Black Diamond  Trail Back Trekking Poles - Pair

I recently used these poles to backpack rim to rim through the Grand Canyon and also to traverse through the Narrows in Utah. They helped me balance along the steep inclines in the Grand Canyon but even better, they were sturdy enough to help me navigate a flooded Virgin River through the Narrows. I was able to brace myself with them as I crossed through the rushing water and they never once slipped, bent or broke. The flip lock system makes it very easy to set a pole length and they do not slip in water or get stuck in gritty sand. They are lightweight with small grips so using them 3 days in a row never once wore out my arms or bothered my small hands. These poles were worth every penny.

As others have mentioned, the little plastic tab on the grip (holding the strap) is improperly designed and rubs the thumb and forefinger. I fixed this problem on my set by unscrewing the screw in the top of the grip (which retains the strap and plastic tab), removing the plastic tab, folding the loose end of the strap into the fold of the other end (that previously folded over the plastic tab), then screwing in the retaining screw again. You have to cut the strap band at the end to remove the plastic tab, then singe the cut end. The strap is now at a fixed length, but that's fine for me. It can still be adjusted by redoing the whole process at a different length. Now my grip is perfectly comfy. Photo is of the altered grip.

I bought these poles 3 years ago after hurting my knee while hiking the AT in Vermont coming down off Stratton Mtn. After picking up the poles and swallowing some vitamin I (ibuprophen) and took off on the same trail to show the mountain who was really boss. Well, these poles were GREAT. I was able to hike 10 miles the first day even with a hurt knee. I have since taken these to hike everywhere including New Mexico, New Hampshire and New York. Always perform well and really stable. Have not had a problem with my knees since learning how to use these sticks. If you want to save your knees, get these sticks. Then hit that mountain and kick some butt.

I can ascend all day long, but as I've gotten older, descents have become so painful on my knees that I was seriously wondering if I'd have to cut out strenuous hikes. Long descents would do so much damage to me that I could barely walk the next day. I tried another set of poles with twisting locks, but I found I couldn't put any weight on them without slippage. So I got these & so far they've held up very well and made a huge difference in the amount of pain. I wish I'd gotten a pair sooner. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is that I've only had them 6 months and aren't sure how they'll hold up over years of use.

After having gone through three other pairs, I have used these poles extensively for the past two years. I am a large frame backpacker and "lean" on these poles heaviliy, and they have never failed me. they adjust quickly and easily with changes in terrain. they could be lighter, but I don't believe they would hold up or be reasonably priced. Durability/reliability is a critical characteristic for all of my gear because when I am in the backcountry there is no room for failure. These poles never let me down. Whether in mud, snow, or rocks, or using them just to hold up my tarp, these trekking poles always deliver for me.

As others have mentioned, these are fine poles, except for the strap clip. I was all set to move from leki to black diamond...but no. This strap design is completely brain dead; the poles are painful to use. The strap clip is rectangular and placed exactly where you grip and exert the most pressure. I tried them for one hike and if I'd not adjusted my hold pattern to use the lower part of the grip I'd have rubbed the skin off both of my hands. Another pair my spouse got from black diamond have very thick straps which she finds difficult but will put up with. I don't get it...anyways done with our black diamond fling.

Being a newbe to hiking - Palm Springs Desert area - we were strongly recomended to use them. Since then they do not leave my back pack. Love them, as being my first poles when I have to replace them it will be BD only. Adjustment and locking is easy, handle strap is comfortable. I do find the handle to be a little troublesome some times - I just reajust my hand position. Certainly help the knees and balance on tough edges and loose gravel down hill sections.

I took my Black Diamond Trekking Poles on an early April hiking/camping trip to New Hampshire's white mountains. The poles made traversing the ever-changing terrain (from muddy to rocky to covered in snow) a breeze. The included snow baskets were a dream come true. As my friend's poles sunk a few feet into the snow, mine provided support even on unpacked snow. I am also a fan of the flick lock locking mechanism. At first I was a little put off because it seemed like adjusting them would be a pair. However, once I got them situated, the lock held them in place for our whole trip. These poles were a great addition to my hiking gear. I can't wait to try them out again.

First use of these was on a four day search in Alaska. They did fantastic for the first two days - super light, very easy to use (I love the flicklocks), survived all kinds of weird contortions and thrashing in the brush. On day three, I braced one on a large boulder as I side-stepped down and around it, and the motion somehow totally twisted the lower part of the pole, breaking it off. Bummer! The twin survived, though, and did well a few weeks later on a 3 day, 27 mile hike through Denali State Park. I'll continue using them even though the one pole broke fairly easily - so light!

I used these poles on a two week backpacking trip in the mountains of Idaho. They were invaluable when it came to long days going up hill or down. The acted as 2 extra legs and helped me keep my balance on steep terrain. They were also very helpful when trudging through snow or mud. If I slipped I could use the poles to regain my balance. The only thing I had trouble with was that by the end of my trip the poles began to slide. The owner's manual tells you to adjust the locking mechanism every once and a while to keep them tight, but being in the middle of the woods without tools this wasn't possible. So make sure you have the right tools and knowledge to adjust these before you set off on a long excursion.