Before our tour on the Berliner Höhenweg, the Ski-Outdoor-Shop provided us with a pair of trekking poles from Komperdell, which of course we put to the test straight away on the 70 km route. As the name promises, this two-section trekking pole is largely made of carbon, and its length can be adjusted with the Power Lock system.
Two-section trekking pole with carbon section
The Komperdell Carbon TI-2 Power Lock is a two-section trekking pole whose grip section is attached to a high-strength Titanal aluminium tube, which gives the pole its high stability. Apart from the tip, the lower section consists of a carbon fibre tube, which gives the trekking pole its low weight of 200 g.
The ergonomically shaped grip is made of EVA foam and, thanks to its extension, offers a range of grip positions. At the top, the grip ends in a sturdy plastic cap to which the wide neoprene wrist straps are attached. The patented Power Lock II system allows the poles to be adjusted continuously in length from 109 cm to 145 cm. The lower end of the poles is made of carbon, a material that besides its low weight also has shock-absorbing properties. At the bottom end there is a hard tungsten carbide tip. If needed, it can be fitted with the snow baskets included in the delivery.
Technical specifications of the Komperdell Carbon TI-2 Power Lock
- Length: 109 – 145 cm
- Packed length: 109 cm
- Weight: 200 g (each)
- Material: Titanal aluminium/carbon
- Design: 2-section telescopic pole
- Locking system: 1 Power Lock II system
- Extras: non-slip grip extension at the top of the shaft
- Baskets: Vario winter baskets
Field test and rating of the Komperdell Carbon TI-2 Power Lock
When unpacking these poles, the two extremes were immediately apparent. On the one hand, the poles came in a “huge” box, which is not surprising given the two-section design; on the other, their low weight was immediately noticeable. If, like me, you think trekking poles are most useful in your hands rather than on your backpack, the large packed length shouldn’t bother you. However, on any tour there are always places where the poles have to be stowed, and that is exactly when the large packed length becomes a dilemma.
The grips are ergonomic for a good hold
The ergonomic grips sit very well in the hand, both with and without gloves. The grip material feels pleasant and offers a little padding. The EVA foam grip provides good thermal insulation and the best grip; we also noticed that this material dries quickly and doesn’t soak up moisture. The extended grip area is ideal for choking down on steep sections.
The neoprene wrist straps are pleasantly wide and transfer pressure well to the wrist; they can be adjusted and fixed again quickly and securely with a single movement. The hard plastic cap on top of the grip widens towards the top, providing a good hold when pulling on the pole, and it also protects the hand and the soft foam of the grip.
Power Lock II: quick and secure adjustment
The Power Lock II system lets you set the trekking pole to the desired length quickly and securely. The lock works like a quick-release on a bicycle saddle and is easy to operate even with gloves. On the entire tour, the Power Lock system gave way only once and let the telescopic pole collapse. That was at the start of the tour, though; after tightening the screw once, the pole could always be relied on, even on steep descents.
Carbon section not just for saving weight
As already described, the upper section of the trekking pole is made of Titanal aluminium, which is extremely rigid, stable and yet light. The much larger lower section is made of carbon. At first I had concerns that the weight saving would come at the expense of stability, but the Komperdell Carbon TI-2 proved me wrong. On the tour we had to cross several scree fields, where the poles got wedged between the rocks a few times and were subjected to heavy bending loads. I had always thought this would break the poles, but apart from a few scratches in the paint they came through well.
As with the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon trekking pole, the self-damping property of carbon deserves special mention. There are no annoying vibrations in the pole as with undamped aluminium poles, and yet the pole gives honest feedback, unlike spring-damped models, which somehow feel spongy.
More pictures
Verdict on the Komperdell Carbon TI-2 Power Lock trekking pole
Weighing 200 g, this pole sits very well in the hand and handles superbly. It is certainly not an ultralight pole like the composite bamboo will be or other models already are, but I find that in this model the clever interplay of the different materials/components makes for a thoroughly positive trekking experience. However, if you spend a lot of time in Alpine terrain and often have to stow the poles, these poles are not recommended, as when attached to the backpack they stick out at least 20 cm above it, which can become very annoying.
Pros:
- stability
- no vibration when planting the pole
- comfortable, soft wrist straps
- pleasant EVA foam grip
- handy grip extension
- quick length adjustment
- snow baskets
Con:
- large packed length
