Contributions by Joe - NYC (2)

These pants offer a nice compromise between jeans and chinos. You can dress them up or down as the situation dictates. Well made and comfortable across a range of temps and conditions. Good choice of mute colors. You'll not be disappointed..

I’ve owned a similar pair of Black Diamond poles for over 10 years and used them extensively in the Alps and the US for mainly hiking. Mine do not collapse as much as these (only 67cm), but my other poles from Leki do. As adjustable poles, I find the flick-lock system is harder to use than the twist lock system, and despite what the description says, they will freeze up in cold weather when they have to get wet. And I have also experienced slippage caused by having to adjust the flick-lock to make it easier to open! The twist lock system can suffer from the same problems in adverse weather conditions and can also be harder to collapse when your hands are cold or the pole is wet and slippery. As for putting the poles inside your pack, most people will attach them to the outside since they are then easier to access. And if you are checking all your ski gear onto a plane, you would probably pack your poles with your skis anyway, thus negating any advantage of shorter size. All the baskets on these type of poles are changeable and will usually fit either brand.