Life-Link Guide Ski/Probe Pole - 2008 BCS

A reliable, light, versatile pole for backcountry adventures. Made of featherlite carbon, The Guide pole has multiple uses, functioning as an avalanche probe as well as ski pole, and collapsing down for ultimate storage and packability. I really like the telescopic adjustment system, as it is quick and easy. Other +s include a wide, adjustable comfort pole strap and the ultra lite foam wrapped, insulated, absorbing grip. It includes powder & trekking baskets, and in total weighs a mere 17oz per pair. The pole has functioned great for me from big snow days at Silverton Mtn, to bump skiing in Telluride, and is ideal for long backcountry tours.

They look great but they just do not last!
By the end of ski tours or ski days I always seem to have one shorter pole!

The locking mechanism in the middle just does not stay locked,then when it freezes it is hard to undo!

Despite some reviews to the contrary, I have found this pole does inadvertently telescope, it is extremely light and is strong. I live and ski in Steamboat, Colorado and have skied with it in deep powder, in the trees as well as during spring corn snow conditions. The Life-Lift Guide pole is as advertised and I am very happy with it. The bonus is the additional "trekking" basket and adjustable length and I look forward to using the poles for hiking this summer.

I would highly recommend it.

After a day of lift-served and a couple of days of touring, I think these are acceptable for touring. Like other reviewers, I found that the pole's length was difficult to lock, and that the pole would often slip shorter. I like the grip, and the wrist strap system works better than on most poles. On hard snow, I would think the tendency to slip shorter would be bothersome, and so wouldn't recommend these as a general purpose pole.

Kinda cool, but really not that cool.... sometimes they don't lock..... and they are really flexy. I would go with black diamond poles next time.

My postal scale says these poles (w/ baskets) weigh just over 9 ounces apiece--30% more than the stated weight (if there's a 14 oz pair in the warehouse, I'd be happy to ship these back and trade). I've had a set of the carbon ones for a few years--the swing weight and balance are great. However, the poles tend to occasionally slip to a shorter length if over-weighted. If pole collapses make you crazy, as is true for other members of my family, BD's flicklocks will serve you better. Also, for those who contemplate removing the wrist straps, a warning: I'm a mechanical idiot, but I can't figure out a reasonable way to reinstall the straps, once removed, into the pole handles.

I purchased these pole early season, they didn't last to spring. The twist lock mechanism broke / snapped on one of the poles. They are light, mine were a little to short for me ( I'm 6'2" ) on the hike. Put your $ elsewhere...