Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork: My Favorite Trekking Poles
Specs
Price: $209.95
Weight: 1lb 1.1oz / 938g
Best Use: Hiking / Backpacking / Thru-Hikes
Material: Carbon
Grip: Cork
Max Length: 51in / 130cm
Min Length: 24inc / 61cm
Locking Mechanism: External flip lock (Aluminum)
Specs
Price: $209.95
Weight: 1lb 1.1oz / 938g
Best Use: Hiking / Backpacking / Thru-Hikes
Material: Carbon
Grip: Cork
Max Length: 51in / 130cm
Min Length: 24inc / 61cm
Locking Mechanism: External flip lock (Aluminum)
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The Black Diamond Alpine Cork Trekking Poles have been a favorite of mine for many trail miles. I’ve used this particular set for the entirety of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Camino de Santiago, and numerous week long adventures. They have stood the test of time and miles and still perform amazingly. They do a great job at keeping me upright, adding stability to my stride and help tremendously on both the uphills and downhills. In addition these particular poles are very lightweight and have proven to be extremely durable over the years.
Key Features and Specifications
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles are constructed with a lightweight, durable, 3 piece, carbon fiber shaft.
The cork grip naturally molds to the hand over time, is soft to the touch and wicks away moisture. I much prefer the cork grip over the foam grip on other poles. The cork doesn’t absorb sweet and has a much more luxurious feel.
Black Diamond’s FlickLock adjustment system offers quick length adjustments. Adjustable from 24in to 51in. At 6’5” / 195cm tall, I max these out to the 130cm mark (51in) and have never had an issue with the structure or rigidity of the poles. The FlickLock system rarely slips and can be tightened with a flat head screw driver or spoon.
The poles feature replaceable carbide tips for excellent traction on various surfaces and an adjustable wrist strap for added support. For trips like the Camino de Santiago where the trek requires a lot of road walking, the available rubber tip protectors are a nice addition. They prevent the carbon tip from bouncing off of the asphalt.
The poles do come with a small 38mm basket, I however have never used it. For deep snow there is a large snow basket available.
The straps are removable and easily replaceable. I have unfortunately needed to replace mine once before but with the amount of use they have received, I feel that is fair maintenance.
Should you buy them?
If you are looking for a top of the line, high quality trekking pole that will last you a very long time, then I would definitely recommend looking into the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles. With over 4,000 miles on my pair, I can honestly say that these have been a great piece of gear.
