 Poster: A snowHead
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Bought a pair of Scott's Series 4 Dispatch poles in Feb but have only got to use them this last week in Courchevel. Here's what their blurb says:
"Designed for those deep fresh days when normal baskets sink without a fight. The Dispatch features a massive dual density F-Ride basket with a firm central plastic for rigidity and a softer, more forgiving, plastic outside for a gentle flex. The shaft is 18mm Aluminium 7075 to provide strength and resistance. The combination of Notch Strike handle and Strike strap deliver impressive comfort."
Well the actual poles, tips, grips & straps are Scott's usual superb quality & the baskets do look natty & like they'll give great support. However in use they are shoite & could actually be dangerous!
The so-called plastic is more like a rubber material & the basket just bends upwards when any kind of decent weighting is applied to the pole. The basket on the right pole split on day three while I was skiing a pretty steep pitch down the Croix Des Verdons . Luckily I managed to stay on my feet but it could have been nasty. The basket ended up halfway up the pole after the central area had split, allowing it to ride over the metal retaining collar on the pole. I put loads of duct tape around it in the gondola & it held for the rest of the week.
I also taped up the left pole but that split the same way the next day. Needless to say that they'll be going back this week. Makes you wonder if anyone actually tests this stuff!
Edited for typo.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 23-03-08 16:41; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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they'll be the poles you recommended to me and I got in the ellis brigham sales then 
Hopefully yours is just one bad set ?????
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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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Here's a pic of the underside of the basket. The black area is supposed to be the softer plastic & the white lines the harder supporting plastic.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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And here's how they've both broken.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Black Diamond poles and their powder or half powder baskets have had a pretty good drilling in soft and very hard conditions.
Carry a couple of spares and just make sure you whack them on tight...as not doing this will undermine any basket.
Very good... and as you carry dedicated spares, you don't have to wander around the resort trying to get ones that fit...
and besied it might be a littler too late by then... as the trouble will be with skiing with it...
The biggest problem..IMV..with baskets is with them splitting and then falling off so I can't see a softer plastic working anyway...and so it seems
A much understated/underrated thing, is baskets and it is not until you lose one, do you realise how important they can be...
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ah booger, guess I'll take my old faithfuls along just in case then 
If you speak to Scott can you see wether it's a known problem, or wether I have to let them break first before doing anything about it!!
cheers,
greg
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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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kitenski, I'll let you know.
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| spyderjon wrote: |
| kitenski, I'll let you know. |
did you hear from Scott? mine lasted a whole week of serious useage and lots of off piste traverses, must have been because I had duct tape in my back pack!
Cheers,
Greg
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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kitenski, Haven't heard anything yet. I'm passing EB's tomorrow so if I get a chance I'm gonna call in & chase them although I only took them back two weeks ago & I said that there was no hurry.
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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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kitenski, Called in at EB's today which was timely as an envelope from Scott had just arrived with a new pair of their standard powder baskets which I'd requested as opposed to a new pair of the F-Ride baskets. EB's were going to fit them but I said I'll do it as I want to epoxy them at the same time.
Apparently EB's at Castleford have sold a good few of these poles & I'm the only one who's had a problem, however Scott said that they have had the same problem on a few other pairs which they've replaced.
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at ellis brigham in covent garden we have had about 4 pairs returned including my own. For something so specialist I was disapponted that they only lasted 2 days. First time I've had a problem with Scott and I hope next years are better!
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You know it makes sense.
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| spyderjon wrote: |
| Apparently EB's at Castleford have sold a good few of these poles & I'm the only one who's had a problem, however Scott said that they have had the same problem on a few other pairs which they've replaced. |
Add mine to the list! I manged to destroy the baskets in 2 days in December, I did try to contact Scott directly but heard nothing, so just replaced them with normal more ridgid baskets!
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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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well mine also lasted Scottish snow and heather, maybe I struck lucky!!
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Poster: A snowHead
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kitenski, but you have to pole plant to bust 'em 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| spyderjon wrote: |
| kitenski, but you have to pole plant to bust 'em |
Down to my excellent technique I don't push down when I pole plant, however they have been used to push me along walk outs, traverses etc in fairly deep snow, so they have had some effort put through them!!
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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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hmm,well just back from an Easter jaunt and both my baskets are splitting, any views on contacting Scott directly or going to EB where I got them from?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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kitenski,  So much for the excellent technique eh!
Take 'em to EB's as that's who Scott will tell you to take them to - hope you kept your receipt. I know of newer F-Ride baskets that have split so I'd recommend getting Scott to send you a pair of their excellent 80mm diameter but normal design baskets instead of new F-Ride ones.
After cutting off the old F-Rides with a stanley knife you'll need to cut off the remaining metal collar on the pole shaft. Use a junior hacksaw or dremel & be carefully not to cut in to the pole as the collar is only about a mm thick. Then apply Araldite to the inside on the new baskets & tap 'em on.
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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, the easiest way to remove that metal collar is to have the pole tip down on a solid surface warp a layer of masking tape just above the collar to protect the pole then hold pliers just above the collar and tap sharply downwards with a hammer...it should just drop straight off 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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CEM, on my Scotts there is a shoulder around the pole that the collar snugged up to so you couldn't knock off the collar from above.
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FAQ
