Looking for the ultimate XCD ski pole

[bgregoire]

My Black Diamond Traverse poles just hit the dust today. Seems aluminium can only take so much beating before it breaks. Oh well. I liked them a lot but they were not perfect. Here are there pro's and con's, help me find something better!

Pros:
-good length (150cm)
-confortable wrist straps
-sturdy (though breakable it now seems)
-ajustable

Cons:
-the carbide tip is not sharp so is a pain cross-country touring on harpack or ice
-the snow baskets are small and rigid (have replaced mine with the old school leather king)
-The shape of the plastic handle is best for downhill. I shaved some plastic off to make it more XC-ski like for the long distance days.

What pole would include all the pros and better solutions for cons that I have mentioned?

[CIMA]

Though I have no complaint about BD aluminum-carbon pole that I'm currently using, komperdell's series look very attractive.

[lowangle al]

I'm like tha Leki Air Ergo Backcountry titanium. They are light and have a xc style grip but I don't know if they are still available.

[montrealer]

I've broken the bottom parts of those BD Traverse poles in the past. I find they're ok for certain things, but kick and glide on XC skis its not one of them.

Did you know you can get a replacement for the bottom section?
http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/ski ... l#start=23

[bgregoire]

Did you know you can get a replacement for the bottom section?
http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/ski ... l#start=23

I did not know, thanks! Now if only I can find a way of getting a pair sent to Canada at a competitive price. Any ideas?

Let's keep the thread going on what could be the best xcD/XCd comprise ski pole available! I'm looking for a telescopic type, minimum 150cm!

[montrealer]

I got mine (the poles, not the replacements) at Le Yeti. I don't see them on the site, but maybe call them. http://www.leyeti.ca

Also noticed MEC doesn't carry them on the site, but maybe they stock them.

[Rodbelan]

Give them a call. You can find a 1 800 number on their site. They are very helpful. And they garantee their stuff, so, you never know. I lost some connectors for my skins: I gave them a call and they sent me some free of charge!

I have BD poles too, but I also have a non telescopic swix poles with big leather baskets: sturdy and lightweight... I love them for BC use...

[bgregoire]

I'm contemplating buying an extra pair of traverse pole ends, sawing off the carbide tips and hot gluing on some swix leather baskets with sharp tips i have hanging around. Since i've already altered the handles to my liking, this might actually make a very versatile, ultimate set up for myself (i also have full length non telescopic poles for when i go out on XCd day tours). I already gave sawing off the carbide bit a try on the broken pole end. cutting it off 4 cm from the carbide tip allows for a sweet connection with the swix plastic bit/basket while remove significant weight from the setup up (an ounce maybe?).

Anything better out there?

[Cannatonic]

I'm rocking the Swix Mountain poles this year and loving it! I have two pairs, both found for cheap by trolling around various sales & shops. These are way lighter than 2 or 3 section poles and heavier gauge than normal XC poles. For some reason I prefer these to my BD sectional poles, the extra length doesn't bother me on downhills.

[athabascae]

Rather than starting a new thread, I thought I'd try to revive this one. My motivation is purely selfish - I'd like to buy some new XCD poles....

I'm eyeing the (non-telescopic) Swix Mountain poles, but would like to know folks thoughts on telescopic vs. non-telescopic. For me, the key attributes are 'backcountry-grade' strength, a true xc grip, and the right length. Telescoping is a really nice, but perhaps not necessary, feature.

What are folks using? What do you like and don't like for XCD?

Thanks.

Tom