Black Diamond  Distance Carbon FLZ Trekking Poles - Pair

Took my new Distance Carbon FLZ Poles on a maiden voyage to hike the Tour DuMont Blanc Trail. Hiked up and down many times on every terrain from technical to flat and they worked great without a single set back. Loved that they fold down so compact that they fit into every compartment of my backpack easily and weigh next to nothing. I had no arm or hand fatigue with high elevation and steep inclines and great support on the declines. Love them 💯

I did a short 2 day backpacking trip in the Smokies NC last weekend and dang did I push these poles. They helped wonderfully on the way up, very light and stowing them away was a breeze. On the way back down I had to cross a pretty deep creek with lots of slippery rocks. These poles did not snap on me when I wedged them accidentally against some rocks. They held up the whole way down as I put all my weight on them after slipping in the creek and twisting my ankle/ hurting my right leg. Honestly it’s because of these poles that I was able to make it down the mountain before nightfall. I was wet and freezing in 34f weather.

I thought about buying these, but they are heavier than the standard Distance FLZ and cost $100 more! Why would I bother. I was thinking they might be 0.25 pounds each or something impressive, but the pair is 459g! The standard aluminum pair is only 450g! Why spend $220 to say you have "Carbon Fiber", when you can get an identical setup in aluminum at $169 and save the 9g. I don't get it.

I don't particularly care for trekking poles and mostly opt not to use them, but occasionally find them helpful to have for routes that are steep and loose, or where a little ice/snow may be encountered. As they mostly stay on my pack, I wanted something light and compact, and these fit the bill. They seem to work well as trekking poles, although, I don't have much experience with other poles to compare them against. Nevertheless, they feel comfortable in hand, the height adjustment is handy, and they don't seem to be particularly jarring on rock. I'm happy with them.

I purchased these poles and after almost two years with very light usage, one of the poles "buttons" that locks it into place was no longer usable. It actually happened WITHIN the two year warranty time but I was unable to contact the company until 4 days afterwards. They did not take responsibility for the malfunctioning pole, nor offered to repair or replace the poles. I highly recommend finding a company that honors the warranty, the reliability of their product and that treats customers with respect. It was also extremely difficult to actually talk to anyone.

I have had several pairs of hiking poles both for backpacking and to help with balance in everyday life when needed. I came into rei before a trip because I had lost one of my better hiking poles and found these. They are wonderful! They fold small and fit in my bag. They are easy to assemble and disassemble. They are light and easy to use for long periods of time. My only wish is that my larger rubber ends would fit because the rubber tips for these are so small they get caught in the gaps between cobblestones and metal grates when used in more populated areas.

These hiking poles are very light and stiff, and I find the grips and straps to be comfortable. They have served me well for many hikes. But after a few years of use, one of the ends suddenly broke off when I put extra weight on a pole during a hike. The break point was at a surprisingly thin section of the pole just above the small built-in basket (to me, it seems like a design flaw to have such a thin-walled section holding all the weight put on the pole). The break was in the hard plastic piece that is fused at the end of the pole. As a "repair", I used a Dremel tool to saw off most of the small basket, and then I cut off the other pole at the same point as the one that broke. I of course sawed off most of the basket on that pole as well. At that point, I could slide on standard rubber tips that have 11mm (0.43 inch) openings, which are practically unusable otherwise with these very thin poles, but they now have a tight fit. The outcome is that I no longer have the tiny threaded ends that are compatible only with Black Diamond's highly priced replacement tips, and I can now use inexpensive generic tips (e.g., 5 pairs for $6). I never would have done this surgery unless I had to, but I'm actually happier with the sticks now that it is done. Note that there is a small metal gadget recessed in the plastic piece just above where it broke, and this apparently is used to secure the cable that keeps the pole segments together. That wasn't affected by the break, and I was careful not to harm it when I sawed off the other pole. Despite all this, these are the best poles I've ever had and I think they'll last me for many more years.

This is the fifth pair of these piles I have purchased. They last about ten years and need to be replaced. We have spent years hiking with them and now use them in cities all over the world. Our oldest child is scheduled for a hip replacement and we purchased her a pair of sticks because her main exercise is walking. We absolutely love this product. I turn 75 in a couple of weeks and felt chic using them because walking sticks are everywhere in the big cities in Scandinavia! Thank you! I know others will receive them as gifts!

Nice and light but feel sturdy when on uneven terrain. Would have been five stars, but no size overlap between the two sizes.

I had noticed recently that my arms were getting somewhat sore and tired hiking with trekking poles and I had heard about these ultra lightweight poles. I bought the lightest ones I could find and cannot be more pleased. They are absolutely amazing. I barely notice them when I’m using them except for they give me great support. I also love the fact that they collapse very short so I can fit them in a small suitcase when I travel.