Black Diamond  Trail Pro Shock Trekking Poles - Pair

First time using - Sunset Rock hike (2 mile up and 2 mile down) with total ascent 1300 feet. The shock absorbing rubber grommet at the top of the staff right below the handle works great. The problem is this whole smash lock system - I think it’s ill conceived, too complicated, doesn’t work. The bottom section of the pole, even when I think it’s sturdy and locked, if I stick it in mud or the point goes in deep into hard packed trail when I lift up during my stride - it snaps out and clicks back in. it’s the weirdest thing. It feels like it’s opening up and coming apart. I’m not sure if it’s designed that way but it leads to instability, both mentally and physically. Finally, the pole is not strong enough just leaning on it I can force the latch to slide requiring me to tighten that up further and then if I lean on it the bottom part of the pool actually flexes and bends I’m a little worried that it actually may snap. These are not what I expected for trail use - pictures attached …I plan on returning them if I can.

Tested on section of PCT in California, these poles had the best shock absorbency of any I have used. (See my other pole review for comparison.) Even my bad knees felt good after a long day. Hand grips were also comfortable all day. Poles extend to 140 cm which is one of the longest out there. Adjustments are simple once you have figured out the nuisances of smash lock and flick lock: you have to read the instructions carefully. Poles are also versatile: In addition to the standard trekking baskets, they come with snow baskets so I can use them on snow. I also purchased the rubber tips protectors to use on pavement. Only negative is price which is on the high end, but using 20% off coupon takes some shock away.

I have a functional movement disorder that severely impairs my balance and stamina. Suddenly, I am back on the trail. The shock absorber mechanism allows me to bear down on the pole when climbing and early on the pole when descending. Extremely durable, super comfortable grips, and the locking mechanism on the poles is rock solid. I hike, climb, and descend all day, with confidence and strength.

Not a fan of the new smash lock technology. I am trying to get replacement parts for my discontinued older ProShock Trekking Poles rather than use these ones. The two flip locks allowed infinite lengths and closed tight and worked great on 1000's of miles of trails and did not loosen on cold days. The new ones need frequent tightening; the poles falling apart 5x on one snow hike yesterday and are limited in length choices. My old ones never came apart. These were a gift and with no receipt I am stuck with an item I will not use. I do not recommend the new model and hope this new smashlock technology is not here to stay

This is my third pair of Trail Shock Pro's. I've broken the other two by being hard on them, but have always liked the design so I bought another pair. Initially I was excited about the Smashlock feature, just slide it locked and you only have to set the height on one pole! Sounds great! I instantly hated it. If your pole gets stuck on a root or in mud or anything as you're hiking the smashlock has some give, like a rubber band snapping back when the pole finally gets free. Super annoying. Next, I'd frequently find the smashlock would not catch and the lower section of the pole would slide right out and I'd have to fish it back it. Finally, the smashlock did catch on opening, but the whole smashlock mechanism ripped right from the upper pole. That was the final straw, I returned them. Never again. Very disappointed in this product.

These poles hit an excellent balance of weight, cost and performance. They are sturdy enough to support my 230 lb frame and the shock absorbers provide a noticeable improvement to hand, wrist and shoulder fatigue. Very happy with my purchase.

Rugged poles. Lots of adjustment at the single slider, and the slider grips tight, never slips. Easy to adjust slider tightness if necessary. Very compact with second telescoping joint. Love the shock-absorber. Easy to replace tips. Easy to adjust straps for individual hands. Baskets for soft soil are detachable.

The latest version of the Trail Pro Shocks use a “flick lock” mechanism for the lower part of the poles. Using friction to secure the lower shaft in the stowed position and a slide lock to lock it in the extended position. I purchased my Trail Pro shocks around the 20th of Jan and have used them everyday as a walking aid. After less than a month of use and 50-60 miles of walking the flick lock failed completely on my right pole. The point of failure is a plastic collar that keeps the spring secured inside the mechanism. I tried pressing this back in placed but it failed again after 3 instances of extending and retracting the pole. YMMV but it’s my opinion that Black Diamond should’ve kept the old gen clamp and not have gone to this slide lock mechanism. The good thing about this product is the shock absorbers... super nice on the wrist and elbow.

The 2 sections separate easily. It's just a matter of time before deploying the bottom section will cause this. Once separated, they cannot be securely fitted. Metal-to-metal glue is the best option but that risks making the SmashLock mechanism inoperable. Black Diamond did not respond to requests for help in this matter.

Do not buy these poles for backcountry skiing! If the pole basket is caught on a tree/limb or bush when skiing the compression fitting will fail and you cannot easily fix. Both of my pole compression/shock fittings released forcing me to climb back uphill to recover the lower section and duct tape back together in order to get off the mountain.