November 11, 2021 | by Austin Beck-Doss
Our team of experts who love mountains found the best ski poles for 2021-2022.
Although high-quality materials and innovative designs have improved the performance of today’s ski poles, the basic concept remains the same. A pair of ski poles helps to maintain balance, turn and advance rhythmically on flat terrain.
On this list, we have compiled the best ski poles for the winter of 2021-2022. From downhill ski poles suitable for resorts to light and compact tourist ski poles, we provide models and styles suitable for all kinds of skiers. For in-depth advice on how to choose the best bar for you, be sure to check the buyer's guide at the end of the product list.
Leki's Detect S rod ($100) uses a simple and sturdy classic aluminum design. For all-mountain downhill skiing, these ski poles are the lightweight main force.
Although Detect S is slightly heavier than similar rods made of carbon fiber, it makes up for this with an affordable price tag and long-term durability. Leki's Trigger S system allows you to remove the wrist strap from the pole, which can be used when getting on and off the gondola.
The integrated spring will automatically release the pole from the shoulder strap in the event of a major drop or impact to reduce the risk of injury. This is a small feature, but we appreciate innovation and additional convenience.
In general, we strongly recommend this pole to all levels of all-mountain resort skiers.
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Black Crows' Furtis rod ($150) is made of high-quality carbon composite material. Therefore, these light poles are light in weight and very stylish in appearance. Like all carbon fiber rods, Furtis is more refined than aluminum rods, but its 22 mm diameter gives it enough structure to cope with a lot of abuse.
We like that the basket on these poles can be rotated to adapt to steep terrain. Black Crows claims that Furtis ski poles are very suitable for soft snow and powder snow, but we have found that they are excellent in almost any condition.
The only real disadvantage of these poles is their price tag. All carbon fiber rods are expensive, but Furtis is close to the highest price, $150.
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The Meta of Black Crows is only $50 and is a powerful and beautiful ski pole. These rods are made of very strong aluminum. If you plan to make side hits and drops, then the Meta lever is fully capable of handling these abuses.
Black Crows equips these poles with wide powder baskets that thrive in soft conditions. If you tend to ski on hard bags and ice, you may want to look elsewhere. In general, Meta is an affordable and fully functional all-mountain ski pole.
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With the compressive strength of concrete and the tensile strength of steel, the durability of bamboo is impressive. Although many brands use bamboo to make ski poles, we like Meier's ($98) customizable American made product because of its high overall quality.
These rods have ergonomic soft rubber handles, recycled polyester straps and simple 4-inch baskets. After purchase, you can choose your favorite grip and basket color from a variety of options.
From a sustainability perspective, the image of bamboo is impressive. Compared with most trees, bamboo absorbs more carbon dioxide and produces more oxygen. Although bamboo poles do not have the precise performance characteristics of carbon fiber, they do achieve a good balance between flexibility and rigidity.
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When traveling in remote areas, lightweight and adjustable ski poles are hard to beat. Black Diamond's Razor Carbon Pro rod ($170) uses an innovative combination of aluminum and carbon fiber components to find the ideal balance between durability, weight and overall performance. Razor Carbon Pro is one of our favorite field poles on the market.
Black Diamond's FlickLock Pro adjustment system can easily change the length of these rods without worrying about slipping. Whether wearing gloves or not, the Razor Carbon Pro rod can be easily retracted or extended.
The 14 mm upper aluminum section of these rods is thick and very strong, but the 12 mm lower carbon fiber section is much weaker. Although these poles are light, strong and sturdy, users should be careful not to let the carbon fiber part come into contact with rocks and trees.
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Although adjustable ski poles are certainly ideal for backcountry skiing, they are often more expensive than fixed-length ski poles. If you are looking for an affordable and reliable travel pole, check out Rossignol Freeride Pro ($70). These aluminum rods have simple and practical functions, including a rotatable powder basket, easy-to-remove straps and comfortable handles.
Compared with most carbon fiber rods, Freeride Pros is a bit heavier. However, if you are going to ski on rugged terrain with a lot of exposed obstacles, these poles will definitely have a durability advantage over most competitors.
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Leki combines a slender grip with all the high-end features of ordinary ski poles to create the ultimate equipment for skiers with slender fingers. Stella S ($100) is the perfect ski pole for people with smaller hands.
Stella S is made of high-strength aluminum, which is durable and suitable for all conditions and ski styles. Leki's Trigger S system allows you to remove the wrist strap from the pole, which can be used when getting on and off the gondola.
The integrated spring will automatically release the pole from the shoulder strap in the event of a major drop or impact to reduce the risk of injury. This is a small feature, but we appreciate innovation and additional convenience.
The rod has a series of relatively short sizes. For skiers who are small but still need high-end features and overall quality, Stella S is hard to beat.
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These aluminum poles from Salomon are perfect for young skiers. We are grateful that Solomon did not choose cheap materials or fragile structures when making these poles. In contrast, the quality of the Kaloo Junior ski poles ($25) is as high as the adult size ski poles on this list.
Apart from their universal excellence, these poles do not have any special functions. The small, ergonomic plastic handle is sturdy and sized. The standard basket performs well in all snow conditions.
Although these poles are mainly built for resort skiing, they can occasionally be used for field missions.
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Black Diamond’s Traverse ski poles ($110) are a premium addition to any backcountry skier’s equipment. Due to the all-aluminum structure, these rods are not the lightest, but their reliable durability is unparalleled. Black Diamond's highly regarded FlickLock mechanism allows you to adjust the length at any time, and the pole can be easily stuffed into the backpack if necessary.
Ski poles do not need to be too complicated, but Black Diamond Traverse is simple to the extreme. We appreciate the comfortable grip, which has a large flat area at the top, which is used to push down the steep part of the skin track to generate uphill power.
These poles are also equipped with rubber auxiliary handles, which will come in handy when traversing steep snow-covered areas. The basket is wide and suitable for soft conditions, but it is also flexible enough for uphill travel.
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Most skiers—especially beginners—do not put a lot of thought into their ski pole selection process. When buying ski equipment, ski poles are usually an afterthought.
Although your ski poles may not be as important as snowboards or boots, they are an essential part of your equipment and can truly make or break your time on the mountain. Fortunately, selecting the right pole is a fairly straightforward process.
It is important to choose ski poles that are suitable for your height and preferred skiing style. If your ski poles are too long or too short, your skiing ability and experience will be affected.
Properly installed ski poles are essential for feeling balance and smoothness when transitioning between descending and turning. Most manufacturers provide charts that recommend the length of ski poles based on your height. Although these charts are useful guidelines, they lack nuance.
If you intend to serve mainly ski beauticians, your elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle when the pole is straight up and down and the grip is in your hand. If you need to determine the ideal pole length without using an actual pole, assume the position and use a tape measure to find the distance between your hand and the ground. We recommend that you wear ski boots for maximum accuracy when measuring.
In remote areas, skiers usually use shorter ski poles. For this reason, many backcountry skiers prefer adjustable ski poles. When hiking uphill, the slope of the terrain needs to shorten the length of the pole. When you need to enjoy the thrill of gravity, you should extend the pole back to its optimal downhill length.
In terrain parks, most skiers prefer ski poles that are shorter than the standard downhill length. When you are about to hit the railing or backflip, the long pole will only get in the way. If you like to smash the park, we recommend that the pole is a few centimeters shorter than normal.
For the resort’s classic downhill skiing, fixed-length ski poles are the best choice. If you plan to use the pole for field trips, we recommend that you use a pair of adjustable poles.
When going uphill, the angle of the terrain requires a slight reduction in the pole length. Adjustable rods usually have a simple mechanism that allows you to change the total length instantly.
When crossing the fall line of a steep slope, you may want the downhill pole to be longer than the uphill pole. When you need to go downhill, quickly adjust your pole back to your default length and send it!
If you plan to use your ski poles for ski mountaineering or other activities that may require you to completely store your ski poles from time to time, be sure to choose a pair that can be put in or put on a backpack for easy storage.
Most adjustable rods have relatively weak carbon fiber parts, so remember to avoid major shocks.
The total weight of all ski poles in this list is very similar. That being said, even an ounce can have an impact on the items you hold all day. In general, we recommend that you use the lightest pole that suits your needs and budget.
The total pole weight depends on the diameter and material of the shaft. The thin carbon fiber rod will be the lightest, but also the weakest. The thicker aluminum rod represents the heavier and more durable end. Ultimately, the correct balance between durability and weight depends on your personal skiing preferences and goals.
In the winter of 2021-2022, almost all ski pole shafts are made of aluminum, carbon fiber or bamboo. Each of these materials has its advantages and disadvantages.
Due to its convenient balance between durability and relatively light weight, aluminum alloy is by far the most common ski pole shaft material. However, not all aluminum rods are the same, and some are less durable than others. Generally speaking, aluminum will bend before it breaks, and aluminum poles can usually be repaired after ski-related damage.
The strength and weight of aluminum rods depend on the grade and thickness of the material. Compared with cheap, fragile and heavy materials, high-quality aluminum has a better strength-to-weight ratio.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of aluminum is its low cost. For only US$50-100, skiers of all levels can purchase a pair of high-quality aluminum ski poles.
Carbon fiber ski poles are becoming more and more popular-especially among backcountry skiers. Of course, carbon fiber is very light and is very suitable for long and hard days on the mountain.
Although many of the best ski poles on the market are made of carbon fiber, this material does have some unfortunate disadvantages. Unlike aluminum, carbon fiber is easily broken under high impact. If you like to ride on rough terrain full of obstacles such as rocks and trees, carbon fiber poles may be too fragile.
In addition, carbon rods are much more expensive than aluminum rods. Some poles for remote areas combine aluminum and carbon fiber in their design to achieve a perfect balance of weight and durability. For a pair of high-end full carbon fiber rods, expect to pay 100-200 US dollars.
Long before the cable car appeared, skiers had been using bamboo ski poles. Nevertheless, it is only recently that bamboo poles have regained popularity among downhill skiers.
Bamboo has many benefits. First of all, it looks really cool. More importantly, bamboo poles are strong and light, and have relatively low impact on manufacturing.
Although bamboo poles do not have the precise performance characteristics of carbon fiber, they do achieve a good balance between flexibility and rigidity. Bamboo poles usually sell for US$50-150.
The basket is a round plastic sheet wrapped in the lower part of the shaft to prevent the rod from sinking completely into the snow. There are two main types of ski pole baskets: standard and powder.
The powder baskets have a larger circumference than standard baskets because they are specially designed for use in light and soft snow conditions. The standard basket is more suitable for clean trails and hard snow. Although some poles allow you to change the basket according to snow conditions, other poles are fixed.
The ski pole grips are made of plastic, cork or rubber and are molded to fit comfortably on the palm of the hand.
The grip should fit your hand shape and usually feel comfortable and can be held all day. When trying different grips, we recommend that you wear ski gloves to get an accurate understanding of how they feel on the mountain.
Some outdoor ski poles have auxiliary handles located under the shaft. When hiking or traversing along steep terrain, these auxiliary handles are very convenient.
The role of the ski pole belt is very simple, allowing the ski poles to be wrapped around the wrist all day. Most shoulder straps are made of a loop of stitched nylon webbing.
Some manufacturers attach their straps to the handles through springs that will separate the poles from the straps in the event of obstacles or major impacts. When skiing in the woods, these spring-loaded designs can be a useful safety feature.
You can ski downhill without using ski poles. However, there are many fundamental reasons why ski poles have become the standard for almost all skiing styles.
Perhaps the most important benefit of ski poles is to improve balance. For beginner skiers, the downhill pole can be used as a "pole plant", providing a fixed point to turn around when performing sharp turns. As skiers progress from beginner to intermediate, ski poles are essential for the development of fine technology and parallel turns.
On flat and uphill terrain, ski poles can be used to push and generate power. Skiers usually use their poles to propel themselves on low-angle catwalks and lift lines.
Beginner skiers should have properly installed ski poles that are both durable and comfortable. Generally speaking, beginner skiers do not need to have expensive carbon fiber poles. A simple pair of fixed-length aluminum rods can solve the problem-just make sure they are the correct size.
Outdoor ski poles are usually light and adjustable. When hiking uphill on a skin track, it is good to be able to shorten your pole to the length required by the terrain. Once it’s time for downhill skiing, the adjustable ski poles can be re-extended to the optimal length.
Since skiers in remote areas spend a lot of time traveling uphill, light weight is an advantage. Therefore, most high-end outdoor ski poles are made of carbon fiber components. In addition, some field poles have an auxiliary handle that can be used to suffocate on the pole when going uphill or crossing steep slopes.
Resort ski poles often have a fixed length, usually made of strong aluminum or bamboo.
Carbon fiber ski poles are generally more fragile than aluminum ski poles. Although the aluminum rod bends before it breaks, the carbon fiber is easily broken and broken when subjected to a major impact.
Modern carbon fiber ski poles are very strong and can meet the needs of most people. However, if you plan to climb huge cliffs and ski fast between trees and boulders, you should use carbon poles with caution.
The ski pole basket prevents the ski poles from sinking into the snow. For this reason, baskets are very important and we do not recommend skiing without them. If you plan on ski powder, be sure to use a basket with a larger diameter to prevent the ski poles from getting deep into the snow.
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Austin Beck-Doss will relocate regularly according to the climbing area of the season. In addition to covering the equipment and outdoor industries for GearJunkie, he also likes to write articles about music, culture, and personal observations spent in the natural world.
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