Let's talk poles

[Telecat]

In hopeful anticipation that the northeast will get some snow to XC ski on, I need to get new poles.

When it comes to quality gear (especially on proform) I typically am not too concerned with cost.
-HOWEVER- I have a crazy habit of losing or breaking every pair of ski poles I've ever owned.
I've drove away from 3 seperate pairs that I've leaned up against my car as I put gear away... including $150 black diamond touring poles on a trip to telluride.

At this point for resort skiing I use "borrowed" rental poles from the mountain I work at.


In any case I think like telescopic poles If I could find some that aren't so wobbly when pushing off them.

I was looking at some fixed length fischer XC poles the other day but didn't love them. Idk i can't imagine I want such long poles for all terrain and conditions.

I can keep throwing my thoughts on the wall here. But what do yall use?

[mca80]

Swix Mounting Touring in 135, Swix Mounting Extreme in 130, and Asnes Nansen 2-piece alloy/carbon combo. The first pole I added cloth friction tape at about 110 to 115 and choke up if using these downhill. Most of my skiing is xc on rolling terrain and not so focused on dh and for that I prefer fixed, long, and stiff (spare the pole jokes). The second pole has extended grip and are slightly shorter and good for some yo yoing with moderate amount of traversing in my neck of the woods. The adjustable pole I carry one on my backpack as a spare on a longer tour, or if utilizing lifts where all I really need is 110 to 115 length. I reiterate that the responsiveness of Swix touring/bc series of carbon composite fixed poles is really nice, but I don't know how well they would handle big mountain stuff.

I also look forward to trying a lurk downhill this year if we ever get snow.

[phoenix]

I've been using the same pair of BD Traverse adjustables for a little over 20 years, for lift served or touring. Once in a while I'll grab my fixed length Scott aluminum touring poles for a casual spin. They were the first pair of xc poles I ever bought, gotta be over 40 years old.

I did lose a pole once that I recall, it was a fixed length, fiberglass wrapped Excel Arctic with big yellow powder baskets... really liked those poles, could never find a replacement so they were done.

I haven't noticed flex being an issue on what I use, though Im sure there are stiffer layups. I did try a pair of aluminum Swix supposedly BC poles a while back; they bent with little input the first time I used 'em, so they were definitely too soft. I would like to try a pair of carbon fiber adjustables; seems like they might have a nicer swing weight than my BD's. I'm definitely partial to having an adjustable.

[Stephen]

I've been using the same pair of BD Traverse adjustables for a little over 20 years, for lift served or touring.
…
I'm definitely partial to having an adjustable.

+1
Haven’t used my BD Traverse for 20 years, but they have held up well.
I like the “Pro” for the breakaway strap.

I like to leave gloves on top of the car….

[tkarhu]

@Yoshinobu Welcome to this forum! Nice to have you here.

In tele, what you do with your hands does not make much difference in my opinion. However, which direction your hands point indicates which direction your chest is pointing, and that does make a difference, for how your skis behave. Chest direction is related to coiling, counterbalancing and angulation in skiing technique.

I ski 150 cm Peltonen Metsä poles (being 180 cm myself) because they are light, durable and inexpensive, and because my telemark skiing has roots in multi-day touring. The poles had got better reviews than more expensive Åsnes poles at online stores. And I had skied a borrowed pair earlier, and liked them. I bought two pairs of the poles, actually, which was still cheaper than a pair of Åsnes poles.

Dragging your mountain side pole helps with long poles, I learned it from a Telehiro video. But 15 cm powder baskets do still cause issues in some special situations, for example, when skiing powdery bushes. I am also a tele newbie, and I do understand why xcD skiers turn to shorter poles in the long run.

EDIT: For XC, I use lower-end versions of Swix Quantum poles. They make great poles, too.

[aclyon]

BCA sceptre:
-cheap
-all aluminum (carbon not durable enough for BC)
-telescoping

for me with ski poles it's gotta be aluminum and it's gotta be telescoping. i love carbon poles but only for running and hiking, where those extra ounces really matter, and where you're not completely screwed if a pole breaks. another bonus of a telescoping pole is that you can pitch a frameless tent with it (fixed length usually too short). and yeah even at the resort i prefer a telescoping pole for those flattish traverses that come up, i hate short poles for skating!

[wabene]

Black Diamond Traverse Pro with the breakaway straps da bomb. Many adjustable poles only go to 145cm, but these puppies go to 155cm, nice for the flats

[Capercaillie]

In any case I think like telescopic poles If I could find some that aren't so wobbly when pushing off them.

This is currently a problem in the market since pole manufacturers seem to have standardized on 14mm diameter lower sections. This is not enough to make a stiff aluminum pole. You are going to have to go with carbon fiber lower sections. There are a lot of ways to make carbon fiber tubes, there are no standards for pole stiffness, so even if a manufacturer states "carbon fiber" does not mean the pole will be stiff. The good thing is that the standardization means you can (mostly) mix and match pole parts as you want (grips, lowers, baskets).

My touring poles are Leki freeride uppers (Spitfire model with the very convenient click-in straps with safety release) with Åsnes Nansen carbon fiber lowers, and appropriate baskets for snow conditions (with the safety release I can use large 125mm powder baskets without worrying about snagging). The Leki aluminum lowers flex like noodles and are too short. I don't like the Åsnes grips or flick-lock (already broke one). I don't like how the Leki grips are molded (too thick, and annoying finger ridges that don't fit my hands), but the strap mechanism is worth it. Why can't someone just make a perfect pole? And even though I got the Lekis on sale, this setup ended up being $$$, although I am glad I ended up with it.

But if I don't need adjustable poles or safety release, I prefer old thrift/classifieds XC touring poles. The 1980s ones are 15-16mm diameter with minimal taper and are super stiff and robust, and have better touring baskets than anything you see in stores today.

[mca80]

But if I don't need adjustable poles or safety release, I prefer old thrift/classifieds XC touring poles. The 1980s ones are 15-16mm diameter with minimal taper and are super stiff and robust, and have better touring baskets than anything you see in stores today.

Swix leather touring baskets are still available and are great, but only work with their Mountain series touring poles if I am not mistaken.

[Telecat]

I ended up ordering BD traverse poles. Thanks everyone