Black Diamond  Distance Z Trekking Poles - Pair

I have been using Black Diamond Trekking Poles since I started hiking 10 years ago and I used to love them .. Light weight, sturdy and reliable. However very disappointed that the quality has been going down substantially. I bought these poles in July and did not start using them until mid August. After 6-7 hikes both poles broke ... one with the click button popped out and the other click no longer coming out.

The sticks are problematic in at least 2 factors. The tendons in warm or hot weather stretch allowing the sections to come apart which can be an issue on a tricky trail. The second factor is the release mechanism..the first time I tried to break down the sticks for travel the locking mechanism broke and fell out of the pole rendering them unusable. Neither REI nor Black Diamond were willing to replace the poles, REI because it was a year and a month after my husband bought them and Black Diamond refused to accept the receipt photo I sent with date and cost. I would return at your earliest opportunity.

I brought these to Ireland for a hiking vacation and they became an extension of my arms. I was barely aware that I was using them until they did their thing, to stabilize me on uneven terrain. I also love the upper body work they provided. My gait was even and steady in all conditions.

I've been using these for about five years. They were just stolen with my car. I'm more disappointed about losing these than my car. I have abused these in every possible way and they just kept on going. I even stabbed them into the side of a too steep hill and and walked on them and they did not fail. I've used them to whip out nettles and briars and I don't even know what else and they still kept going. They are super light. Every time I use other poles I am massively disappointed (I need longer ones when I carry a hiking pole tent). Of all the hiking gear I own this is what I was most attached to. May they come home safely.

I got the aluminum version of the Z poles for the promise of increased durability. Unfortunately, this Black Diamond version seems to have a critical defect: the push button lock broke off on me after collapsing the pole soon after purchasing. Since I use a single pole while trail running, I switched to the remaining good pole, and a few weeks later that pole's push button broke off too in the exact same way. When I looked into it in more detail, it appears the button is made of a long—but razor thin—piece of metal, half of which is hidden inside the tube. It appears after only 30-40 presses, it gives out. Black Diamond sent me a replacement pair without question, but I am not optimistic it will last any longer. It's a shame because they really should be more durable.

People are not kidding about the lock button failing. I used mine perhaps 10 times over the course of a year. At the end of a hike, the detent button broke in half and sailed off into the parking lot. I retrieved the piece, and it had snapped in the middle of the material - so it's not like it could just be put back into place, the part was completely broken. If you look at the pics in the review titled "Faulty clicks", it's *exactly* the same thing I saw. When these poles are working, they're pretty good. Reasonably solid, grips are good, I like the strap adjustment mechanism.

The push button used to collapse and extend broke off on one pole after 14 month with use on just about a dozen outings.

Used the same pair of BD distance Z poles for a few years now, winter and summer, for training and ultra races. Very reliable, durable, easy to use and carry. I consider this product an essential piece of training equipment.

These poles have a fatal problem. I've owned 3 sets of them and eventually they will lock up in the joints and you can't get them apart. Even with meticulous maintence, they will eventually lock up. After my first set of aluminum Distance Z poles (120 CM) locked up, I thought that I just needed to lubricate the joints well and they would function properly, so I bought another pair because I like the strength and stability of a fixed pole. I used silicone grease on the 2 bottom joints (so it wouldn't degrade the rubber cords that hold them together), and I used PB Blaster on the upper shaft that slides into the grip section. I just returned from a 3 week AT hike that only had 2-3 days of rain. There are times that I need to break down the poles and store them in my pack - like on a tough rocky section or when going into town. Even with good care, both of my poles locked up in the upper section. I was able to loosen one, but the other will not come apart - even after spraying it liberally with PB Blaster multiple times, tapping on it, twisting it, and putting it in a vice with a rubber grip wrapped around the shaft. I think that the aluminum on the upper shaft gets corroded or perhaps salt somehow gets to it from sweating. I've contacted Black Diamond about the problem twice. The first time the poles were under warranty and they sent me a new pair of carbon fiber poles. I gave those to my wife and so far they are fine, but they haven't been on a long backpacking trip. I'm going to look for some new poles - maybe carbon fiber, but I'm done messing with aluminum Distance Z poles. I can't afford to have equipment that fails on the trail.

Purchased on 12/2023. only used on two short trips, the lock is broken already.