Poles

A snowHead

So I've bought myself some skis, and I need some poles to go with them. I've only ever hired skis - and hence poles - beforehand. Is there anything at all to differentiate between poles, or do I just choose the cheapest?

Thanks

A snowHead

Cheap aluminium ones will be fine. Just get the right length

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I don't go off piste (willingly) and I bought Leki poles as they have the "quick release" loops. However as I could never get the loops to release without risking dislocating something, I just took them off and just grip the poles. I rarely lose them as long as I pay attention...

I would prefer to be able to change the baskets for larger ones as then they would be a bit more useful when walking.

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What differentiates pole are things like:

- Whether they are made of Aluminium, Carbon or Composite. Carbon Poles are much thinner, which gives less wind resistance and a slight "give" when planting, but are often much more expensive.
- The size and material of the handle (softish or hard plastic). You also used to be able to get a "Sword Grip".
- Whether there is a safety release on the strap
- Whether there is a slight forward angle to help with planting position ie. Not quite a straight pole.
- Whether adjustable or whether it comes with a Powder Basket

Despite all that, I would probably go for cheap Aluminium ones - much like you have always used. While Pole Planting still has its place in modern skiing, most of the time it's more of a "Pole Touch"....and with fast carved GS turns, planting the pole is not advisable.

Also, expensive Carbon Poles are very attractive to the casual thief - so need careful watching.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@James the Last, cheapest in the right colours

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My komperdell WC carbon slalom poles are a thing of beauty, the swing weight is perfect, but they have never left the UK. I can certainly feel the difference in quality but it’s just another item to get lose/break or have stolen.

I’ve always used standard mid/low price aluminium poles on the mountain. If I’m going to be fussy the handle is important for me to have good grip and shape.

If you didn’t want anything fancy I’ve got a pair of barely used Salomon grey poles in a 125, bought when I was deciding between sizes, you can have for free.

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@James the Last, it's very important that the colour either matches your skis, or your outfit.

After all it is free

@motyl, Leki poles screw off, as I and the ski tech in Fernie discovered a couple of seasons ago.

@joffy69, That’s interesting - I did try but clearly I need to apply more strength. I’ll have another go!

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OMG at last! It seems that although the fitting is ridged, it's not a screw fitting, so as soon as I tried pulling as well as turning, it started to give way Very Happy

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@Roguevfr, yes, thank you, that bit was quite nice to use, but for me the point of the Trigger S mechanism was to save my thumbs in the event of a bad fall. There’s a video showing how to get it to release manually which I tried to copy and nearly injured myself in the process. I decided I didn’t trust it and just stopped using the loops altogether which, as you say, are easy to detach

As you say, the loops detach very easily. The "manual" release isn't something you do- it's simply a release mechanism for preventing the jerk on shoulders etc by a trapped pole. Just because you can't easily release it "just to try it" bears no resemblance to the efficacy of the release under accident .

You know it makes sense.

I just want something to go with the sparkly grey skis that @flocon made me buy.

Although, @Old Fartbag, less wind resistance sounds like a really good additional feature; how much extra should I pay for this?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@Roguevfr, I accept what you say is what I should expect to happen. At the moment I can't find the video I'm referring to which would demonstrate what I'm trying to describe.

A snowHead

A snowHead

If you're a normal piste skier, like 90+% of people any ski pole will do so I'd grab your ski gloves and get out to some shops, either here or out in resort and start picking some up and waving them around.

Getting the correct length is east, stand the pole upright, handle down and grip it in your fist just under the basket. You want your elbow to be a 90° bend.

From there I'd say the next most important criteria is how it feels in your hand. You'll pick one make/model up and it will just feel comfortable - but pick up another and it will just feel horrible, either texture, or having finger groves in all the wrong places for your hands.

From there it all becomes a bit of a gimmick and branding exercise. If you're just sitting to go up/sliding to go down you won't notice the few gram different between aluminium and carbon. If you buy Leki 'clip in' poles you either need to buy matching Leki gloves or adaptor straps - which are just one more thing to drop and lose. Also the more expensive your poles, the more likely your poles and skis are to catch the eye of the more light of finger...

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I recently got hold of some carbon poles for £34 so can be found at reasonable price. The lighter weight is definitely a plus for me as long as they are balanced.
A word on length, I have come across an argument that the traditional way to judge correct pole length - ie turn pole upside down and grip below basket: correct length is when elbow is at right angle - is wrong and will inhibit an athletic stance (this will probably generate a popcorn thread but I will trial it this season and see what I think).
Might be worth getting adjustable poles and experimenting Puzzled

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Plenty of poles left on ski racks. Just take the ones you fancy, if they don’t suit just pop back and grab another pair.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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Collet - a new word for me! The tip of the pole.

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Type 'Custom Ski Poles' into Google.... I look forward to seeing the results!

After all it is free

@joffy69,

Not the tip of the pole. It is the attachment of the basket to the shaft.

Generally speaking these are now a standard size. However some baskets are easy to change and have a screw on/off fitting with the collet. Other baskets are simply "pressure" fitted onto the collet (using a big hammer).

@geoffers, I bought a pair of Goode carbon poles in 2002 and only retired them last year because I got a shiny fluo pair for xmas. So that's about 1,250 days use. The other nice thing about Goode is that all the parts are available as spares.

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@geoffers,

How to use the straps on ski poles should be included in the first ski lesson together with how to use the bindings.

I used Goode ski poles for many years. I replaced the handles and straps and baskets but finally I had to buy new poles when the ice tips fell out because they were simply glued into the end of the carbon shafts.

I now have some Leki poles but I hate the Leki "trigger" system which "integrates" with Leki gloves because the gloves don't keep my hands warm.

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@James the Last,

It is worth buying a good pair of ski poles. I had a pair of "Goode" carbon poles for over 15 years, in which time I had changed my skis many times.

It is an often an overlooked piece of equipment. Personally, I found that lightweight carbon poles improved my skiing because my pole plant timing improved because they have a lower "swing weight". Carbon poles also absorb some of the shock when you plant them into ice/hard packed snow, reducing "shock" injury in wrists/arms. Carbon also bends but regains it's shape after being bent, aluminium stays bent and eventually breaks (how many broken aluminium poles have you seen that have been thrown away?).

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@welshflyer, @under a new name we'll have to start a Goode appreciation sub group... Toofy Grin

I'm still using my (now very tatty) Goode composites from 1999 - replaced the original collets with push-fit baskets to the new screw-ons when I lost a basket.

Have just replaced the collets again when one broke so have now got sharp ice tips rather than the kinda round metal tips.

If the poles themselves ever actually fail I'll probably just buy some 12.7mm carbon fiber tube, as any straight CF or composite tube would do the job (something like this https://carbonfibreprofiles.com/products/2m-carbon-fibre-tubes?variant=40366232895524)

@geoffers,

The link to the "Goode" website would have been more useful had it included You Tube videos to show how to replace parts rather than simply trying to describe the processes.

It's a shame there it's a UK distributor. I assume that the postage, customs duty and other costs will add up and there will be a long delay for stuff to be delivered.

You know it makes sense.

@welshflyer, it's so simple that a YouTube is probably not necessary: they're just a tight friction fit so twisting or tapping them off (hammering against a bit of wood) works. Use a bit of washing up liquid to lubricate when refitting.

The ordering process was very quick : probably a bit more expensive than if you could buy locally, but I wanted them and it was still a lot cheaper than brand new (decent) poles

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@geoffers,

Thanks.

It appears that their new "collet/ice tip" units will fit my very old poles and therefore I will be buying a pair with screw on baskets.

Does anyone want to buy some very expensive Leki poles? Laughing

A snowHead

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

I found some poles of the correct length (traditional method of measuring...) in a Cash Converters type of place. They are ancient alu Look poles. They have the older style large diameter flange on the top, which I understand was sized to be larger diameter than the average eye socket to help prevent an injury. Has that now been dropped? because I see poles of much smaller end flange these days.

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@JayRo, who is this Paul Lorenz guy? Just cos I'd never come across him. Interesting take, and he clearly truly knows his stuff.

I really like this image (if it works) the master and the pupil are broadly speaking doing the same things but there's such a difference

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@JayRo, and that pole length article makes total sense. I don't ski usually with adjustable poles, and can't imagine I'd be bothered to adjust them per run (I do have a pair for touring) but I think he has a bundle of good points (well and clearly explained too).

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He takes it fairly to extreme mind you. 105cm is very punchy for moguls for a 180cm tall bloke. I thought I was being aggressive shortening my poles to around 120 (though I am a fair bit taller).

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The "traditional" way to measure poles was usually done in a shop when wearing street shoes. Your feet can be nearly 10cm above the snow with modern equipment due to plates on skis and the lifters built into boots. I have gone up one size in poles just to be able to push off strongly.

After all it is free

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