This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
This is the World Famous TelemarkTalk / TelemarkTips / Telemark Francais Forum, by far the most dynamic telemark and backcountry skiing discussion board on the world wide web since 1998. East, West, North, South, Canada, US or Europe, Backcountry or not.
Real reviews by real skiers. What a concept! Add your own today. Reviews only please, questions can be posted as replies but new threads looking for opinions should be posted to the main Telemark Talk Forum.
Gareth, those baskets of yours are upside down. No other way to put it.
My 20 year old pair of Swix leather baskets are built like that and the rivets have not failed (God knows how much trail they have seen). I've had to replace the leather since though so good synthetic straps like those on the Asnes does seem superior. Even if a rivet would pop, its a super easy fix. There is no problem to fix here IMO.
Thanks Ben!
I know they are "upside-down"- I just cannot understand why one would want the rivet bucktails and strap ends exposed on the downside of a basket...?
I don't see any performance difference one way or the other- though "right-side up" the sloped dome of the basket bushing should shed snow better, and the mini plastic solid basket (see photo) should give better performance...
They definitely are more pleasing to the eye right-side up.
I am going to use one one-way and the other upside down and see if there is any difference in performance and durability overtime!
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Gareth, I like your option to purposely put the baskets upside down. My BC ski poles are Komperdell Backcountry and I have managed to break two rivets on them during 3 years. It has actually gone to the point that if I am doing a multi-day trip, I bring a spare basket with me.
If you get them short- they will be an ideal dowhill length at the lower end of the extended grip-
To do this- size them such that the lower end of the grip is where you would prefer the height of a BC downhill pole.
This will make them look short at the top end of the grip when compared to a Classic track pole.
I use long poles for Classic track skiing- but I much prefer shorter poles for BC kick and glide skiing.
At a height of 178cm, with a 135cm pole- the lower end of the grip is perfect for both downhill turns and climbing, while the top end is just right for BC kick and glide skiing.
For reference my adjustable touring poles (Komperdell BC Trail) extend to 155cm- I have personally nevre used them at that length in the backcountry.
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
I use Fischer BCX Variolite, extended for 145 cm for climbing, kng etc. and 125 cm for downhill, but now they are quite battered. I am 173 cm, so perhaps 135 cm Ingstad would work for me?
I use Fischer BCX Variolite, extended for 145 cm for climbing, kng etc. and 125 cm for downhill, but now they are quite battered. I am 173 cm, so perhaps 135 cm Ingstad would work for me?
Well- hard for me to say- so much comes down to personal preference- but if I find the 135 pole perfect at 178cm tall- the 135cm pole should be "ok"- but, looking at the specs you list above it seems you prefer a longer BC pole than I do- so perhaps you might prefer longer than 135cm?
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Just measured my 135cm Ingstad pole- and my wife's 130cm Cecile pole-
the length of the extended grip is ~30cm on both poles (i.e. 30cms to the bulge on the low end where one grips)-
therefore I am using these poles at about 105cm when I am climbing and downhil skiing-
Personally, I find myself rarely using these poles in the middle of the grip-
XC skiing→ 135cm at the top of the grip
downhill skiing and climbing→ 105cm at the bottom of the grip
Cross-country AND down-hill skiing in the backcountry.
Unashamed to be a "cross-country type" and love skiing down-hill.
Thanks, Gareth. I've already rolled the dice and ordered 135 cm. Maybe I should learn to use poles less, as I have problems with my shoulder after last trip.
Gareth, how are the Cecile poles compared to the ingstad? I notice Neptune has no Ingstads, but they have Cecile. I'm seeing different weights depending on where I look, so don't really trust their site.
jooleyen: I have checked Asnes' web site and the Ingstad weight seems wrong on their English page. As far as I can see from their Norwegian pages, Ingstad and Cecilie Alloy is identical except for color and that Ingstad is available in longer lengths (155 and 160 cm).
Regarding lengths: There are different opinions, preferences and use cases. I am 175 cm and use 145 cm length. My wife at 160 cm prefer 135 cm length. Asnes general recommendation is 5 cm shorter than I have and 10 cm shorter for my wife. She bought a pair of Cecile Alloys in 130 cm and found them too short and the grip too large diameter for her hands, so we are going to sell them.
