Knit Picks Options vs Addi Turbo Rehash

I wrote this comparison back in 2008 but I thought it would be a nice preamble to my upcoming review of Knit Picks’ Zephyr needles now that I’ve knit various different fibers with them.

I bought all the varieties, DPNs, fixed circs and a set of interchangeables to see how they held up to some of my most loved and trusted brands. I have also bought more since I first purchased them.

I previously had Clover, Brittany and Boye DPNs. My circular collection consisted of Boye, Addi Turbo and a Denise interchangeable set. So those were the brands I had as a comparison overall but my main focus is on Addi Turbos since they are the most similar. I make a few mentions of the Denise set because Addi Clicks hadn’t come out at the time and I have yet to buy a pair.

When I first opened all the needles from Knit Picks they felt a little sticky. Not like they had glue or candy on them, just not as smooth as everyone raves them to be. However, after a few minutes of fondling they were smooth as ice. I’m guessing there was some residue from the nickel plating. So they won for being as smooth and glassy as Addi.

The nickel plating wasn’t an issue for my nickel allergy, however the nickel plating as worn off on some of my most used needles. An issue I’ve never seen in Addi Turbos. I can only assume Knit Picks uses less plating in their needles to keep the cost down. The good news is that they have excellent customer service and will probably replace them if you have this happen and complain. Its happened on a few of mine but I’m really not bothered by it.

The tips on the Knit Picks needles are great. Some people like the duller Addi points but I like sharp points that help me pick up lace (stitches that I’ve dropped.) But they aren’t so sharp that touching them will break skin!

The cables on the Knit Picks needles are alright. They’re better than the hollow plastic of the Denise cables but I still prefer the sturdiness of Addi’s cables. They’re made of a similar material to Boyne cables, but are thinner and therefore more flexible. They will get a coil shape to them if you coil them up for storage like I do. But I hear that a quick dunk in just boiled water will fix that. I’ve never done it though. You also get two (2) cables with Knit Picks Options cables, two sets of caps and one tightening pin. A steal when you consider the price of one pair of Addi Turbos.

The threading on the interchangables is really long and you would notice it was loose before half your knitting fell into your lap! They all come with a tightening pin and I recommend using it even if you think you can tighten them by hand. I would pick these over the Denise interchangables every time because Denise only clicks into place with half a turn and I’ve lost many stitches as a result of that.

The actual join on the needles (interchangable and fixed) is really smooth. I don’t have any issues with this part of the needle. I’ve had one come slightly away from the metal but it hasn’t fallen out in the years I’ve been using it. And again, their excellent customer service will probably replace it if it ever happens to you.

Overall I’m very satisfied with Knit Picks’ needles. They are very cost effective and ‘I’ve so far done a pretty decent job collecting my most used sizes. I’m not a fan of DPNs to begin with but they are far superior to any others that I own. And 90% of my circs are all Knit Picks. The price combined with the quality and customer service makes them a big winner in my book.