Addi Click Turbo (Basic Set)

As far as materials go, I am usually a wood needle girl, but recently I started using metal needles.  I inherited some metal needles from my husband's grandmother, and I realized I do enjoy metal needles, too.  They make a pleasant clicking noise, keep their tips, and actually make me knit a little faster.  Don't get me wrong, I love my wood needles, they have not been replaced.  It's just that I have learned to appreciate differences in my knitting needles and there is a place for metal knitting needles in my life.  

My very sweet boys decided to get me the Addi Click Turbo basic set for my birthday this year.  (They spoil me.)  Addi is a German, family-run company that has been in operation for over 180 years.  They craft knitting needles and crochet hooks and this particular "Turbo" set includes 10 interchangeable needles from size US 4-15.  I am not sure where my family purchased my needle set from, but they actually purchased me the European region's set, which means it runs on metric sizes and does not include the needle size US 5.  You can tell the region for which your needles were intended by the color of the cords.  Blue cords are for the North American region while gold cords are European (red is Japan).  There is no difference in the needles other than the color of the cord and organization of the needle sizes.  I have read that the real difference between the sets is who you would contact should you have a warranty issue.

The needles themselves are lovely.  I am currently working on a sweater using the US 10 (thus they are missing from the pictures because they are otherwise engaged) and am loving them.  They are 5" needles and click securely to the cords with no chance of your yarn catching.  The Addi novel click system means the interchangeable needles use a sort of tongue and groove system instead of threads like a screw.  This means there is no chance of your needles unscrewing while you knit!  It's great.  (The whole thing reminds me a little of how some genius thought of the car base and clicking infant carseat, but I have babies on the brain, so forgive me.)  The set is a little pricey, but if you are a serious knitter, the needles will get used and the price is worth it for the simplicity and ease of the click-and-go system.  Addi offers the needle sets in bamboo, natural wood and metal, as well as lace tips in two sizes and a combo of needle pairs with one lace tip and one blunt tip needle- so if you are going to spend the money, they offer needles for all knitting tastes. 

The set is very nice as it comes in a clean, flat case that is easy to stow in in any project bag imaginable.  It also offers a great storage answer for your needles: mine tend to end up all over the house, draped over various hooks on walls and stuffed into mugs on countertops.  This case keeps things tidy and, unlike a lot of set/gift cases, is meant to be used past the initial "OOOOOoooooooo" of opening your new needles.  There are also additional cord sizes available (three cords come with the set: 24", 32", and 40").  The cords are interchangeable with different needle sets available through Addi, though I have read the 16" is unsuitable for the click needles.  Lastly, there is a connector piece in the set which can either serve to secure your knitting on a cord as a stitch holder or to connect two cords together for a longer cord, if needed.  That's pretty neat.

Bottom Line:  This is a very nice set with very nice needles.  The clicking system for the interchangeable needles is AWESOME.  The set is expensive, but I wold say Addi Clicks put their money where their mouth is and offer a truly superior knitting product.