Worked very well for winter ascent. Point really grabs on ice and rock. I allowed all of my weight to fall on them over and over on descent without worry of failure. They are my first choice for a snow picket at elevation. Best poles I have ever used. Half baskets are also impressive when humping a heavy pack on the uphill. The carbide tips make them unsuited to city, park use but are great in the back county. Large adjustable straps fit well over cold weather gloves.

I purchased the poles in hopes of them allowing me to be a little more comfortable on hiking trails, especially on descents. They worked!! I've had numerous people stop me and ask about them while hiking. I've shared them and loaned them out to hiking pals. Everyone's responses have been positive. I purchased them specifically because of the locking systems and found them very user friendly.

These poles are great. Strong locking devices, lightweight, and very reliable. I took a tumble while backpack hunting carrying a heavy pack and bent the lower shaft but the pole stopped me from rolling down the mountain. I bent it back into shape and finished the trip. When I got home I called Black Diamond and told them what happened and that I was afraid that the pole was not as strong after being bent. They sent me a replacement lower shaft for very little. I could not ask for better service.

These poles make a nice upgrade from clunky first generation poles. They are lightweight with a comfortable grip, even in hot weather conditions. The shafts do not collapse onto themselves as some cheap poles do and the length is a snap to adjust. Great value!

After using twist lock poles from komperdell in the Wasatch and Tetons all winter, I decided to try something that would work in freezing temperatures and was easy to adjust using gloves and mittens. Twist lock is fine for warm temps, but the plastic pieces inside don't lock and get icy in the winter. These Black Diamond poles are fantastic: the cork grip will hold up for many years compared to foam and the flick lock on the upper and snap lock on the lower shaft are so simple to use even with the bulkiest of gloves. Already comes w/ powder baskets so you don't need to buy an additional set.

Never used a headlamp before and I must say I was pleased in the tent and outside. We had an emergency on the hike and the tilt option on this light was a big help in not pointing in peoples eyes. Great purchase.

I've had poles by several manufacturers and these Black Diamond Gradient Trekking Poles are the best of the lot. They are light, the flicklock is great, the winter baskets (with their asymmetric shape) don't slip out on harder snow, and the grip material is comfortable, even in the summer. They also hold up much better to use than my Komperdell poles, and I don't worry about breaking them like I do with my Exel carbon fiber poles.

A great upgrade for anyone (like me) who uses the clunkier "first generation" hiking poles. Slimmer, lighter, shafts do not collapse into themselves when your entire weight goes onto one pole. The attractive finish does scar easily if you are jamming them in and out of boulder fields, but hey, who cares?