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

[gregL]

I don't. On a steep sidehill I just slide my uphill hand down to wherever feels comfortable. Why don't I just use regular poles? Many times the BD Flicklock adjuster is in just about the right place and acts as a stop for my hand. Pretty convenient.

[D(C)]

Thanks all. This is very helpful. In terms of actual use, I don't really see myself adjusting as I go. There's enough fiddling as it is already. I usually choke up on the uphill pole on sidehill traverses. But it's useful to know how it works since I was never totally sure.

[murph]

I use the same adjustable poles for AT and tele, but I find I only adjust them for tele. It makes sense to have shorter poles for tele turns, but trying to hike up with them that short sucks.
Ditto on the bootpacking comments. You'll either want them short and in your hand kinda like a ice axe, or short and in your pack. I don't think I've ever kept them long for a bootpack.

[Harry Tuttle]

I like having a good quality pole that adjusts, but I sure don't change the length very often. If I am skating a long flat exit from a ski that would be hell on skins, that is one time I will. Also if I cross a small creek on a log, it is nice to max them out. On traverses I just change my grip.

I believe that the BD traverse poles are available in two lengths now. When I replaced my very old ones a couple years ago I discovered that the longest length available on the new ones was only a little bit longer that the length I ski with, and significantly shorter than the old ones. When I called to talk to CS about it, they admitted that it was true, but a longer lower part had been made available, a year after I got mine. I don't know if you will see two lengths of poles in the stores, but if you like them long, it might be worth looking into.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

Don't the newer BD poles have a silicon sleeve below the grip on the upper so you don't have to adjust them when traversing?

[gregL]

Don't the newer BD poles have a silicon sleeve below the grip on the upper so you don't have to adjust them when traversing?

Yes, I really liked this addition until the glue gave up on one side and the gripper started sliding all the way down to the Flicklock mechanism. Waiting for next year's glue upgrade.

[murph]

I like the new BD silicon grip too, although I wish it were a little farther down on the shaft.

[MagnificentUnicorn]

I like the new BD silicon grip too, although I wish it were a little farther down on the shaft.

So you prefer to grip your shaft near the base?

[PNWbrit]

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.

Shade tree backcountry steeze?

[ski_faster]

In the places I ski we usually have long flats to get out. I usually lengthen my poles so I can get a lot more push. Think nordic skiing. We also ski a lot of coolies and lots of times it will not be super steep at the bottom so I will shorten my pole and have an axe in my other hand.

[GeezerSteve]

Think nordic skiing

That's the key #1 for me: long poles when I want to skate or double pole on flats, e.g., long road exits or across a lake. Key #2 is being able to shorten up my pole on my Whippet when I'm booting. Otherwise, no big advantage over fixed poles for me. Note that I often use only one (downhill) pole when skinning.

[old goat]

While I agree with all the reasons given for adjusting my poles in the backcountry I'm usually too lazy to do it. I find myself adjusting them more for resort skiing-5cm longer for soft snow days than for hard snow days. I must give a testimonial for the BD traverse poles--I've run over them twice in the parking lot (backwards, then forwards o see wha I ran over--real bright huh)--no detectable damage.

[altis]

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 ...

Actually, it's the opposite problem with these Komperdells. I've been following too many French instructors and have a habit of flicking my wrists about after I plant my pole. This has the effect of unscrewing the joints. The threads wore down so much on the little plastic expansion pieces that I've had to replace them. I guess this won't happen so much if you just use them as walking poles.

[SimB]

I've got the BD traverse with silicon grip and I'm really happy with em. Like everyone else I make the downhill one longer on long traverses while skinning. Also on long flat sections while skiing, after a season in chamonix this means 140cm poles on mer de glace, nordic skiing style!

[Telemarketeer]

I saw a family the other day and the kids were using bd adjustable poles. I thought that was a pretty good idea. Keep adjusting them as they get older. The kids were pretty good skiers so I don't think they were worried about them snapping them.

[ninjabirdman]

totally agree w/ the above uses, although i usually don't find myself making offset poles unless i'm on a looong sustained traverse, switching hands when switchbacking is a hassle.

a few people have mentioned it, but i'm surprised more people don't like to slam the poles all the way down to the smallest setting for steep booting. that's the one thing i really miss when i have my regular poles with me, it seems like it makes my balance a lot better, usually in spots (steep/hardpack/etc. booting) where losing balance would suck

[XXX-er]

Actually, it's the opposite problem with these Komperdells. I've been following too many French instructors and have a habit of flicking my wrists about after I plant my pole. This has the effect of unscrewing the joints. The threads wore down so much on the little plastic expansion pieces that I've had to replace them. I guess this won't happen so much if you just use them as walking poles.

yeah I had a set of the old avalanche probes by leki and they could unscrew in use so twist your wrist the other way ,I really liked the HUGE pow baskets you could buy for those poles ,I also used them for trekking, backpacking ,xc road skiing and xc skiing but the joints got sloppy after awhile and then I fell on one and broke it ... now happy with the BD's

[chmnyboy]

I like to have mine set at 135 for the skin up. At the top when I put my tall-t on it's nice to be able to shorten the poles all the way down.