Black Diamond Snowsports

What type of skiing will you be doing?

• Downhill skiing: Helps balance and time turns; most are fixed length
• Backcountry skiing: Adjustable poles let you lengthen for uphill travel, shorten for descents
• Cross-country skiing: Longer and lighter, designed to help you glide forward efficiently. Poles for skate skiing are longer than for classic skiing.

Sizing downhill poles:

• Stand in your ski boots on a level floor
• Grip the poles just below the basket
• Your elbow should form a 90° angle
• If the angle is less than 90°, try a shorter pole
• If the angle is greater, get a longer pole.

Basket type:

• Standard: for most conditions
• Powder: for deep snow
• Powder and standard: Interchangeable baskets

Consider your activity

• Hiking: Often compatible with hydration reservoirs, have external gear straps/loops
• Running: Designed to limit bounce, hydration compatible
• Climbing: Slim profile, abrasion-resistant reinforcements
• Cycling: Road cycling packs compact with lower profile; MTB packs hold more gear

How much gear will you carry?

• 10L or less: Short runs, quick outings, casual use, essentials only
• 11–20L: Day hikes, cycling, can carry an extra layer
• 21–35L: Sweet spot for multi-hour or full-day hikes, travel
• 36–50L: Gear-heavy outings l(all-day hikes, climbing), winter hiking, ultralight backpacking

Internal frame or frameless?

• Internal frame: More support for heavier loads, but bulkier
• Frameless: Lighter weight and more compact, but less support

Find the right fit

• Use torso length (not overall height) to find your pack size

• Measure your hip circumference (slightly higher than your pant-waist size) and check that against the hipbelt size

What is an avalanche transceiver?

• If you recreate in snowy backcountry terrain, an avalanche transceiver is an essential safety device—along with a probe and shovel
• Transceivers help you locate someone buried in an avalanche and it helps rescuers find you if you’re buried

What features should I look for?

• Analog or digital: Most modern transceivers are digital; some are both digital and analog
• Multiple burials: Allows searchers to detect more than one buried person; most offer this feature
• Marking function: Lets a searcher to mark the location of a buried person so they can search for another one
• Display screen: Displays direction and distance to a buried person
• Range: Listed in meters (typically 40-70m), the circular range at which one transceiver can detect another