A skier is naked without their poles, as these crucial accessories help create balance, better rhythm and an ideal body position. But with so many types of ski poles on the market, how do you know which ones you need? Finding the best ski poles means understanding how they differ and what they’re used for.
Not only are poles made for different types of skiing and terrains, they’re also made from a variety of materials. Small differences in ski poles can make a surprisingly big difference when you’re out on the snow.
Here at The Adventure Junkies, we’ve made it simple for you to find exactly what kind of ski poles will suit your skiing and get you ripping up the mountain. The right ski poles aren’t just equipment, they’re extensions of your body and can enhance your slope-side abilities.
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QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST SKI POLES
1. LEKI SPARK S
2. LINE POLLARD’S PAINTBRUSH
3. BLACK DIAMOND EXPEDITION
4. ROSSIGNOL STOVE PIPE SR
5. BLACK DIAMOND RAZOR PRO
6. BLACK DIAMOND HELIO
7. SWIX NORDIC STANDARD
COMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST SKI POLES
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SKI POLES REVIEWS
LEKI SPARK S
BEST FOR: Alpine and racing
MATERIAL: High-grade aluminum
SHAFT: Fixed
PROS: Unique Leki Trigger S strap system for quick release, comfortable molded grips, lightweight
CONS: Quite pricey for aluminum, some people may not like the strap system
LINE POLLARD’S PAINT BRUSH
BEST FOR: Alpine and powder
MATERIAL: Aluminum
SHAFT: Adjustable
PROS: Includes two baskets for piste and powder, adjustable length for all types of downhill skiing, eye-catching design
CONS: Straight grip rather than ergonomic which may not be to too comfortable on long days or tough powder
BLACK DIAMOND EXPEDITION
BEST FOR: Backcountry experts
MATERIAL: Aluminum
SHAFT: Adjustable
PROS: Super comfortable foam grip, highly adjustable for all-round backcountry and off-piste, includes powder and trekking baskets which are easy to change
CONS: Not the lightest poles out there, pricey for aluminum
ROSSIGNOL STOVE PIPE SR.
BEST FOR: Alpine beginners and intermediates
MATERIAL: Aluminum
SHAFT: Fixed
PROS: Simple, sleek with an ergonomic grip and a great price tag
CONS: May not withstand rough usage or serious off-piste
BLACK DIAMOND RAZOR CARBON PRO
BEST FOR: Touring up and skiing down
MATERIAL: Carbon and aluminum
SHAFT: Adjustable
PROS: Lockable quick-release strap for added safety in a fall, ultra thin 0.5in (14mm) tapered to 0.4in (11mm) shaft, powder baskets
CONS: Quite heavy at around 1lb 6oz (623g), only mildly ergonomic grip
BLACK DIAMOND HELIO
BEST FOR: Expert backcountry and ski-touring skiers
MATERIAL: Carbon
SHAFT: Fixed
PROS: Pure carbon and moulded as a single piece for added strength, very lightweight at 9oz (255g), the sleekest poles you’ll ever see
CONS: Expensive and possibly overkill for many backcountry skiers, fixed length may mean perfect on the ascent but too long on the downhills
SWIX NORDIC STANDARD
BEST FOR: Cross-country beginners
MATERIAL: Aluminum
SHAFT: Fixed
PROS: Comfortable and soft grips, very affordable, good for groomed tracks and some powder
CONS: Not particularly light, suited to hobby cross-country skiers only, may not withstand heavy use, not much to look at
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SKI POLES
PURPOSE
The type of ski poles you need will depend on what skiing you do.
ALPINE SKIING
Alpine skiing, otherwise called downhill, is what most people think of when they hear ‘skiing’. Almost always on piste, alpine skiing requires straight, standard length poles.
OFF-PISTE/POWDER/BACKCOUNTRY SKIING
Powder ski poles have bigger baskets to stop them from sinking and are often made of stronger material to cope with knocks and bumps. Many off-piste skiers prefer slightly shorter backcountry poles than if they were alpine skiing, to more easily handle rugged terrain. Adjustable-length ski poles can also be good for backcountry.
RACE SKIING
If you want to be the next slalom winner then racing poles will cut down weight while retaining their strength. With a curved, aerodynamic, shaft, these poles not only fit around your body but they shouldn’t catch on race gates either.
PARK AND FREESTYLE SKIING
An increasingly popular type of skiing, park and freestyle poles are usually shorter than alpine poles to prevent catching on rails, boxes and anything else you want to pop off.
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING
Ski poles for cross-country skiing, Nordic walking and snowshoeing are much longer than the downhill ski poles above and have more acute tips.
MATERIAL
Ski poles are made from a range of materials that change the strength, flexibility and price of the pole.
ALUMINUM
Very affordable, stiff and strong, aluminum ski poles are common. This alloy comes in different grades though, and high-grade aluminum will be pricier but also lighter and stronger. Many alpine piste skiers happily use aluminum ski poles as they are cheap and durable.
CARBON
These ski poles might cost more but they are extremely strong, very lightweight and more flexible than aluminum. Carbon poles are probably the most indulgent to use. Experienced skiers may prefer carbon due to their lightness and narrow shaft. Anything that keeps weight down and has some flexibility can lessen strain when spending full days skiing tough terrain.
COMPOSITE
Ski poles that are composite are made with a blend of materials. As different materials have different pros and cons, they can be blended to create a mixture of attributes. For instance, carbon is often mixed with fibreglass. Composite poles have better shock absorption than aluminum making them good for backcountry.
SHAFT LENGTH
ELBOW HEIGHT/STANDARD
For alpine skiing and all-mountain skiing, the best length for your ski poles is around elbow height. This means that when you’re holding your poles upside-down with the basket resting on the top of your hand, your elbow will be bent at 90 degrees. REI have a ski pole size chart, suited to downhill/alpine skiers, that makes working out your pole length easy.
SHORT
Park/Freestyle and powder skiers usually use slightly shorter poles as do many backcountry skiers. You don’t want your poles catching on trees, rocks, park features or any other uneven terrain. If you need park or freestyle poles, you can drop 2in or 4in (5cm or 10cm) off your alpine pole length.
LONG
Cross-country skiers use poles that are more around the height of your armpit and ski-tourers can benefit from longer poles too when hiking up.
ADJUSTABLE
Ski-tourers and backcountry skiers often need long poles for hiking up and standard, elbow-length poles for skiing down. The answer? Adjustable poles!
BASKET
Ski pole baskets are plastic circles that sit above the tip near the very bottom of your pole and stop the pole from sinking into the snow.
Basket size depends on the type of terrain and skiing you’ll be doing.
SMALL/ALPINE
Small baskets are the norm for alpine piste skiers and many cross-country skiers. They stop the pole from sinking in groomed snow and don’t affect the swing action too much.
POWDER
Powder baskets are bigger, sometimes much bigger, than alpine baskets as they need a greater surface area to prevent sinking in powder. Backcountry skiers tend to have powder baskets, and some alpine skiers have spare powder baskets to swap out on powder days in the resort.
RACE
Race poles have minimal baskets or small, conical baskets to reduce weight and increase aerodynamics. Some cross-country or Nordic skiers also use race baskets if they are skiing groomed courses or don’t anticipate any powdery conditions.
STRAP
Most ski poles have loop straps that prevent you from losing your poles in a fall or if you lose your grip. They also help prevent hand and wrist strain as they change the force distributed from your hand to the pole.
Many straps are adjustable in length but if not, check that the strap is easy to get on and off over your ski gloves. This is important especially for piste skiers who need to remove the straps every time they use a lift!
Some brands, including Leki, have quick-release loops or clickable strap systems. While these are largely unnecessary for alpine skiing, they can be of benefit to backcountry and race skiers in the event of falls.
GRIP
The grip area of the ski pole is simply where your hand will hold the pole. Usually made from rubber or molded plastic, grips are almost always ergonomic to some extent with light indents for some or all of your fingers.
If you’re a mitten wearer, thumb indents and a smoother grip work well while fingered glove wearers might benefit more from more obviously indented grips. Park riders favor cleaner, less ergonomic grips to make side grabs and tricks easier.
Aside from length range, grips are also a factor in poles for specific genders or ages. For instance, children’s poles will have smaller grips than adults and poles that are labeled as women’s will normally have slightly smaller grips than poles marked men’s.
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