Trekking Poles....an overlooked piece of equipment

[mtwarden]

I have a pair of the carbon FLZ's I've owned for three years now- they have a ton of mountain miles on them; I'll frequently use them on races where there is a lot of elevation gain/loss.

I've recently (last year) purchased a pair of their aluminum FLZ's for hunting- a little heavier, but still fold up small and should be a little more durable. I did have the upper joints pull out of their housings (haven't had that issue w/ the carbon ones) a couple of times- I've epoxied them in and seems to have ended that problem.

 

[duchntr]

I tried out a pair of those flz poles a few years ago, I liked the weight and how they folded up real small. I wasn't a fan of the lack of rigidity, just too bendy for my liking. I use the alpine carbons with some gossamer gear grips now, think they are about 6oz a pole. Good luck with your testing.

 

[AK Troutbum]

Amazon.com : Black Diamond Distance Carbon Flz Z-Poles, 140 : Sports & Outdoors
WOW! I didn't realize how expensive some of the trekking poles were these days. Those $29 carbon fiber/cork ones that Costco sells look better and better all the time. They are 1 oz. heavier/pole, but I think that even my toothpick arms can handle them okay, just so as long as I'm not trying to pack all that extra $$ I saved up the mountain as well.

 

[Brock A]

Amazon.com : Black Diamond Distance Carbon Flz Z-Poles, 140 : Sports & Outdoors
WOW! I didn't realize how expensive some of the trekking poles were these days. Those $29 carbon fiber/cork ones that Costco sells look better and better all the time. They are 1 oz. heavier/pole, but I think that even my toothpick arms can handle them okay, just as long as I'm not trying to pack all that extra $$ I saved up the mountain as well.

In 2013, I watched a pole from a brand new set of the Costco ones break which led to a pretty gnarly cut on my step dads hand. It could happen with any poles though.

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[Trial153]

This tread has me thinking about selling my carbon poles and getting a pair of aluminum

 

[Jbehredt]

I’ve got the flz aluminums. Really liked the weight of the carbon but got sketched out by the bend when I leaned on them.

 

[robby denning]

Brock's review is up!

Black Diamond Carbon Distance FLZ Z-Poles Review - Rokslide

 

[mtwarden]

the baskets that come with the poles are simply too small for any snow, however you can get larger baskets- they are in between full on snow baskets and the ones they come with- I find them just about right

to swap you need to put the tip in boiling water for a bit to loosen the epoxy, carefully take a pair of pliers and give them a little twist and they come right off, use a waterproof epoxy and push on the new baskets- about a 10 minute job

BD also has a new FLZ pole (Alpine) it’s a little thicker aluminum, cork handles and comes with two sets of swapable baskets- weight in 140 length is 19 oz

I’ll be keeping my carbon poles, but are relegated to races and non- hunting backpacking

 

[Brock A]

Leaving tomorrow morning for Idaho. Friday AM we depart on a 100 mile hike and I will be taking these along. I will post how they did.

 

[Montanaelk31]

I cannot believe we would not do research on this company as a supporter of HUNTERS. Although I sure appreciate the excellent review, Black Diamond is run by a group that is decidedly ANTIHUNTING. Shame on us as hunters for not doing research!!! There are MANY companies that make trekking poles. I will not support BLACK DIAMOND, and anything they make. And anyone on this Forum who reads this should not either. PLEASE, HUNTERS, DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DO NOT SUPPORT THIS COMPANY!!!

Thank you.

 

[huntcoop]

I'm new to the trekking pole game. I have seen in quite a few photographs that guys only have 1, do most of you bring and use both poles?

 

[Back Country Hunter 2]

I'm new to the trekking pole game. I have seen in quite a few photographs that guys only have 1, do most of you bring and use both poles?

Backpacking, I'll bring both and use both on the pack in and out. During the day, I'll leave one at camp. For day hunts I typically bring just one.

 

[mtwarden]

interesting, I’ve never heard that BD was anti-hunting. They are owned by the Clarus corporation that also owns Sierra bullets.

looks like you joined a month ago, so you might not know, but someone posting that a company is anti-hunting without any documentation is going to be treated as skeptical at best- the use of cap locks has never swayed my opinion, facts do though

post the documentation and skip the cap locks

 

[AK Troutbum]

OKAY, you need to give him a break warden! He is from Butte after all, and at least he has correct spelling. I pretty much always use both trekking poles even when I'm using them for my shelter and not packing the shelter with me as I hike around. I did purchase a long handled ice axe this past winter and plan on using it (along with my poles), this fall, so I guess I'll be able to leave the shelter standing when I'm hiking around this year.

 

[mtwarden]

^

I like having both with me as well and just take the 5-7 oz hit of a carbon pole for a shelter

 

[Trial153]

I cannot believe we would not do research on this company as a supporter of HUNTERS. Although I sure appreciate the excellent review, Black Diamond is run by a group that is decidedly ANTIHUNTING. Shame on us as hunters for not doing research!!! There are MANY companies that make trekking poles. I will not support BLACK DIAMOND, and anything they make. And anyone on this Forum who reads this should not either. PLEASE, HUNTERS, DO YOUR RESEARCH AND DO NOT SUPPORT THIS COMPANY!!!

Thank you.

Citation?

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[wind gypsy]

Those FLZ poles are nice but I wouldn't want to give up telescoping for use as shelter poles.

Seems the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon cork are very popular as the top dog in a lot of circles. They are what I use and have been great but they are expensive. I found Skurka's review a while back and he basically indicated there is little reason splurge beyond the bargain Costco poles. Long-term review: Cascade Mountain Tech Quick Lock Poles

From the review:

Based on my experience in July in Kings Canyon, I concluded that only three other poles (or pole types) are worth considering:

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Poles, for the extreme user who will justify the expense through extensive use;
Black Diamond Ultra Mountain Carbon Trekking Poles, or other foldable models, for ultra runners needing more compactness; and,
Gossamer Gear LT3C Poles, or DIY fixed-length poles, for gram weenies who never or rarely fly to their backpacking destinations.

Otherwise, however, buy the Cascade Mountain Tech Quick Lock Poles, from your local Costco or from Amazon with Prime shipping for a few dollars more. Models from more well known outdoor brands and retailers are not worth the added cost. In most cases, you will pay much more and get much less.

 

[Pgohil]

Amazon has the Cascade Mountain Tech in aluminum and carbon, aluminum is $23 and 22 oz, the carbons are $44 for 16 oz.

Other than a 6oz weight penalty, and reason not to go with aluminum???

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[ktowncamo]

Other than a 6oz weight penalty, and reason not to go with aluminum???

I've used both aluminum and carbon plenty and they both have pros and cons. I've broken carbon and bent the heck out of aluminum. Aluminum has a propensity to bend in a lot of situations that carbon just flexes. For this reason it is worth considering carbon (much like why guys don't want to shoot FMJ's - memory of aluminum is unfavorable).

From a hunter's perspective, I do like the carbon as they are typically gray and aluminum is usually flashy/bright, but a can of brown or tan spray paint is also pretty cheap. Cool kids like carbon...I'd be lying if I wasn't swayed at one point by being able to say "Yo, check out my new carbon trekking poles!".

Being compact - aluminum poles typically are longer or less tech (small sections, breaking down smaller) goes into the aluminum poles by most manufacturers so you often get last weeks news when it comes to innovations. Some might say, "Innovations? It's a pole" to which I largely agree.

Just my $.02 on the topic. Been using trekking poles for about 20 years, stemming from my alpine climbing days. Seemed natural for hunting even when hunters were generally laughing at guys with trekking poles or "sticks" as some used to call them.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

I have the cascades and struggled to see the difference with high end carbon poles in stores, personally, I think they are a re-branded product from a more reputable manufacturer.

I see it a lot when some bargain items are discovered to be almost identical to items 3-4x the cost and those that bought the high end one start arguing that they're not the same. For example, the Walmart Ozark trail vacuum travel mug ($10-15) vs. the Yeti one ($30-45), they are identical, most likely made in the same factory!

The problem with carbon vs aluminum is that al bends and yields before breaking, whereas carbon, you can get a crack in the polymer matrix which can live for along time until it's stressed in the right way, then boom, it explodes. Strength vs durability. You see this in the NHL, way more sticks broken on the ice than when wood was used. When wood cracked, players could feel the weakness and changed sticks, but you could have a crack in the carbon stick and not feel a drop in strength until that one timer slap shot, then boom!