Customer Reviews

Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Pole

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I borrowed my brother-in-law's Leki poles when doing a 2000 ft ascent hike a couple months ago and immediately found them to be invaluable in increased stability and reduced knee pain on the decent. He had poles with shock absorbers, but he also hiked the AT (yes, the whole thing), so I didn't think that would be necessary for me since my trips would be anywhere from day trips to a couple weeks long... not 6 months! I can see where that could be advantageous for something that long.

Since I decided I could settle on some basic poles without shocks, the real decisions came down to how they lock and the grips. I decided on these poles mainly because of the flick locks because I have read where the twist lock tends to add weight and sometimes it's not obvious if the pole is fully locked and it could collapse during the hike. The flick lock is easy to see when it's engaged and if by chance it does start to slip, there is an adjustable screw to tighten them up. The grips felt comfortable in my hand and felt to be of a quality material that wouldn't start pitting on me after some use. The only thing that I think I may want to upgrade for in the future is a cork grip. I'll have to wait and see how my summer hikes go and see how sweaty my palms get to see if it's worth the cost.

For those just getting poles for the first time, there are actually a few pointers to get the most out of your poles. Search the internet for instructional videos, but here is a summary of some of the major points:

1) When gripping the pole, put your hand 'up' through the strap and grip the pole such that the strap is in your palm and you are putting your downward force on the strap. This helps so that that you don't need to keep a firm grip when pushing down on the pole.

2) The length should be such that when on a level surface, your arm should be at a 90-degree bend when gripping the pole. You can also adjust the pole longer for descents and shorter for ascents to help with pole placement.

3) When on a regular stride, plant the right pole with the left foot and the left pole with the right foot, so that your step and pole planting alternate. This is similar to your natural arm motion when walking and the poles just become an extension of your arms. As you shift weight to your other leg, push down on the pole, so that you reduce the weight on your knees.

For more info, I have not seen it, but a highly rated video is POLES for Hiking, Trekking & Walking

Now, go hit the trails!

Picked these up after some growing knee pain on steep descents. Worked wonders and I can now descend with much less stress on my knees. The locks are simple and solid I've put my whole 250 lbs on them to "vault" over some creeks and there is not a hint of instability. Great Product!

My husband and I ordered these poles prior to our hiking vacation in the Colorado Rockies. We liked the fact that they could be easily stored in the car trunk, then extended and adjusted when ready to use. The poles were indispensable in our steep hikes through rocks, snow, and high winds. This was a true test of their durability, and they passed with flying colors.

VERY pleased! poles are very strong, yet light weight! and easy to pack! i have some very expensive ones, and these are as good quality.....just what i needed!!!

Bought these to phase out my old komperdell circa poles, which have served me for 9 years. The pole is almost everything it claims to be, light and strong, great for trekking pole tarp tents. Great quality and strong construction. The grips did well with sweaty hands but they picked up a funky scent after the second hike. Washing does away with it but it keeps coming back.

Comparatively, they feel about as heavy as my old poles, but the grips are more comfortable on the trail backs than on the circas. They come with trekking baskets on, and snow baskets attached which is a nice bonus. The packaging could be better, it's not built for mailing.

Couple of things black diamond could've done better:

The straps: too thin. Could be thicker. Not a big issue.

The locking mechanism: i bought these to try flicklocks, and well, i'm not a fan of the flicklock now. Granted it's a tiny little bit easier than twistlocks when you're wearing gloves, but i don't find their locking power any better over twistlock and all the locks are is bulk that i can do without.

Gave them away as a pseudo present for my dad.

My wife purchased a pair of Black Diamond poles at the local REI and I wanted to shop around a bit. I did a lot of research online and talked to some local hikers too. Bottom line - Black Diamond is the way to go. I got to try them out at Mt Rainier and they are amazing poles. I actually slipped on a wet rock on skyline trail and would have landed on my but if it wasn't for these poles (that would have hurt a lot). I weight about 200 pounds and the poles held up with no problem and still lasted the entire trek. I love these poles. If you are looking for quality poles at a great price. Shop no further.

These light little poles survived 500 miles of backpacking in Oregon and certainly saved my knees. The flip locks are amazing because they don't become jammed like the twist-lock poles I replaced. They are also easier to adjust in bad weather and cold temps.

As a first-time user of trekking poles, I found these to be extremely easy to adjust and use, with comfortable grips and secure feel. They worked beautifully after two arduous hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, including a hike up Flattop Mountain, and gave me confidence that the hiking objectives would be met. I particularly enjoyed their sturdiness as well as durability. Based on this they should last a long, long time!

I used these poles for the first time when we were camping/hiking recently in Yosemite. There was still a lot of snow on the ground where we were hiking, and the poles were fabulous for balance and stability, especially climbing and descending. I took them out of the package on the side of the road right before our hike and was pleased to discover that they were simple to adjust. I also got to try them out enough on trail without snow to find that they were great for that, too. They're very lightweight and didn't get in my way at all, even when I wanted to stop to take pictures, which I was concerned about beforehand. I think these will also be very useful when I'm backpacking this summer.

I really notice the difference between hiking with and without these sturdy poles. Seem to make the hike so much easier. I haven't tried other poles, but these seem just fine - easy to adjust and comfortable to walk with. Now they're always included with my hiking gear.