Australian Hiker

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Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles Review

The Black Diamond Trail trekking poles are my original trekking poles and while I’ve moved on to the Leki Cross Trail FX Superlite Poles these poles continue to get used when the conditions dictate. While this seems to be a strange change going from an ultralight pole to one that is relatively heavy there is a method to my madness that revolves around pole use. I originally bought the Black Diamond Trail trekking poles for snow use as they come with removable snow baskets and at the time of purchase, and even now that’s what I still use them for.

These poles have a number of advantages with the first being the robustness. Over varying trips I have slipped and fallen only to be saved by my poles and on a number of occasions. I have dropped my whole 95 kg weight all on one pole with great force and they have survived without any complaint. While many poles will put up with this type of abuse I have been happy with the solid feel to these poles.

My second reason is the flick lock system that Black Diamond and others now use that allows for a huge range of size adjustment and a guaranteed locking mechanism (I have never had one fail yet). I mainly use my poles going down hills so I will always lengthen them to longer than normal to suit the terrain.

My third reason for choosing these over the smaller, lighter trifold poles is that they provide enough length to fit into my Osprey Pack ‘stow on the go’ system. I find that this allows me to deploy or store the poles without having to stop which means I will use the poles when I need to rather than just putting up with the conditions.

Price is another bonus on these poles and the features and robustness they come with provide exceptional value being under AUD$209 RRP. We have used cheaper poles but we find that they just don’t last.

Now for the negatives. These poles do have negatives and the the most obvious one is weight and at 490 grams they are on the heavier side. The other main issue is that the foam handles are quite long and the is designed to allow you get the the perfect hand placement whatever the conditions. I find that the additional length of foam is not useful from my perspective and just adds weight.

Overall these are a great four season pole being robust and useable in a variety of environments so unless you want to go ultralight these are a good choice for those that want an all purpose pole that isn’t going to break the bank.

We Like

• One size fits all means that you pole length will always be what you need it to be and that they can be used by a range of people
• Hand grips made of EVA foam which wicks away moisture so your sweaty hands won’t slip off the grips
• Flick-lock technology ensures quick and easy adjustment, and secure locking
• Tough aluminium construction allows you to tackle the tough terrain without having to worry if the poles will support your weight
• Removable snow baskets included so you have the flexibility to cover different terrain when you need

We Don't Like

• Not light at 490 grams
• The foam on the handles is long. This is just extra weight that’s not needed in most circumstances

Best Uses

• Four seasons hiking
• Great for large hikers as they will support your weight confidently if you fall on them

Buy One

You can purchase the Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles online from Snowys , Wildfire Sports, or from Wild Earth

Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

AUD$209.99 AUD

Other Versions

Black Diamond makes a large range of trekking poles to suit your needs. Choose the activity you are planning on doing to help select the right poles

The Black Diamond Trail Trekking poles. This image shows the comparison between fully extended at 140 cm to fully retracted at 63.5 cm. You can choose the size anywhere in between

Trekking poles in the Osprey Stow ‘on the go’ system. These larger poles fit well in this system unlike the tri-fold poles

Disclaimer

This review was done with product purchased from a retail store by Australian Hiker

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