise where the Black Diamond Pole came with both mud and snow baskets. Its a bit large to be a mud basket, but small for a snow basket. Why does it matter? Well I noticed that its nice to have at least a mud basket on there for reasons implied in its name, but the low profile on on the BD pole is better when hiking trail sections with overgrowth. This larger basket has a tendancy to catch on branches and such.

The grip is fine, but I wouldn't call it a true cork grip. Its more rubberized with a cork 'look' than pure cork. Just be aware of that. The locking mechanism tends to be more preference, but I prefer the flick lock on the Black Diamond Pole as its easier to change lengths quickly. Its also easier to use in winter if you have gloves on.

SO, as you might imagine, even though this is a decent pole, I prefer the Black Diamond Trail Back Trek Poles over this, even without shocks. At its current sale price, its not much more, so the choice is yours!

For those just getting poles for the first time, there are actually a few pointers to get the most out of your poles. Search the internet for instructional videos, but here is a summary of some of the major points:

1) When gripping the pole, put your hand 'up' through the strap and grip the pole such that the strap is in your palm and you are putting your downward force on the strap. This helps so that that you don't need to keep a firm grip when pushing down on the pole.

2) The length should be such that when on a level surface, your arm should be at a 90-degree bend when gripping the pole. You can also adjust the pole longer for descents and shorter for ascents to help with pole placement.

3) When on a regular stride, plant the right pole with the left foot and the left pole with the right foot, so that your step and pole planting alternate. This is similar to your natural arm motion when walking and the poles just become an extension of your arms. As you shift weight to your other leg, push down on the pole, so that you reduce the weight on your knees.

For more info, I have not seen it, but a highly rated video is POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking

Now, go hit the trails!

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars trekking poles March 21, 2011

By emseeL

Amazon Verified Purchase

These poles are certainly adequate for the average hikers' needs. Not as light weight as trekking poles could be but if you are looking for reasonably priced and reliable equipment, these fit the bill. I have had no problems with the locking mechanism slipping and the cork grips help absorb sweat from your hands. This feature and price is why I purchased these poles.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Higher quality than I expected July 20, 2011

By L. Hengst

Amazon Verified Purchase

I looked at hiking poles at REI before buying a pair of the Hikker HP-5 poles. The REI poles cost $50+ per pole, they had about 10 to choose from. I can't tell the difference between the poles I just bought and REI's mid-quality poles. Both have shock absorbers, both have imitation cork handles, and both are adjustable. I guess the REI poles had the ability to use them as a camera mono-pod. For $30 ($15 per pole). I am very happy.