Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Ski Poles - 2004 BCS

I've been using the BD Carbon Fiber Flicklock poles and variations of them (Whippets) for years and have never had a problem. They are a nice balance of weight and function and I like the simple, yet comfy grip. Like any piece of backcountry gear, they will last longer if you maintain and inspect them a few times a year, but I have never broken a lower or upper shaft or had anything malfunction on them. It helps to occasionally check the tension of the clamping mechanism, especially if you are going from a warmer climate to somewhere very cold as the clamp has less elasticity.

I've grown to totally trust the clamping mechanism to a point that I probably shouldn't! There have been a few times where I'm booting along a ridgeline and put the majority of my weight on the poles, only to realize that if the clamping mechanism should slip, the pole would collapse and I'd be sent for a header. So far this hasn't happened and it is much more likely to happen with other clamping devices.

On the negative side, snow can occasionally plug up the clamping mechanism (no big deal - knock it out), and the bulbous lump on an otherwise smooth shaft takes a bit of visual getting use to, but you get over it.

The swing weight is nice and I love the asymmetrical baskets (truth in advertising as I designed them years ago).

Overall, an excellent backcountry tool.

Pretty much the best telescopic pole out there in my opinion. They are super light, stiff, and easy t adjust in all temps and conditions. I have never broken a pair. (not that they can't be broken, but they ARE tough) The grips are grippy and the straps easy to slip on and off. (if you use 'em) This pole is way better than the Traverse and anyone who says they break easy should use a little softer pole plant.

These poles are worth the price if you are a skier that likes having the best quality product on the market.

This pole does it all. It is light, durable, adjustable, comfortable and easy to use. I have done everything from multi day tours to hucking cliffs and this pole has withstood it all. Takes a little tweaking to get the flicklock adjustment dialed to where it is not too tight but just tight enough not to ever slip. But once it is dialed in you never have to think about it again. I would recommend this pole to anyone looking for an adjustable pole that is lightweight and durable.

ALl the functions I need, light weight, etc... I can shorten for the way down, lengthen for the way up, throw on a whippet, you name it. Best touring pole out there.

These are the best adjustable poles I have ever owned. They are light, compact, and have a large range of length. The grip is comfortable and the straps work just fine although it does help to tape the extra so it doesn't slip out. Because they are so light they do have a tendency to break sometimes but that seems to be the same with all lightweight poles these days. The baskets are a little funky too but if you get the BD powder baskets you will be stylin!

These poles rock! They are light and strong and very easy to adjust. I use them on and off the resort and certainly give them a beating and they hold up great. Their premo for telemarking because you can easily lengthen them for touring but then shorten them to the bottom at 110 cm for your low riding free heel descent, and bottomed out there are super strong and sweet. I also love the grip and strap.

Durable and light the Carbon Fiber Flip Lock ski pole is really quick and easy to change lengths. I like to tele with super short poles but then I need them long for touring so I bottom out the pole for skiing and then quickly extend them for more power while touring. For an adjustable pole they have held up remarkably well while ripping around resorts and hucking cliffs. Killer baskets aw well.

These are great back country poles! Very durable just be careful in bounds goofing off with friends, had a friend spray me and cut the fiberglass pole right in half with his skis.Good thing replacement parts are affordable. Highly recommended.

These are an excellent backcountry ski pole. They are super lightweight and easy to use. The Flicklock adjustment mechanism is quick and straightforward, and works well with gloved or mittened hands. Mine have survived many thrashes through thick Vermont underbrush and on rocky trails without a scratch. The rubber used for the grips is considerably stickier than the hard plastic used on my (very) old Traverse aluminum poles, thankfully.

The flicklock is the best mechanism around for adjusting poles. However, after about 20 days this year the lower carbon section broke in half. I've had Leki adjustable carbon poles for 4 years with no breakage issues; however they would often loosen up (twist type locking) - I got sick of that and decided to try something different. Black Diamondhas replacement carbon sections for $15 plus $5 shipping. Not ridiculously expensive but pricey enough to make me consider getting Black Diamond Traverse Poles next time!

When I was an alpine racer it was all about the scott poles.Then I got into backountry skiing and I got the bright yellow leki poles.How could I not the man who got me stoked on steep skiing the late great Trevor Peterson had them!

But after a while those poles bit the dust!

So I got the carbon flick lock poles and they have been on expeditions,ski guide courses,even rando races and they have been solid!

Note, now I use goofy cross country looking ski poles for rando racing.Man if my skateboarding friends could see me now they would figure I might as well be a figure roller skater!

Flicklock mechanism works perfectly, once you tighten it up sufficiently. Nice design for the pole baskets too. Carbon lower shaft makes for excellent swing weight, though somewhat flexible unlike some carbon poles (although this also absorbs shock). Had some problems with the pole tips starting to bend (probably a result of a sticky Diamir heel lock one spring, which I eventually fixed), but so far haven’t broken. One of the few probe poles that really could make a decent avy probe, though I always carry a dedicated sectional probe too.

Poles. What can you say other than that you shouldn't notice them. These are light, strong, and durable. I've had my pair for four or five years now and never had a problem. They're worth the money.

Here's the quick and dirty: great extension, good locking mechanism (might have to tighten with a phillips after intense use), super light, and very durable. I tele ski and hike with these. They've lasted 3 years with normal cosmetic wear on 70+ ski days/year. Only fault: the hand lanyards are starting to unravel after 200+ days. Oh well.

I like the length for touring, and shorten them up for the downhill. The carbon bottom swings nicely and has enough flex to with. I'm 5'7", they have all of the range of length I need. I use them as a resort pole as well, shortening them on mogul runs where the carbon bottom really pays off. My only gripe is that I did have the bottoms release on me a few times before I tightened the screw where the lock is located. Once I fine tuned the screw, I haven't had that problem again.

Tried out the new poles recently and they worked great. Had no problems with telescoping. I'll probably get some smaller baskets for resort skiing though... it would be nice if they came with a couple basket options.

The ultimate BC pole. Lightweight, well balanced, durable. Buy the powder baskets too.

I think these are the best all-winter poles around. I use them with my tele skis, my snowshoes, and have been using them since I broke my good poles on my alpine skis. The adjustable feature is a lifesaver if you need a tiny adjustment in different snowpacks.

I have gone through two pairs of the aluminum flicklock poles and the carbon fiber poles have taken a greater beating than both pairs combined. If you are skiing on some east coast ice field then buy some crappy fixed length poles and use these for backcountry. If you land on Any ski pole with the edge of your ski then it will break.

This pole isn't as light nor does it swing as easily as a fixed length carbon pole, but I've never had a better backcountry pole in my life. The FlickLock adjustment is as quick and solid as they say; these poles do not collapse, unlike Lekis. The modified snowflake basket is really nice when skinning up through powder or bringing the pole forward into the next turn. The best part is the ironclad, 100% satisfaction guarantee. Happy turns.

I love these poles! I broke my Black Diamond Aluminun FlickLock pole doing a knarly turn in a steep mogul field early in the day and was able to hammer the aluminum pole back into the upper section to ski the rest of the day. It took a complete day to get use to the flex of the carbon poles,I had some problems with the flex when trying to release my boots, but I've adapted. The Flicklocks are solid, the poles are light and handle well at the resorts or in the backcountry. They're so sweet!!!

these puppies are superlight. almost too light. i got a little scared watching them bow when i needed assistance in getting back to my feet in deep powder. didn't break, thou! would have preferred to have a little sturdier of a pole. but if light is number one, it's your pole.

The first few times I used these, the flick lock wasn't tight enough and the pole would push down. I thought the poles sucked, but really all I had to do was tighten the screw in the flick lock itself a bit - a Gear Expert at BackcountryStore.com clued me in to this. Now they work great. Easy to use, and the baskets rule.

I have used the same pair of BD 7075 Aluminum flicklocks for 6 years of resort and BC Teleskiing use. I took these new CF flicklocks out for the first day and on the fourth run on some fast New England hardpack, my outside edge of the uphill ski swiped the pole during a GS style turn and the bottom 6" of pole snapped off clean. I had to ski back to my car (45min) to retrieve my old faithful aluminum flick-locks. Get the aluminum flicklocks - they weigh the same, have greater adjustment range and are more durable. The swing was nice on the CF poles, but Teleskiing hard eastern bumps with a broken pole is less than perfect.

These poles are as quality as any carbon pole. The aluminum top is a little heavy, but the swing of the pole is still very good. Any pole will break if you edge over it with your body weight.

I am hard on equipment due to my size (6ft 6in 250lb), and have found that the Black Diamond Carbon Fiber flick lock pole is everything it is advertised to be. Flicklock works well so far, pole is sturdy enough for my size yet very light. Pleased with them after 10 days of use, will see how they last after a full season.

I actually returned these. They had a limited adjustment range, not going near short enough to easily strap to a pack (thereby doubling as summer hiking poles). The avy pole system would be tedious to assemble in a clutch situation.

This is my second pair (left the 1st in the parking lot)and I don't see why anyone would rather have fixed length poles. I change the length when switching from AT to race or Alpine skis and also when hiking up or down. Once you get the screw set properly on the lock they do not slip. The only down side is that they don't pack up small enough to put on your pack like the three piece ones do.

As a tele skier, I adjust my pole length a lot between hiking, touring, and skiing. The flick lock is the fastest and most efficient means for adjusting a pole and the thing can with stand pressure.

One of my poles already has a bend in the top section. Other than that, they are light and maneuverable. The baskets provide decent gription in the powder.

Zero problems with my poles. They never collapsed on any of my plants. And a few I thought for sure they would of. I would stop to check, and they were right at what I set them at. I also never had to tighten anything on them. I used them right out of the box. And if anyone has been to Tahoe you know about the long flat straight aways. These poles handled like a one- piece pole. A must buy!

These poles have made my boyfriend very jealous. The ski season hasn't even started yet here in California and he is already trying to hide my new poles from me so I won't notice when he sneaks them out of the house. Yet another bonus (for him) of the adjustable length.

If you're looking for adjustable poles I'll save you the effort of looking and let you know that these are the best. The locking mechanism is adjustable so if a pole should ever happen to slip, just a small tweak on the phillips head adjustment screw and it'll clamp just as good as the first day you bought them. I've also heard rumors that replacement tips are available from black diamond for about $10. I wouldn't know because my are still in perfect condition but that seems quite reasonable to me.

I've had these poles 7-8 years and the BD aluminum ones 8-10 years before that. The old ones had their problems with an ineffectual screw-lock system that chose not to work on the oddest occasions. The flicklock, by contrast, has always worked for me, even in moist/ near-freezing conditions; the curse of my old poles. Telescoping poles in general are great for the upclimb (longest setting) to cruising runs (shorter) to powder/bumps (shorter yet) and these are the best I've encountered. The 'action' with these light poles is quick and responsive. Recommendations: don't 'bang' these against edge of skis to clear ski bottoms as they can break under such abuse. For gonzo bump skiing you may wish for heavier aluminum poles; for all other conditions these rule. Pull out shafts for storage or at the end of snowy days to allow them to completely dry (easily done). I'm ordering a second pair.

Although I had previously held off buying carbon backcountry poles because of safety concerns, three seasons of hard inbounds use convinced me that the material was up to it. I like the feel of a carbon fiber pole downhill, and the low weight is a plus for touring. I really like the flicklock (if anything, I adjust them too often, because it's pretty easy). To make the pole perfect for me, I'd give it some more length at the top end of the adjustment range for better flatland travel.

These are easily the best backcountry pole ever, so much in fact I use 'em on the resort also. Awesome swing weight and easy to adjust - make sure the set screw is adjusted tightly. The Andrew McLean designed 3/4 baskets rule too.

These Black Diamond poles are the ticket. Great swing weight and the locking mechanism works really well.

The Black Diamond traverse poles are only an ounce heavier but about 40 bucks cheaper. These do look cooler though.

These are great lightweight poles although I'm kinda worried about breakage when I'm skiing hard. Since I'm not skiing too hard yet, I haven't broken them but other people told me to be cautious about this.

These are a great lightwieght pole I purchased for my dad. He digs the adjustability for traverses and side-steps at our local resort. The flicklock adjuster is easy to use with gloves on and never slips. These are great poles.

I've skied these poles more then 60 days and really abuse my poles. These have held up perfectly. The flick lock is superior. I've broken many pairs of poles(Leki, Scott, Voile, K2) but these hold up to all the abuse I can give them.

I think these poles are the best on the market considering the Life-Link carbon fiber avalanche probe poles malfunction in cold weather. I know this is supposed to be a review about the Black Diamond poles, but I think the fact that Life-Link did not recall their poles which were designed so poorly that they malfunction in the field, or worse yet, simply sleeping overnight in your truck to go skiing the next day. Well what good is a pair of avalanche probe poles in the backcountry if they are going to self destruct all by themselves. Unacceptable. So I would highly recommend just buying the Black Diamond poles which seem to work so far. However, I would like to see a little more competition so that 'we' the customers have more of a selection on quality because I really cannot compare these poles to another brand with all considering. Don't slack off Black Diamond! I am noticing some obvious improvements that could be made.

I got these poles because they looked sweet and were $25 pro deal. My third day out skiing with them there was about 1.5 feet of fresh snow and I came out from some trees and pole planted (a little hard, I'll admit). I didn't fall on the pole, or feel like I really put too much pressure on it and it snapped clean of at the point where it connects to the aluminum upper shaft. I skied pole-less for the rest of the day, much disappointed and extremely happy I didn't pay the $99 retail. the replacement lower shaft cost $15, and I promptly sold it to a buddy and bought the aluminum version. I'd much rather have a bent/snapped aluminum pole that I can fix with duct tape and a aluminum stove windscreen than one that shatters on a pole plant.
Otherwise super lightweight, but don't expect them to last long if you ski anything but green resort runs.