UKH

Intriguing... and a whiff of the Emperor's New Clothes, maybe?

https://www.telemark-pyrenees.com/a2-16-les-batons-dalain?var=66317

I can see the benefits to an extent, but not much discussion about the downsides (non-collapsible poles aren't easy to carry other than in your hands, for instance). What do you reckon?

b

I've been using poles with similar extended grips for years for ski touring and general off-piste skiing. They are great - you don't need to mess about adjusting the length, and there is no locking mechanism to fail. I'm not so sure about the aesthetics of some of those colours, though.

Yeah, long grips are definitely useful (I just tape the upper part of the pole below the handle). The colours are distinctly "european" eh

b

Yes, I’ve never understood why people insist on using collapsible poles for ski touring. Supposedly because they are easier to carry... but if you have to carry your poles then you’ll be carrying your skis anyway, which are much longer, so just attach them along side the skis. As you say, there’s never any need to adjust the length - just hold them where you need to. And of course the great advantage of non collapsible poles is just that - they don’t collapse just when you really don’t want them to!

One more benefit - when you're on a long drag lift in -20 temperatures your fingers don't get so cold holding the poles because you're holding the insulated grip rather than the base metal.

I use my collapsible Komperdell poles (with extended grips!) for ski touring simply because I have them anyway for summer trekking.

CB

Yes, but that's a bit different to chosing them specially

Like cb I have telescopic poles (with extended grips) as it means I have one pair for walking & most of my skiing - I prefer longer poles for nordic style touring (with some kick & glide /skating) & shorter for more alpine terrain. But I do have a fixed length pair for XC track skiing.

Did anyone else click on this thinking it would be a post about the softly spoken baldie philosophical dude? 

They're widely used in the ski touring and trail running communities in the Alps, particularly in Chamonix.  I'm on my second set now and they're ace.  

Not sure what you mean by the Emporer's New Clothes?  

Again no idea why people use adjustable poles for ski touring. I’ve never once seen anyone adjust the length, and if they need carrying they go along side the skis (which can’t be adjusted) 

I’ve been lumbered with carrying the  group spare pole. Have used it every time because ......an adjustable pole had snapped at the joint......

I definitely adjust pole length, shorter for uphill, longer for down again. Of course, a compromise fixed length would also work, but why not take the few seconds to hit the optimum?

Of course, if I need a shorter pole just briefly, e.g. for traversing, I use the extended grip on the uphill side.

CB

Er... not so fast:  youtube.com/watch?v=vPBy9eZuBso&

Ultimately, Alain has reinvented fixed length standard ski poles with longer grips, for 80 euros. Good on him for doing so. 

b

Of course, for CC I have fixed poles, actually two legnths for classic and skating!

CB