Poles for XCd, D, and Telemark

[JohnSKepler]

My Asnes Nansen poles have a crack in the lever housing. I don't know if I have any interest in trying to fix them. That spot is going to be under a few hundred pounds of tension and even my 3M Scotch Weld probably isn't going to do it.

I use one pole for classic in the track, classic off-track, XCd, xcD, and on piste. I like a two-section pole that will go out to 145 or 150, has a primary and secondary grip, and a wrist strap you can adjust that will stay put. Wrist strap has to be beefy as I pole from the straps, not from my grip. This isn't the first issue these Asnes poles have had so I'll probably go with something else. Recommendations?

[Krummholz]

I’ve had some Black Diamond Traverse poles in 155cm for 5 yrs, no problems. The new style lower grip is different from mine. Mine is a separate section. I like being able to extend the pole out to 150cm on the flats or climbing, then shorten them down to 135cm for decending.

[mca80]

Lots and lots of people like those BD poles. I would recommend Swix Mountain Explorer but it doesn't have a 2nd, lower grip, but rather just extended primary grip. The strap is "bomb proof" though. I have an Asnes pole and will never buy another, strictly swix and leki for me, or maybe will try that BD someday although I prefer single length poles.

[telerat]

I have heard of some issues with Åsnes' poles and their lock, so am a bit skeptical of them. I like the look of the Free 2-section and want to replace my old Life Link poles that are very hard to adjust now.

I really like the low swing weight of carbon lowers, and strap safety release gives peace of mind. I think there is a higher risk with touring baskets with rings than the standard alpine ones though. I once caught a basket on a nail sticking out of a solid pole on a descent and ripped the glove and pole from my hand. The basket was partly torn afterwards, and I was glad it was not some ligaments in my shoulder. That was long one piece poles and I would have shortened a telescoping pole before that descent.

I would only buy poles with Flick Lock mechanism or similar, as I am done with screw type locks. Extended grip sounds nice when traversing with many turns, but is only useful when traversing relatively steep hills with several turns. I often prefer a steeper skin track personally though.

My sons have 2 pairs of standard Black Diamond Traverse that have worked well for some years. They are aluminum, comes in two lengths (now 140 and 155 cm) and have screw baskets. Black Diamond have ditched the additional rubber grip on them now.

I would add a pair of shorter composite poles for pure piste use, as they are cheap, light and stiff, and I worry about bending telescopic poles. Also, all I know prefer carbon composite poles for track skiing, as they are both stiffer and lighter than telescoping or aluminum poles. They are also much more inexpensive now than when first introduced, and a cheaper model is also usually more solid (albeit a bit heavier). You have to decide what you prioritize though.

[Lhartley]

Lots and lots of people like those BD poles. I would recommend Swix Mountain Explorer but it doesn't have a 2nd, lower grip, but rather just extended primary grip. The strap is "bomb proof" though. I have an Asnes pole and will never buy another, strictly swix and leki for me, or maybe will try that BD someday although I prefer single length poles.

How do you avoid the "t-rex" using non adjustable poles? Choke up?

Another vote here for Traverse. You won't find many options (if any) that adjust to the length offered in the traverse

[spopepro]

I think you want the Leki guide light 2 carbon. It’s been on my list to pick these up for casual skimo races, backcountry traverses, and so on. It’s the only widely adjustable pole with a good directional basket I’ve seen.

[JohnSKepler]

Lots and lots of people like those BD poles. I would recommend Swix Mountain Explorer but it doesn't have a 2nd, lower grip, but rather just extended primary grip. The strap is "bomb proof" though. I have an Asnes pole and will never buy another, strictly swix and leki for me, or maybe will try that BD someday although I prefer single length poles.

I'm going to give the Swix Mountain Explorer a shot- if I can find a set. The adjustability fits my needs. Super light. Good basket. "Bomb proof" strap . They are a lot cheaper than the Leki. And I do like me some cork handgrips.

Incidentally, yesterday I once again proved my axiom about skiing well: "The secret to skiing well is good conditions." It was pretty awful. Thin. Warm. Slushy. Icy. Fell twice. Once because I suck. Once in avoiding a rock. Better poles would have changed everything.

[mca80]

How do you avoid the "t-rex" using non adjustable poles? Choke up?

I applied cloth tape to make a secondary, lower grip, and just choke up.

Or if going to resort/laps take telescoping or shorter poles.

[aclyon]

BCA Scepter ticks all your boxes. Secondary grip, check. Telescoping to 145+ in 2 sections, check. The wrist strap is very easy to adjust on the fly and can take lots of tension (I also pressure my straps a lot in K/G). The L-shaped handle is great for clearing boots and bindings of sticky snow and ice, and also improves grip on the pole. They have snow baskets that work great in powder. There is an aluminum and carbon option, I use aluminum because durability is more important to me than weight in the back country. I would love to have a carbon pair for "inbounds" use.

For my tastes it is the closest thing to a universal pole for all snow conditions and applications. Also the aluminum ones look really cool. Perhaps the only thing missing is a few more centimeters of telescoping to make them better for skating.

[JohnSKepler]

BCA Scepter ticks all your boxes. Secondary grip, check. Telescoping to 145+ in 2 sections, check. The wrist strap is very easy to adjust on the fly and can take lots of tension (I also pressure my straps a lot in K/G). The L-shaped handle is great for clearing boots and bindings of sticky snow and ice, and also improves grip on the pole. They have snow baskets that work great in powder. There is an aluminum and carbon option, I use aluminum because durability is more important to me than weight in the back country. I would love to have a carbon pair for "inbounds" use.

For my tastes it is the closest thing to a universal pole for all snow conditions and applications. Also the aluminum ones look really cool. Perhaps the only thing missing is a few more centimeters of telescoping to make them better for skating.

I went with this one, the BCA pole. I had trouble finding the Swix pole but located some at New Moon. They wanted $45 for shipping which pushed the whole bill to close enough to $200 to make me keep looking. Got these for about $100 total. Thanks for suggesting it!