Adjustable poles for backcountry - why/when do you adjust them?

[D(C)]

A bit of a JONG question here...

For those of you who use adjustable poles for touring, when and why do you adjust them? I have been using fixed length poles and haven't really found a time I'd want them longer or shorter. The only thing I can think of it to be able to put them on your pack if you're ever ice axing, but I have not needed to to date.

[stoepstyle]

Long traverses while skinning I like to make one shorter and one longer.

[butterscotch]

it's nice have one short (in the uphill hand) and one long (in the downhill hand) when you're zig-zagging up something steep. i switch hands after each switchback.

[sar13]

There are a few long, flat approaches around here where longer poles can be very efficient.

[GeezerSteve]

The longest setting is great for double-poling long flat or low angle downhills, especially for those used to Nordic equipment.

Lots of experienced tourists use fixed poles and get along just fine.

[Gone Skiing]

135cm for skinning - I push off w/ my arms a bunch while skinning steep shit. Helps make up for using Dukes and alpine boots.
120cm for skiing - 'cause thats what I like
115cm for bootpacking - short poles rule for bootpacking

[CookieMonster]

Using unequal grips is important for balance when skinning steep snow because it allows you to keep your shoulder height equal. Not only does this greatly help your balance, because your core and shoulders remain "square", it also helps reduce aches/fatigue in the uphill shoulder.

In addition to the traction provided by the skin and the ski edge, poles effectively increase your arm length and allow you to remain balanced during kick turns or other tricky moves.

Also, what BigSteve said.

[XXX-er]

In conditions when my poleplants are sinking way into the snow but my skis are keeping me on top of the snow its nice to be able to lengthen the pole so I don't have to lean way over before they hit something solid when I lose balance ,or I can lengthen them and pole plant further apart ...its just giving me more options

2 piece BD carbon flicklocks are the best IMO

[jerr]

It's great having a shorter pole for skinning, as people have said it helps on the up hill side, but I prefer the old school technique of wrapping duck tape around and around and around one of the poles, about 20cm below the hand grip and using this for my hand hold - giving me a shorter pole. This is also my stash of tape incase of on-the-road-repairs, and you don't have to fuck around changing pole lengths.

[neck beard]

Like Jerr said. I like a shorter pole on the uphill like everyone else. So I just hold my pole further down the shaft, despite the fact that they are adjustable.

So far I have benefited from having poles adjusted to be as long as possible when pitching my uber small and light emergency tent/zelt.

2 piece BD carbon flicklocks are the best IMO

I broke mine (then fixed it with an old Scott handle, then some shit stole it when I left it at a trail head).

I recon aluminum upper section and carbon lower section BD poles are the best. But still a real bummer they don't attach to the BD snow saw like the three piece BD poles do.

[ClarkleberryFinn]

135cm for skinning - I push off w/ my arms a bunch while skinning steep shit. Helps make up for using Dukes and alpine boots.
120cm for skiing - 'cause thats what I like
115cm for bootpacking - short poles rule for bootpacking

This.

Plus making one longer for traverses. Ducktape does work fine for a new shorter handgrip, but when you can get the (bombproof) BD Traverse flicklock poles for similar prices to standard poles, why bother?

[neck beard]

I actually don't use a home-bake duct tape grip myself. I just hook my thumb in the wrist loop and hold onto the rubber grip that came on the pole.

[plugboots]

Oh aren't you all great. Who gives a fuck.

[time2clmb]

Having to adjust your pole to suite side hilling is inefficient. Just grab the damn pole lower down...not rocket science. Collapsing them is great when axing your way up some thing steep.

[bodywhomper]

currently, i only use mine when i want to have my whippets w/ me.

i prefer the simplicity and (apparent) strength of my fixed-length 20 yr old scott series 4 poles. i change my hand positioning on the pole or grip when i traverse, cruise on lengthy flats, etc.

[neck beard]

Oh aren't you all great. Who gives a fuck.

Feeling lonely and inadequate? Enjoy it. It'll last.

[altis]

I am one of a group of five who have been touring together for about five years now. Two have adjustable poles and three of us have fixed. Only very, very rarely have I noticed the adjusters change the length of a pole and, I think, only then as a pair. I just adjust my grip using various combinations of fingers and thumbs in the wrist loop. I've tried using my adjustable walking poles but the twist lock does not work well while skiing. These are by Komperdell and have nice long foam-grip handles.

Every guide we have had has used fixed poles. I think reliability has been the issue with them too. The BD flick-locks may be the answer but I've not skied with anyone using them.

[Shu Shu]

Adjustable poles for backcountry - why/when do you adjust them?

My brother in law bought adjustable poles for tours and such, but uses them at the resort as well. I find there is no end to the amusement I get from the game of adjusting them to fucked up lengths when he's not aware.

[kootenayskier]

Fixed grip poles are stronger, lighter, faster (less f**ing around), and cheaper. The only adjustment you need is to your technique.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Adjustable poles let people know you're a core backcountry skier when standing in the lift line. My 20 yo Scott poles are great for lift served and touring. I've got homemade grips on the shaft below the rubber grip, electrical wire covered with friction tape.

[Telemarketeer]

I'm a splitboarder so the only reason I carry adjustable poles is because they stow away when I don't need them. When I'm hiking steep uphill or sidehilling, I usually don't use the grips much, mostly just grip the pole below the grip where I need to. Sometimes use the thumb in the loop trick too.

When I used to ski more, I just used solid poles and gripped where I felt was comfortable.

It sounds weird but I scored a free pair of ice climbing gloves with a sticky grip. These totally eliminate the need for the duct tape lower grip trick or any other lower grip adition. Really digging them.

[plugboots]

Feeling lonely and inadequate? Enjoy it. It'll last.

You pee sitting down.

I was really drunk when I typed the who cares bit. I have flik locks, and set them at 140 for the climbs and 120 for the downs. I skate ski a lot, so short poles for climbing feels weird.

[Meadow Skipper]

Guess I'm not that core. I like to shorten my poles for uphills so I can push on the tops in steep/tight spots. I could get by without that, but my adjustables have whippet capability.

[moose pit]

Mostly because I am an unabashed gear whore, also because I like skiing with 110cm poles and skinning at 135.

[XXX-er]

II've tried using my adjustable walking poles but the twist lock does not work well while skiing. These are by Komperdell and have nice long foam-grip handles.

Every guide we have had has used fixed poles. I think reliability has been the issue with them too. The BD flick-locks may be the answer but I've not skied with anyone using them.

If you leave those leki poles in the same position all the time the adjusters screw up and usually they will jam in whatever position you have left them ,you can take them apart clean out the sections ,if you need to lube the expander mechanism realize that any lube that gets on the pole insides will also cause the mechanism to slip , when you got them working properly/well they should be adjusted often so they don't freeze up again

every guide I have ever seen can get pro-deals from BD