Black Diamond Pursuit Shock Trekking Poles - Pair
With ergonomic grips that reduce fatigue and a streamlined shock system to ease up on joints, the Black Diamond Pursuit Shock trekking poles prioritize comfort so your focus can stay on the trail.
- 7000 series aluminum shafts with ergonomic, natural cork grips
- Natural cork manages moisture while grip extensions made from algae-infused BLOOM™ foam provide additional hand positions on steep ascents
- Proprietary grip geometry and shape reduce hand fatigue and allow for more comfortable hand positions
- Newly designed shock system hidden beneath the grips and the grip extensions damps vibrations to help reduce joint pain
- S/M size adjusts from 100 to 125 cm and features grips optimized for smaller hands
- M/L size adjusts from 100 to 140 cm and features grips optimized for larger hands
- Solution 2.0 wrist straps made from postconsumer recycled fibers
- Soft-touch FlickLock+ makes adjustments quick and easy
- 4-season flex tips with trekking baskets (snow baskets included); interchangeable carbide tech tips
- Built-in 1.5 mm hex bit tool for in-field maintenance
- Sold as a pair
Imported.
View the Black Diamond Pursuit Product LineView all Black Diamond Trekking PolesBest Use | Backpacking |
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Shaft Construction | 7000 series aluminum |
Grip Material | Cork |
Adjustable | Yes |
Maximum Length (in.) | S/M: 49 inches M/L: 55 inches |
Minimum Length (in.) | 39.4 inches |
Collapsed Length (in.) | S/M: 26.5 inches M/L: 28.4 inches |
Maximum Length (cm) | S/M: 125 centimeters M/L: 140 centimeters |
Minimum Length (cm) | 100 centimeters |
Collapsed Length (cm) | S/M: 67.2 centimeters M/L: 72.2 centimeters |
Locking Mechanism | External Lever Lock |
Basket Type | Powder and Trekking |
Weight (Pair) | S/M: 1 lb. 3.2 oz. M/L: 1 lb. 6.4 oz. |
Gender | Unisex |
100 CM | 110 CM | 120 CM | 130 CM | |
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Height Range | < 5 ft. 1 in. | 5 ft. 1 in. - 5 ft. 7 in. | 5 ft. 8 in. - 5 ft. 11 in. | 6 ft. + |
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My new favorite hiking trekking pole
Black Diamond sets the standard for a quality trekking pole, and the BD Pursuit Shock Trekking Poles are no different. When I took them out on my first hike, they quickly became my new favorite hiking (and snowshoeing) trekking pole. This is my first trekking pole made of cork and I found it incredibly comfortable and my hands stayed cooler than they would have with a synthetic grip. The cork grip in parallel with the integrated shock system helped to take some of the burden off my joints and I think they’ll be nice for those on long days on the trail. The pole was designed with longevity in mind with quality materials used throughout and a 1.5mm hex tool bit built into the lower pole segment for on-trail repairs - super cool! Looking forward to bringing these along on many hard trail miles to come.
Exceeded Expectations
First impressions: These are high quality poles that feel both sturdy and well balanced. They are super easy to adjust with the clips. On the trail: The poles are definitely well balanced. They almost seem to provide momentum for forward movement - making striding very easy. They felt sturdy on a variety of terrain including the hard packed dirt trail, scampering on granite rock and hiking on soft sand. The cork handles did well on absorbing sweat. The handles and straps were super comfortable. The straps are cushioned and I was able to adjust them to accommodate my small hands. They exceeded my expectations in all ways. I only wish they were a bit more compact to better fit on my Camelbak and in my carryon luggage.
Great poles w/o disadvantages of older anti-shock
First off I want to address the elephant in the room...anti-shock in trekking poles. If you're like me you probably dread the thought of anti-shock because it reminds you of older poles that had a spring cushion which would travel several inches, weighed extra, and made you feel unstable going downhill because the pole collapsed so far it would throw you off balance. Well, you don't have to worry about that with these poles. The total travel I could produce by putting my full weight on one of them was only .5 of an inch...that's right 1/2 an inch. And the anti-shock is all in the handle section so it doesn't affect the mid or lower pole sections. It certainly doesn't detract from the use of the poles. As for any benefit from the anti-shock, I haven't gone either far enough or steep enough to say if they're better or worse than my carbon poles by Black Diamond, but on the bright side, so far they are in every way comparable to my favorite BD poles and have the added advantage of having a bit for adjusting the clamps stored inside the lower right pole section. The bit is also removeable/replaceable, but before anyone asks, no you can't fit a double ended bit in the space (in case you wanted one to work with other pieces of gear). This is a fantastic feature to include as it allows for adjustments out on the trail when you're far from you toolkit (it also means you don't have to keep track of a small allen wrench in your pack). About the weight. They're great. Compared to the BD Alpine Carbons I own they are only .82 of an ounce or 23 grams heavier...for the set...hardly noticeable. So if you tend to trust aluminum more, well, this set is for you. Hiking in Florida the BD poles have long been my favorites because of the tips. The fact that I can have a rubber tip that screws in and locks into place is a game changer. I don't have to carry the little rubber boots for my poles on road walks nor worry about taking them off before entering a swamp (if you don't remove them...the swamp will). So again, a great feature on these poles. Any drawbacks? Well, I wish the foam extended a little further down the top section, but that's only because I remember gripping down that far while climbing a steep frozen hill once. Other than that...no drawbacks. These are seriously solid poles. I hope to add or subtract to this review later as I will be taking these poles to the White Mountains in November of this year and then on to Japan's Nakasendo Way in December. I can't wait to get out and test these more.
Well-designed, sturdy, and ready to trek!
First, the basics - the poles have the full adjustable range (100-140cm) you'd expect, nice cork grips, carbide tips, and adjustable wrist straps. They collapse for storage and come with snow baskets integrated into the storage clips. For me, these are an upgrade from a 10-15 year old pair of simpler Black Diamond poles so there are quite a few new tricks built in. My favorite part, bar none, is the new length adjustment mechanism. My prior set had the plastic flick-lock arrangement, which always worked, but was a little mushy to open/close. These new FlickLock+ mechanisms are fantastic - they click into both positions, swing easily, and even have a hex bit built into one of the pole ends for quick adjustments. Past that, I like the cork grips which did an excellent job of keeping my hands dry; and the new strap adjustment mechanism is easy to move, but stays put in use. I have the shock-equipped model, and I can't really tell it's there without pressing hard on the pole. I suppose the fact I don't notice it is a good sign on the downhills - I'd probably pick up more jolts otherwise. The new algae-based material used for some of the plastic/foam seems sturdy enough and I'm all in favor of greener material use. I didn't get a chance to try changing the tips out for rubber tips, but I like that there is a full replacement option instead of just a cover. No real downsides that I've seen - I think z-poles and carbon fiber are a user preference and if you're buying this you want collapsable aluminum poles. I might prefer the more adjustable hand grips for tripod mounts, but that's a minor quibble. The biggest annoyance seemed a clever design feature - the clips holding the poles together are also storage for the snow baskets; in practice the baskets got in the way and the clips were a little less strong to grip than my old models. Overall, though - excellent poles and a great set of features/updates!
Too fragile, it bends on
Too fragile, it bends on the first hiking activity
Well made and versatile!
I never use poles for hiking but after receiving and using these I may reconsider it. The poles are well constructed and incredibly comfortable. I live the cork hand grips. They fit well in your hand and give a good response when gripped. The poles are adjustable and I was able to size them for me 6’3” man and my 7 year old daughter under 4’. They adjust easily and stay in their position even when slammed into the ground. The bottoms are removable and can be replaced if damaged. They also slide into a compact position for easy storage. We used them to hike in the forest around our cottage so it wasn’t a difficult hike but they worked well. I will certainly continue to use them. I may even use them for skiing this winter. Overall if you are in the market for hiking poles these are well constructed and versatile.
These are solid poles
Overall these poles have done pretty well. They are comfortable to hold- the cork handle didn’t give me any blisters or hot spots on my hands. I hiked with them in the hot weather and in the rain for 8 hours without any discomfort. I’m not a light person (probably 200 pounds with all my gear) and I was able to lean on them with quite a bit of my weight and they didn’t collapse. At one point while hiking I had to throw the poles down the trail a bit so I could use my hands to go down some large boulders and the lock popped open when I did that. Aside from that, the locks seem secure though and they are easy to open and close. I find the handles that loop around my wrist to be a little large and I’ve tightened them as much as I could. I’ve used them hiking in the White Mountain National Forest so there’s lots of granite and I’ve scratched them up quite a bit from the first use. This doesn’t make a huge difference functionally, but I’ve had similar poles from Black Diamond in the past that got stuck in their collapsed state and I can’t use them sometimes because of some oxidation due to the scratches. I haven’t had these poles long enough for that to happen so I can’t say whether it will happen to these.
Trekking Pole Innovation
I’ve been using poles while walking and hiking for a few years, a practice I started in part for an Inca Trail trek and also due to my shoddy knees. The stability and reassurance poles offer far outweighs the cost of looking a little dorky! Some positives I’ve noticed while using the Pursuit Shock - - very comfortable and super soft wrist straps and cork grips - easier height adjustment maneuvering with the rubber capped FlickLock+ - a noticeable “cushion” feeling when the dampeners are activated A couple peculiarities I’ve noticed - - when the dampeners are not engaged they can tend to rattle within the grips which can get a little annoying after some time - the height adjustment windows are opposite each other, which means changing both the first and second channels can be a bit fiddly but could be excused for being more stable! Overall the effect of the shock dampening is really helpful when going downhill, I noticed an increase of what felt like more fluid body movement rather than jarring sensations. I’ve only had them out for day hikes so far, but I would be curious how the mechanism starts to feel after a couple of days with a heavy pack - a good excuse for a longer trip!
2 Is Better Than 1
I have always used a single wooden pole while hiking/backpacking. I have found that it comes in handy to keep my balance when trying to navigate obstacles or uneven terrain. Especially when carrying a fully loaded pack. Have often thought about trekking poles, but my hesitation was that they wouldn't be strong enough to fully support my weight if I had to lean into them. I received these Black Diamond Pursuit Shock poles and have taken them out a couple of times on some quick out and backs. I can see the benefit of having two poles vs. one. These poles are very nice looking and some nice features. They adjust in two places with locking clamps that seem to be very secure so far. I have not experienced any slipping or collapsing of the sections during my hikes, but they are not intended to have a great deal of pressure placed on them either. The grips are cork and have been plenty comfortable, with the wrist straps handy for keeping the poles with your hands. If I had one gripe it would be the "shock" absorbing feature that these poles are supposed to have. I found them to be particularly stiff without much give at all. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be that way or if they will loosen up over time or not, but I don't really notice any kind of give at all while using. I wouldn't really ding them any stars for that though and other than that I've been impressed with their performance.
Rim2Rim
Bought these to cross the Grand Canyon, and i am so glad i did! The poles never slipped and provided great support.