Addi Clicks needles versus Knit Picks Interchangeable needles

Interchangeable Needle Comparison:
Addi Click

Description:

• Set is brand new from Skacel - supplier for lengendary Addi Turbo Circular and Lace needles. Update - product has been available for about 8-9 months now)
  
• Addi Click sets available at LYS in limited quantities - kit price ranges from $139.99 to $149.99 depending on LYS source.
• Needles in US Size 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10.75, 11, 13, 15
• Three blue cables in lengths of 24", 32" and 40"
• One connector piece which you can use either to join your cable together so that it becomes a stitch holder or to combine cords for longer lengths.
• Needle Sizer
• Marketing claim more than 5 hundred combinations

Pros:

• Superior join with spring lock mechanism that ensures ultra-smooth connection between needles and cables
• Rounded needle points
• Supple cables with no kinks
• Individual needles with easy to read size in US and metric etched on them
• Cable connector provides flexibility for non standard lengths
• Appealing blue color cables
  

Cons:

• Storage case large and flat but not conducive to travel. When box is tipped on end, the smaller needles fall out of their compartments and get mixed with other needles.
• Lack of size 5 needle and 10.5 needle
• Needle sizes in 13 and 15 have limited use for most knitters with skills beyond scarves or for occasional bulky project
• Only 3 cables
• Needles only available within the kit. It is currently not possible to replace a single lost needle or replace any that could be confiscated by airport security without having to purchase the entire kit again - NOTE - this has been rectified and needles are now available for purchase individually. Whoot Whoot
  
• Moderate to Expensive

Summary:

I purchased my kit at a LYS in Issaquah, WA and paid at the higher end of pricing by yarn stores in other parts of the country. Despite claims of limited availability due to having to inspect each kit, mine seemed to slip through quality control. I had three size 7 needles and a single size 8 needle. The cable connection to a size 9 and 11 needle was not working and repeated attempts to connect them failed. I called the yarn store and they said they would contact Skacel to replace the size 7 needle with a size 8, but the wrong replacement needle was mistakenly sent. I went back to the store, and after much discussion, I exchanged the kit for another one since I did not trust the cable connection that didn't join easily to the size 9 and 11 needles. The cable-needle join is brilliant and ultra smooth. Magnificent engineering. With two common needle sizes missing, limited cables, and a single connector I believe there wasn't enough marketing research with REAL knitters prior to putting their product on the market. It is great configuration for any knitter who only knits one or two pieces at a time, from start to finish - other knitters would want to supplement their needle inventory with other Addi's or additional interchangeable needles. What I find most disconcerting is that purchase of a single needle or pair of needles are unavailable other than in complete set. I have read online that there may be more cables and a size 5 needle included in future sets. That would be a step in the right direction. Like other Addi's, the needles are a joy to knit with but for the price, I would have expected more options. I am confident this will continue to evolve as the product matures. (See UPDATE below!)

March 17, 2009 update - The awkward box holding the needles has seen 4 round trips between my home office to the media room. The box is not holding up well despite the mere 20 foot distance between the rooms. The back spine of the box has come unglued. I shudder to think what would happen if I packed the box up for a trip overseas versus down the hall. I don't think it would survive the trip. Oh yes, and this just in - the most recent issue of Knitter's magazine explains the justification for the absence of the size 5 needle... because the kit is designed for an international audience and the size 5 needles are not popular outside the United States. OK. Fine.... but I must ask - are the size 15's so popular as to be in great demand and flying off the shelves everywhere? Duh. I don't believe I have used size 15 needles for anything. Ever. I have used size 5 needles for ribbing, socks, baby sweaters and adult sweaters etc.
I still suspect a marketing limitation on the part of Skacel. My advice to them -put kits together (or better yet, have needles and cables available individually) to meet the needs of your customers. Not one size fits all for the entire world... because it usually doesn't.

Update August 6, 2009
I am pleased to admit Skacel has done a fantastic job of listening to customers. They now have the Clicks available in individual needles sizes for purchase rather than just the entire kit. The fact that they were only sold as a complete set had been my biggest "gripe" in the past. There is also now a packet that includes a set of 3 different length cables and a connector. They have two slim line, convenient travel cases for double points and for circulars. I purchased the elusive size 5 at the Paradise Fibers booth at the Sock Summit market and couldn't be happier to "complete" my set now from a needle size perspective. I wonder if it would be possible to eventually get packages of just connectors rather than the single one included with 3 cable needles? Thank you Karin and the leadership team at Skacel! Now on to my quest for the perfect, portable case for my lovely Addi Clicks!



Knit Picks




Description:

• Nickel plated Options set and Harmony birch wood set, each with 9 knitting needle tips, 4 cables, end caps, cable key and zipper pouch for $59.99 and $69.99 respectively.
• Needles in US Size 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,10.5 and 11
• Various cables lengths
  
• Zippered pouch

Pros:

• Sharp points
• Flexible cables
• Variety of cable lengths
• Entire set compact for convenient travel or "grab and go"
  
• Individual needles sizes available
• Inexpensive to Moderate price
• Cable end point caps allow one to knit on multiple pieces at same time
• Needle size ID tags available

Cons:

• Metal tips sometimes fall off cable
• Needle and cable connection not always perfectly aligned or smooth
• Needle ends sometimes unscrew themselves from the cable and come apart in the middle of knitting
• Small wire locking pin needed to tighten join between needle and cable
• Needles not marked so needle sizer required
• Icky purple color cables. Which is strange I think this because purple is my favorite color!
  

Summary:

I have both Options and Harmony sets. The nickel plated tips are slick and pointed. The beautiful Harmony wood needles are smooth but not slick - especially good for silk or slippery yarns. The wooden needles break easily if sat upon or caught in the buckle of an airplane seat belt. (Smile) Accessories such as a binder, knitting needle ID tags, cables and cable case are all available on the Knitpicks web site at nominal cost but the quality matches the price. I didn't care for the binder because of the shape, size and color. What I like best of all is that individual needle sets are available at a price of $4.99 to $7.99. I have had some issues with cables not screwing tightly into the needle tip but they have been quickly replaced after a call to customer service. The zippered plastic pouch contains all the needles and cables and is convenient travel with. The case didn't have any identification of which slot held which needle so I used a label maker to affix the needle sizes to the bag to make me easy to immediately find the needle size I am looking for. Not always perfect but a good price performer.