In this guide we’ll look at the best ski poles.
We’ve compared material, weight, handle comfort and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Are The Best Ski Poles?
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More Detailed Ski Poles Reviews
LEKI Traveller Carbon Ski Pole
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LEKI Traveller Carbon Ski Pole Review
The LEKI Traveller Carbon Ski Poles are high-quality ski poles made of carbon are perfect for the more experienced skier who wants to invest in his/her set of equipment. They measure from 90cm to 130cm making them perfect for deep powder and groomers alike. Interchangeable baskets mean this set of poles is the only set you’ll need to see you through all season long
Our testers loved how lightweight these poles were, yet they seemed impervious to damage. The comfortable Trigger Sharp 2.0 grip made the poles stay in place easily and were very comfortable. An ideal luxury ski pole.
Black Diamond Expedition Ski Poles
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Black Diamond Expedition Ski Poles Review
Black Diamond is known for producing some of the highest quality mountain gear out there and these poles are no different. Made from aluminum they’re lightweight but can handle all that the mountain throws at them and saved a few of our testers from some gnarly falls. The pole is adjustable meaning you can extend them in the resort and shorten them when heading into the backcountry.
The grips are sturdy, yet comfortable due to their foam padding and the nylon strap is adjustable allowing it to fit easily with or without gloves.
They’re my best backcountry ski pole by far and I love them on powder days thanks to their 100mm powder baskets. The price is also spot on, especially for Black diamond.
Zipline Ski Poles
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Zipline Ski Poles Review
These ski poles from Zipline are a great choice no matter whether you’re a beginner or like to do cliff drops or chutes. Although they’re not adjustable, they do come in a variety of sizes from 85cm to 127cm and are made from a pretty much indestructible graphite carbon composite.
They come with a 9mm diameter powder basket as well as additional 5mm hexagonal baskets for the groomers. You’ll stay completely balanced even in bumpy conditions thanks to the strong carbide tip.
The dual-density grip was a focal point amongst our testers who said it was ergonomically, extremely comfortable and minimized glove slippage incredibly.
Rossignol Fat Pro – POV Ski Poles
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Rossignol Fat Pro – POV Ski Poles Review
The Rossignol Fat Pro – POV Ski Poles are ideal budget option for a beginner skier wanting to try out the backcountry. Designed as a thicker pole at 22mm in diameter it has 2 options currently available for length; 122cm and 125cm. This set comes with 2 baskets, one 85mm and the other 60mm.
The shaft is made from aluminum providing great durability at an optimal weight and proved to be easy to maneuver on the mountain, though one user thought they were a little bit awkward at the chairlift.
My favorite feature of these poles, however, has to be that the top of the Long Moto grip is designed to fix a camera such as a GoPro on top which is perfect for powder days and getting some epic face shots.
LEKI Giulia Ski Pole
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LEKI Giulia Ski Pole Review
The Giulia from LEKI is the ideal women’s only pole thanks to its small grip at the top which comes with patented Trigger S technology allowing skiers to click in their straps quickly and easily – automatically releasing if you should have a fall.
Of course, because the trigger is a new feature, it did take some of our testers a little bit of time to get used to it at first, but it proved to be a great addition.
The lightweight and thin shaft is just 16mm in diameter and is made from high-quality aluminum. It comes with an alpine basket and steel tips and is available in sizes 105 – 120cm in 5cm increments.
Ski Pole Buying Guide
Though you likely won’t be using your ski poles on day one on the slopes, they will become an essential piece of equipment the more you progress on the mountain. Here are our top picks for the fast-approaching winter season.
Length
When holding your ski poles your arm should be at roughly a 90-degree angle. If you’ll regularly be skiing deep powder you may find shorter poles work better. For cat tracks and turns around the pole longer lengths are more ideal. Some ski poles are adjustable so you can change to your preference depending on the day.
Material
Ski poles can be made of a variety of different materials and this will ultimately be representative of the level of quality and therefore the cost. Poles made from aluminum are durable and relatively lightweight but also cheap. Expensive carbon fiber models are ultra-lightweight and are designed not to break under pressure as are fully fiberglass ones which are usually thin and used by more advanced skiers. There are also composite ski poles; the clue is in the name here…they’re basically made of a mixture of the materials listed above.
Handles
The handles are more important than you may initially think. Budget ski poles tend to have plastic handles with small indentations for your fingers whereas pricier models can be designed more ergonomically and be made from rubber or sometimes cork. Women’s specific poles are usually designed with a smaller handle as women tend to have smaller hands.
Straps
Straps are adjustable and are designed to ensure that you don’t lose your poles. Most are made from nylon but expensive models can have additional features like padding.
Basket
Baskets are the little black things you see near the end of the pole and are super important because they prevent your pole from sinking into the snow. Larger ones are great for powder while smaller ones are ideal for hard-packed slopes.
Tips
The tips are usually made from steel and vary very little between manufacturers. Though more expensive poles may have tips made from carbide. They’re designed to increase your grip of the snow and can help to reduce wrist strains or injuries.
The Verdict: Best Ski Poles
My personal favorite for a mid-range ski pole has to be the Zipline ski poles due to the price and high-quality materials used.
The best adjustable ski poles and more luxury option are, of course, the LEKI Traveller. It’s feature-rich and probably one of the best ski poles on the market right now.
For backcountry use, I would recommend the Black Diamond Expedition all day long. I’ve used them and friends of mine love these poles too.