Here comes the boom!
When it came time to do some in depth reviewing on K-Tek’s "Traveler" boom poles, I got excited! Despite doing location audio on three films (one feature and two short), I still spend the majority of my time in the studio, doing studio recording, ADR, and post-production mixing. As such, I hadn't invested in a professional-quality boom pole, choosing to make due with home-built options on previous sets, since I didn't do "that much" location recording. However, after using K-Tek’s great poles on a recent film shoot, am I ever kicking myself now! These amazing poles from K-Tek made things SO much easier and effortless than what I had been using in these situations!
The KEG-88CC and KE-79CC boom poles are part of K-Tek's great Avalon series of poles, which bring K-Tek's innovative, award-winning design strategies into a more affordable price bracket. Both are nicknamed the "Traveler" because they are compact and very light! Both are comprised of six segments, are less than 22" long when fully compacted, and have mic cabling built in, complete with bottom end-mounted XLR jack for plugging in the necessary external mic cables that run to your camera or audio rig. The KEG-88CC is made of the same graphite construction as K-Tek's more expensive line of poles and weighs in at a mere 1.214 pounds! The more affordable aluminum construction in the KE-79CC is a little heavier at 1.452 pounds.
Ease of Use
Ease is the key word here -- very straight-forward, very light (especially the graphite model), and the built-in cabling is a God-send! The couplers that loosen/tighten the telescoping segments are made of aluminum and feel a little cheap, but function great. Let me just say that using these poles is like holding a fluffy cloud on my shoulders compared to the heavy, non-uniformly shaped mic boom stand that I’ve made due with in the past. And, they're MUCH quieter in terms of handling noise!
Depth of Options
K-tek offers all sorts of options for built-in cabling, counterbalancing weights, and accessories. The only option not available due to size constraints on the Avalon Traveler class is the option for a side mounted XLR. This means no leaning on the pole between takes! (For that feature, you'll need to go up to one of their larger poles.)
Performance
Both poles did the job very well. The graphite model is a little lighter, a little longer, and unable to be dented, so it would be my first choice. I would like to see rubber grips of some sort around the collar locks though. Also, be warned that if you unlock a segment of the pole while it's fully extended, the internal coiled mic cable acts like a spring and the segment will snap back toward your hand, potentially pinching your skin. Or, in the case of the endmost segment, the jolt can actually cause it to get jammed into the adjoining segment, making it extremely difficult to get back out. The solution is simple: Be mindful of the cable inside and hold onto the segment you are loosening.
Value
At first glance, microfilmmakers may consider poles like these luxury items. Do this for me -- spend one shooting day toting around a steel mic boom stand that you use as a make-shift boom pole, then try one of these the next day! These poles are worth their weight in gold, as far as I'm concerned, and I'm never putting a boom mic stand on my shoulders again! For initial quality/value comparison, the aluminum version seems like a better buy, but the graphite may weather the years a bit better and won't get dented if you accidentally drop it or hit it on something.
Final Comments
K-tek = pro quality. It's as simple as that. These poles represent a couple of their more affordable models that, in my opinion, are a good balance between usability, quality construction, and price!
