Strong ski poles- touring

[HHTELE]

Apparently I am kind of hard on poles. I end up periodically putting a whole lot of weight on them, and they bend. I have BD Traverse poles. Bending my second set of lowers, and noticing some bend in one of the uppers.

I could, in theory, use my poles as they are designed to be used, but that isn't really going to happen.

Thinking of a carbon pole. Also considering a three section pole, thinking that the shorter lengths might tend to bend less.

Anyone else hard on pole found a set up that's durable?

[mfa81]

bd pure carbon is taking a beat for the second season!

I also have a carbon fixed lenght that's hard to destroy in case you can live with a fixed lenght!

[alive]

Aluminum bends easy. Have been using some old BD razor with skinny carbon lowers for 5 years now and never an issue. The pure's are even stiffer. And stay away from the three section poles, especially if aluminum... Finicky and no added strength...

[XXX-er]

http://blackdiamondequipment.com/en/...g.html#start=2

these^^ the 2 piece BD's with the short aluminium upper/ long carbon lower have been the touring standard for years I see lots of them at BC huts , any pole that is all aluminium will just bend & break

I have taken to using them all the time in or out of bounds cuz I just like the way they feel when I pole

[Reformed]

If you don't need adjustable length anything by these guys http://www.goode.com/skipoles is pretty much indestructible. I used to break multiple sets of poles a season. I've had the same set of cheap goode poles for eons now. They might actually be the oldest piece of ski equipment that I own. If you need adjustable length I'd agree with what everyone else is saying - BD carbon.

[skimaxpower]

Carbon fixed length!

[HHTELE]

Am actually thinking of the Razors- wasn't sure if they were stronger, or just lighter.
Also, definitely considering also going to a fixed length pole for local short stuff, which I do a lot of. Doing much more AT than tele now, and a fixed length works pretty well.

[nickel]

Fixed length scott freeride pole. Only ski poles I've owned lasted more than a season. Going on 3 1/2. Adjustable poles are for nerds.

[kootenayskier]

Love using my DPS aluminum upper, carbon lower, poles, but I've been breaking a carbon lower every year. Fixed length, high quality aluminum for cheap and strong.

[Skidog]

I break em too. Same thing here fixed length aplin e poles. Think they are Salomon patrols. Burly cheap and been with me 3 seasons. Baskets have been replaced.

[PNWbrit]

learning to do it right is over rated.

[Andyski]

How well do carbon poles (or lowers) handled being wacked against boots or skis to remove snow?

[Skidog]

How well do carbon poles (or lowers) handled being wacked against boots or skis to remove snow?

dont really know but im afraid of carbon and it doesnt bend..it BREAKS and leaves something that could potentially impale me..If i were easier on poles no problem..but im like a bull in a china shop and i use my poles a lot where i likely shouldnt. 6'3" 200lbs or so...

[XXX-er]

How well do carbon poles (or lowers) handled being wacked against boots or skis to remove snow?

not sure cuz i get rid of snow buildup by kicking the binding which also works better

[skimaxpower]

dont really know but im afraid of carbon and it doesnt bend..it BREAKS

In the past 6 years I've owned four pairs of carbon poles used for hiking and skiing. Overall, they've been just as durable as alu ski poles:
-REI (Komperdell) three piece twist lock: Hiked 3,000 miles on CDT. Wore out carbide tips after 1,500 trail miles, replaced tips, wore them out again by the end of the hike. Twist locks were shot at the end as well. I felt like I got my money's worth.
-Leki fixed length carbon ski poles: Used these for resort and backcountry skiing for three years. Carbide tips eventually fell out because the plastic tip which holds the carbide got damaged. Ordered replacement tips. Still going strong.
- BD fixed length carbon ski poles: Used these for resort and backcountry skiing for two years. No issues.
- REI (Komperdell) three piece flick lock: Hiked with these for about 1,000 miles along with some snowshoeing. Slipped on granite while hiking, snapped a pole across a sharp rock.

For me at least, if the carbide steel is the weak point of my poles, I'm not worried about durability. YMMV, but I'm never going back to aluminum poles.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Fixed length scott freeride pole. Only ski poles I've owned lasted more than a season. Going on 3 1/2. Adjustable poles are for nerds.

Here's the answer. Add some sort of grip a little below the stock grip. You will never have to buy poles again.

[Skidog]

In the past 6 years I've owned four pairs of carbon poles used for hiking and skiing. Overall, they've been just as durable as alu ski poles:
-REI (Komperdell) three piece twist lock: Hiked 3,000 miles on CDT. Wore out carbide tips after 1,500 trail miles, replaced tips, wore them out again by the end of the hike. Twist locks were shot at the end as well. I felt like I got my money's worth.
-Leki fixed length carbon ski poles: Used these for resort and backcountry skiing for three years. Carbide tips eventually fell out because the plastic tip which holds the carbide got damaged. Ordered replacement tips. Still going strong.
- BD fixed length carbon ski poles: Used these for resort and backcountry skiing for two years. No issues.
- REI (Komperdell) three piece flick lock: Hiked with these for about 1,000 miles along with some snowshoeing. Slipped on granite while hiking, snapped a pole across a sharp rock.

For me at least, if the carbide steel is the weak point of my poles, I'm not worried about durability. YMMV, but I'm never going back to aluminum poles.

And see..ive never had a pair of carbon pole that lasted me more than a few months...with regular (for me) use that is...

[Mofro261]

why so hard on the poles?

now on year 23 and well over 1500 days with the same Leki alu poles with the kung fu grips. They will not die.

[angrysasquatch]

Just broke a bd 2pc carbon this past weekend doing light branch whacking to clear the tree bomb snow for my skin track. Right in half near the handle. Otherwise I've only broken poles in massive tomahawks at the resort. Fwiw

[GeezerSteve]

I end up periodically putting a whole lot of weight on them, and they bend.

Kick turns? Back seat skiing?

Adjustable poles are for nerds and those who use efficient double poling technique on long low angle exits or want to shorten their poles to carry on their packs for brushy approaches and scrambles.

FIFY

[Canada Guy]

Here's the answer. Add some sort of grip a little below the stock grip. You will never have to buy poles again.

Yup, third vote for these. They're pretty much indestructible. Press on some BD half baskets and add some tape below the grip and you're good to go.

[XXX-er]

I changed the cork bar tape on my C-dale road bike last summer, I noticed because its wrapped in an overlap only the half of the tape that is showing gets worn so I wrapped the used bar tape on the top aluminium section of my BD flicklocks with the other half of the tape showing, start at the bottom and wind UP so the tape doesnt get pulled off by your hand, secure with electricians tape the cork makes for a nice grip and makes my poles look different than all the other BD flicklocks

I find poles last a very long time unless I actualy fall on them by accident and bend/break em, if you fuck poles up in a couple of years its not going to matter what your buy

[nickinbc]

Acroski poles? Actually designed to carry all of your weight and then some.

[HHTELE]

Kick turns? Back seat skiing?

Kick turns, stream crossings, general off balancedness, crashing, lack of attention, carelessness come to mind.

And, I hate like hell to admit it, but when I fall on flat/flatish terrain, I sometimes use my poles to help get up.

And, given I Iive in the Northeast, always good to have something strong enough to fend off wolves if I drop my gun down something steep.

[old goat]

OP must really be hard on poles. I've run over my Traverses twice with no damage. (Yeah, I know, different kind of stress. )