 Poster: A snowHead
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I bend ski poles on a regular basis, usually due to offpiste stacks. I've usually bought cheap poles as being "disposable" do composite poles survive longer? What's the reason behind adjustable poles? I've just spent my new ski budget on a week in Tignes so new poles are all I can manage on this year's kit budget.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| tangowaggon wrote: |
| What's the reason behind adjustable poles? |
The reason is so you can change the length...
I think possibly for those that tour as it's better to have a longer pole when you're polling on flats. Also park rats have them so they can shorten them to keep them out the way.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Adjustable poles are indeed for touring, not just for flats but also when walking uphill... most people like to grip a bit further down the pole where it's thinner as the hand grip is quite uncomfortable when pushing out above shoulder height.
@tangowaggon, I do find that better ski poles last longer. I used to use cheap poles on the basis of a pair a season. Then in a bind I bought some expensive Leki titanium ones with the oval profile (stronger front to back than a circle) and to be fair they've done well and look good as new.
Also I really like the trigger system for the pole straps. Way better (IMO) than pole straps.
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tangowaggon, I'm like you having bent alloy poles before, so bought some carbon ones - love em and still going strong - 17 years later 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Get good carbon poles, you'll have them for life
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I've snapped a carbon pole before, these days I have carbon for the piste and good quality alloys for off piste. For all my many off piste stacks I don't seem to bend poles, keeping your hands out of the loops helps with this as well as the burial scenarios.
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You can break carbon poles if you give them a good whack against an edge when you stack it.
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Carbon poles are more expensive and are lighter on a like for like comparison. They do break and as @Mosha Marc, suggests - they don't like side impacts. while a alloy pole may kink and carbon pole will probably just bend. The bottom sections tend to be solid so are very strong. When off piste are you still connected to your poles, using the wrist loops, as this maybe the route cause of your breakages. When off piste its not good practice to have your poles attached in case of an avalanche and in most of my off piste stacks I've inadvertently jettisoned my poles and this may help reduce breakages.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Quote: |
You can break carbon poles if you give them a good whack against an edge when you stack it.
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Yep - I've done two pairs. They get weakened when you chip them with ski edges. I think carbon are nicer but I've gone back to alloy
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I’m a bit of a carbon junkie, having worked for a Global Composites company in a past life. I’ve used Black Diamond, Leki, G3 adjustable carbon poles without issue, but I tend not to ski like a crash test dummy 
My current favourite is the G3 Carbon Pole, which has easily clip removable straps, really strong adjustment locking, and a great grip.
Having seen both lost and broken poles on long tours, and the problem that causes, I now carry a folding z pole in my pack for emergency use.
Most adjustable carbon poles are only slightly lighter than the alloy, for example Black Diamond carbon poles are only 10-20g lighter on a 300g pole. Be careful using very light non-ski specific trekking poles for skiing, as they won’t have the strengthening in the lower section to protect against ski edge damage.
However if you want to go really light, I have seen great reviews of the Locus CP3 adjustable pole by split boarders, who only use them for the up:
http://locusgear.com/items/cp3/?lang=en
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Strength and durability are most important to me, within reason, weight is not important. I doubt that adjustable poles will be worth it for me but swappable baskets might be useful.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I've yet to ski or tour with a Guide who uses adjustable poles. Just saying...
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You know it makes sense.
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Alloy poles make a more satisfying noise when clicked to warn slow pokes you are passing 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Stevo wrote: |
| I've yet to ski or tour with a Guide who uses adjustable poles. Just saying... |
I went on an off-piste course with our very own Husky Dave and he told us, if we could, to shorten our poles on one occasion. But I can't remember why, now. 
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Hurtle,
But if you get poles with extended grips down the shaft you can just hold them lower down for the same effect.
I do see the argument about EXTENDING poles for long flat skins but set against that are the strength and weight penalties of adjustment mechanisms.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Here's something to spend your money on http://en.kangpoles.com. Not for me, but I’ve seen them in the shop and they look great
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@jedster, have to admit that my extendable poles are pretty useless now anyway. I bent one of them, which means that it won't go up and down in its shaft. (Ooh, Matron...)
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@tangowaggon, I have a pair of Goode Carbon poles which I bought in 2002. They get about 60 days a season, much of it off piste.
I don't fall over often, but it does happen.
The baskets and spikes have been replaced. The nice thing is that you can basically get all the bits and replace as you go. That said, I haven't needed to do much.
Pretty robust and reliable.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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+1 for Goode http://goode.com/skipoles which have lasted over 20 years...
I like the shock absorption of the composite poles: Brilliant thing is they have screw on/off baskets so you can interchange from larger diameter powder baskets or smaller piste baskets.
I ordered replacement baskets on line from the U.S although they didn't (then) have an international shipping option and they arrived in a couple of days.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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under a new name, so are mine, bought 2001 - got the adjustable ones too- not that they need it. thanks for the info about replacing bits - might look into that 
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We've a couple of pairs of Goode brand carbon poles from 2002 I think, they are really tough and still going on with no problems.
I've no particular preference either way but these do seem to be bullet proof.
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fwiw, I was advised to steer clear of composite poles, as they flex too much. apparently for challenging skiing it's better to have stiffness. ymmv.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@PaulC1984, I have bluebirds and whilst the poles seem both tough and lightweight, the catch which does up the adjustment broke in half on the first day. (Of course by this point I'd lost the receipt!)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Myself and a lot of my friends us the Volkl Phantastick poles. They are fairly cheap if you shop around, the hand grip is very comfortable and stable and they come in a variety of bright colours; if you drop a pole in powder it makes finding them a little easier
Last edited by And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports. on Fri 22-12-17 16:53; edited 1 time in total
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| under a new name wrote: |
@tangowaggon, I have a pair of Goode Carbon poles which I bought in 2002. They get about 60 days a season, much of it off piste.
I don't fall over often, but it does happen.
The baskets and spikes have been replaced. The nice thing is that you can basically get all the bits and replace as you go. That said, I haven't needed to do much.
Pretty robust and reliable. |
Pretty much like Triggers broom then! 
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You know it makes sense.
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| Hurtle wrote: |
| Stevo wrote: |
| I've yet to ski or tour with a Guide who uses adjustable poles. Just saying... |
I went on an off-piste course with our very own Husky Dave and he told us, if we could, to shorten our poles on one occasion. But I can't remember why, now. |
I first started skiing off piste about forty years ago, however I only heard the idea about shortening poles off piste for the first time when skiing in Val d'Isere last week.
The logic is that when skiing deep powder, although the skis can go quite deep the poles, particularly with big baskets, do not go so far and you end up with your hands too high and not in an ideal position. The person that mentioned this was not an instructor and I do not know where he got the idea, but he was a vey competent and strong off piste skier. He said that he shortens his poles by five centimetres when skiing deep snow and it does make a difference.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I use Komperdell adjustable poles. Get a new pair every now and again from Ochsner sport in CH. K poles have a no quibble 3 year warranty and K send out new parts by DHL on receipt of an email with pics of damage etc to home address or resort address. Had new handles, touring grips, clamps and pole sections over the years. Great service from the company.
Adjust them regularly to max 155cm for skating out of say Cugnai/Tour du Charvet below the Manchet chair and then shorten for deep powder to stop the baskets catching in the snow.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Charliee wrote: |
| When off piste its not good practice to have your poles attached in case of an avalanche |
Why?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| sugarmoma666 wrote: |
| Charliee wrote: |
| When off piste its not good practice to have your poles attached in case of an avalanche |
Why? |
They can get caught and drag you under, or damage you.
It's also good practice to remove the straps when tree skiing...again, in case they get caught, but on the branches, or impede exit if fall into a tree-well.
https://backcountrymagazine.com/stories/leash-laws-use-pole-straps-backcountry/
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Also, in an avi it can be very useful to fight and 'swim' for the surface and clear space around you before the snow stops moving, if your hands are attached to your poles this is much more difficult.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I've got a pair of Scott carbon poles from circa 2004. Over the years I've replaced the grips, the baskets, the spikes & the shafts but otherwise they're original & still going strong
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@spyderjon, I wonder what triggered that.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Around 1983 Lange made skis (around 8 models). I bought the SLS on the recommendation of the SCGB...and hated them.
The Skis are long since gone, but I still have the Lange Ski Poles that matched (deep blue, with orange handles and baskets)....and there can't be many of these left alive anywhere in the world. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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