Black Diamond  Trail Trekking Poles - Pair

This is my third pair of trekking poles, but the first one with flick locks. I find them very hard to open with bear fingers and have doubts that it will be an easy process with a glove on in freezing weather high on a pre-dawn mountain. I took them on their "maiden" hike and they stayed put, didn't slip like my old twist-type poles. I felt a vibration in my hands during a brisk descent when the poles were hitting hard ground. I hope that it is not an indication of a weak shaft that will bend (like my old pair). I like the compact size and if they stay set and don't bend, I will be happy. For the price it is worth a try.

I read several articles about the benefits of using walking poles such as revving your metabolism, using & toning more muscle and relieving lower back pain. It is the last one that continued to catch my attention. It totally blew me away the first time I walked with the poles, I had no back pain and this carried over then into when I cooked, washed dishes and ironed. I was utterly amazed at going from breath wrenching pain to no pain at all. Again, given the benefits of being able to walk 3 miles with absolutely no pain (and I lost 25 lbs in a month) I would pay triple for another pair if necessary.

After trying nearly every pole in the Colorado Springs store, I went with these because they seemed the most stable when extended nearly to their max (I'm 6'3" 220, not exactly the smallest guy out there). I just returned from Great Sand Dunes NP where these poles performed perfectly! They were able to hold me up as I climbed some seriously steep dunes, and I'm sure they're just as stable in the snow. And the flick-lock was great when I needed to adjust from short (for climbing the dunes) to longer (for the trails), I was able to do so without stopping or really even thinking about it.

I love the flicklock adjustability. There is no substitute. I've taken these poles backpacking, ice trekking and basically pushed the poles to their limits in a variety of grueling conditions and I am constantly amazed at how easy it is to adjust them on the go and how they hold up to the beating that I give them. They may be a little scuffed up, but they still work as well as the day I bought them. I can't even get them to colapse on me like the twist lock poles I had. If I can ever break these, I will be purchasing another set. I give these my highest recommendation.

These poles are unbeatable for the price. I have been using them for a few months now and they have taken a serious beating but show no signs of wear. I have just been amazed by the durability and resilience of these poles.

These poles saved my behind. I had fractured my ankle in June, reinjured it in August, and my ankle was still unstable during a November visit to Mist falls in Yosemite. When I slipped on a wet step while descending the trail, I fell, but my Black Diamond pole was solidly anchored and I found myself literally hanging by the arm that was gripping the pole. Had I not had these poles, I am certain I would have gotten seriously hurt. They supported my overweight frame, and are dependible. The store clerks recommended this flip lock system over the twist systems out there that degrade with exposure to grit and trail dust. I am a believer.The only thing I haven't figured out is how to loosen the wrist strap since tightening it all the way.

First used poles on a 9-hour Grand Canyon rim-to-rim in September and was impressed with how much they saved my quads on the uphill leg. On another G.C. trip last weekend, temps ranged from 11 on top to 55 at Phantom Ranch. I had zero problems compared with a friend's Leki Ultralites that completely gave up halfway out. His expanders refused to lock once they got cold. On the BD poles, a simple tightening of the screw on the lock would have fixed the problem; but I had to take the Lekis apart, score and roughen the expanders, and struggle to get them to tighten at all. Fortunately, he made it out with continual retightening, as there was mud, snow, and ice on the last three miles of trail. I think the flicklock is hands down the best lock.

After having tried several trekking poles, with and without anti-shock, I can say that this pair is definitely my favorite. The selling point is the flick-lock mechanism, which is super easy to adjust and is way more reliable than the twist-locking system most trekking poles use. I found the twist-locking poles very hard to adjust, and the locking mechanism fails way too easily. These poles are maybe not as light as carbon composite poles, but they are plenty light for me and not as hard on the pocketbook. Highly recommended.

Used these poles on an 18 mile trail with 4000ft elev. gain. over nine miles. Put them to the test putting full weight (approx. 265lbs with pack) on them for over 3 hours and over 8 miles of pure downhill and rock stairs both wet and dry. Never once had a concern with failure or poles not holding my weight. Since then I've logged in over 100 miles of High Sierra Trails without one problems. If you havn't tried them they'll change your life and save your knees! There the best investment I've ever made.

I found the Black Diamond Trail trekking poles to be just what I needed to eliminate unnecessary core muscle tension in keeping my backpack balanced on rough or rocky trail sections. Excellant aid for stream and snow field crossings. You know those snow patches where an ice axe and crampons are over-kill, but still have enough slope to worry you? These trekking poles are the answer! The Trail model is lightweight, strong, easy to carry, easily adjusted and secure. I should have had these poles years ago.