How to choose ski poles
Choosing your skis are obviously vey important but so too is the choice of ski poles. They are essential in providing balance, timing turns and, in some cases propulsion on the flat or for cross-country skiing. There are many different types of poles, all intended for specific disciplines and use.
To have the best experience and to feel comfortable here is what you need to know.
Length
It is extremely important to choose the right length, although choosing your pole size is personal note that poles that are too long will get in your way and set your center of gravity back making it harder for you to lean into your ski and ski correctly on slope. A simple way to choose is to turn the pole upside down and grab just under the basket, your elbow should be at a 90° angle.
Ski pole materiel
Historically poles were made out of wood, nowadays carbon and aluminium are most widely used although wood is still used for aesthetic purposes.
Depending on your use, the materials that make up your new ski pole will have a big impact.
- Carbon is lightweight and strong but doesn’t bend well.
- Aluminium many different strength of aluminium existes, note the aluminium reference numbers for exemple A 5083 will be lightweight whereas A 7000 offers better strength.
- Other materials include composites and fibreglass which although more expensive offer better resistance and are more lightweight.
Grips, straps and baskets
The grip is your contact to your pole and cannot be ignored, most grips are made out of rubber or plastic but higher end pole can have grips made out of cork and can have individual notches for your fingers.
Straps attach the pole to your wrist and prevent losing it in case of a fall. Note that when skiing off piste it is recommended to remove the straps to prevent injury if the pole jets stuck in branches and to facilitate opening safety equipment like an avalanche airbag.
Baskets: The main purpose of a pole basket is to prevent le pole from sinking into the snow. Baskets for slopes will be small and hard and freeride poles will have larger, softer baskets.
After the choice of your ski poles discover how choose your skis
