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#1
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Opinions - New BD Flicklock Poles
Too All:
I've been thinking about replacing my at least 7 year old BD flicklock poles as they have been bent and straightened enough times over the years that they are getting a bit difficult to adjust and last spring, I lost the hard tip of one. When I went to the BD website, I saw that now these poles are a mix of aluminum tops and carbon fiber bottoms. Besides the BD poles which I use only for BC tele skiing, I also have an almost 20 year old pair of kevlar wrapped fiberglass poles that I use for traditional Nordic skiing. They seem to be holding up OK after all these years. Any opinions on the projected durability of the new BD flick poles with carbon fiber bottoms? Thanks, Steve |
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#2
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I've had the older version of this for four seasons so far, which I
bought super-cheap on a closeout from some internet shop that soon went out of business: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_carbon.php It's held up fine, although I'm a little bit nervous about wear & tear where the ice tip fits into the composite area below the basket. The low swing weight is very nice, especially since I'm used to very lightweight alpine downhill ski racing poles. But overall, lots of $ just for a ski pole. My wife has these: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_traverse.php I use them for my late-season ski mountaineering (when she's already hung up the boards), since they shorten up much more than the carbon versions. In some ways I like them better than the more expensive carbon version, and if I had to buy another pair of poles today, it would definitely be these. |
#3
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Bob Lee wrote:
Steve wrote: I've been thinking about replacing my at least 7 year old BD flicklock poles as they have been bent and straightened enough times over the years that they are getting a bit difficult to adjust and last spring, I lost the hard tip of one. When I went to the BD website, I saw that now these poles are a mix of aluminum tops and carbon fiber bottoms. Besides the BD poles which I use only for BC tele skiing, I also have an almost 20 year old pair of kevlar wrapped fiberglass poles that I use for traditional Nordic skiing. They seem to be holding up OK after all these years. Any opinions on the projected durability of the new BD flick poles with carbon fiber bottoms? Well, I don't want to discourage you from a fulfilling gear orgy, but you can buy replacement lower shafts from BD - both aluminum and carbon-fiber. IIRC, you can even buy an insert that will allow carbon-fiber shafts to fit in your old upper. http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com...pare_parts.php Carbon-fiber isn't unbreakable. I'd think the reason to buy the carbonfiber shafts would be for lower swing weight and performance rather than durability. Bob Bob: Thanks for the info. Point well taken on the spare parts link! Steve |
#4
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article , Bob Lee wrote: Carbon-fiber isn't unbreakable. I'd think the reason to buy the carbonfiber shafts would be for lower swing weight and performance rather than durability. _ I know this is a quirk in my skiing technique, but I've found carbon fibre poles to be much much more durable than any aluminum poles I've used. For whatever reason I tend to chomp aluminum poles about 6 inches up from the basket with my ski edges. They either become permanently bent or get cut and then snap. I've never had an aluminum pole last more than a season or so. _ My Life-Link carbon poles with one minor mode[1] have lasted 6 seasons and are still going strong. If you can keep carbon fibre from being cut it will easily outlast aluminum. It's kind of a "willow vs oak" thing, carbon will flex and bend under strains that would snap an aluminum pole. _ Booker C. Bense [1]- I take the baskets off and put about 1 foot of vinyl shrink tubing on the bottom of the pole above the basket. This gets replaced every season or so. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQaI7WWTWTAjn5N/lAQGvAwP/egqWdkglJa5qSV3MPjuWi/LvqJ3m2kSC IpI0le3aO/d8/39QEadk48KjMkUHstE4dAHos/dXDweH9aUyAEV5jtxxjAowa4ow XysVsMHE3YvQ5TrQVj9AiQeRuBRiiLXnUKiE6SHHeOESHavCYQ Y4qfsRRDNsVd7a r/FTR40ZrAo= =4R3d -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#5
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In article ,
Booker C. Bense bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Nov.22.04@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote: _ I know this is a quirk in my skiing technique, but I've found carbon fibre poles to be much much more durable than any aluminum poles I've used. For whatever reason I tend to chomp aluminum poles about 6 inches up from the basket with my ski edges. They either become permanently bent or get cut and then snap. I've never had an aluminum pole last more than a season or so. _ Booker C. Bense Ah, you're clearly not one of those types like me, who likes to whack the sides of his boot soles vigorously with the lower end of the pole, just above the basket, to get packed snow and ice out of the grooves in the bottom of the sole or the slot inside the NNN/BC bar. That'll delaminate fiber poles in a big hurry -- as I've experimentally verified a couple of times, 'til the people in The Backcountry shop told me to knock it off. (Sorry, unintentional pun there.) [1]- I take the baskets off and put about 1 foot of vinyl shrink tubing on the bottom of the pole above the basket. This gets replaced every season or so. Or maybe this is the secret. |
#6
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AES/newspost wrote:
Ah, you're clearly not one of those types like me, who likes to whack the sides of his boot soles vigorously with the lower end of the pole, just above the basket, to get packed snow and ice out of the grooves in the bottom of the sole or the slot inside the NNN/BC bar. That'll delaminate fiber poles in a big hurry -- as I've experimentally verified a couple of times, 'til the people in The Backcountry shop told me to knock it off. (Sorry, unintentional pun there.) [1]- I take the baskets off and put about 1 foot of vinyl shrink tubing on the bottom of the pole above the basket. This gets replaced every season or so. Or maybe this is the secret. AES: I use the handle of my pole to whack the snow off my boots. That my be why my almost 20 year old glass poles have lasted as long as they have. Steve |
#7
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Jonathan Shefftz schrieb:
I've had the older version of this for four seasons so far, which I bought super-cheap on a closeout from some internet shop that soon went out of business: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_carbon.php It's held up fine, although I'm a little bit nervous about wear & tear where the ice tip fits into the composite area below the basket. The low swing weight is very nice, especially since I'm used to very lightweight alpine downhill ski racing poles. But overall, lots of $ just for a ski pole. My wife has these: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_traverse.php I use them for my late-season ski mountaineering (when she's already hung up the boards), since they shorten up much more than the carbon versions. In some ways I like them better than the more expensive carbon version, and if I had to buy another pair of poles today, it would definitely be these. What i not like in both is the grip. For ski randonee, for my tastes its to short. Better are this: http://www.komperdell.com/touring/st...49_2313_10.htm (for example) Greetings, Ulrich |
#8
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Carbon-fiber isn't unbreakable. I'd think the reason to buy the carbonfiber shafts would be for lower swing weight and performance rather than durability. Better swing weight I would say. When I looked last year the Carbon poles were NOT lighter than the aluminum ones. |
#9
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I have worn out my Chouinard Equipment (from before Black Diamond) probe
poles (all aluminum) and would welcome opinions: I am considering the BD carbon flicklok vs the Traverse (below) vs the Lifelink Variant Probe (http://www.backcountry.com/store/LIF...ant-Probe-Pole ..html). My focus is whether the all metal LL pole is ultimately more reliable for extended backcountry touring, as my naive impression is that carbon is stronger/lighter but breaks instead of bending when it reaches the critical stress, whereas metal will deform but still get one thru the tour. Any comments on this issue? thanks, Keith "Uli Hausmann" wrote in message ... Jonathan Shefftz schrieb: I've had the older version of this for four seasons so far, which I bought super-cheap on a closeout from some internet shop that soon went out of business: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_carbon.php It's held up fine, although I'm a little bit nervous about wear & tear where the ice tip fits into the composite area below the basket. The low swing weight is very nice, especially since I'm used to very lightweight alpine downhill ski racing poles. But overall, lots of $ just for a ski pole. My wife has these: http://www.bdel.com/gear/backcountry/fl_traverse.php I use them for my late-season ski mountaineering (when she's already hung up the boards), since they shorten up much more than the carbon versions. In some ways I like them better than the more expensive carbon version, and if I had to buy another pair of poles today, it would definitely be these. What i not like in both is the grip. For ski randonee, for my tastes its to short. Better are this: http://www.komperdell.com/touring/st...49_2313_10.htm (for example) Greetings, Ulrich |
#10
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article . net, Keith Beck wrote: I have worn out my Chouinard Equipment (from before Black Diamond) probe poles (all aluminum) and would welcome opinions: I am considering the BD carbon flicklok vs the Traverse (below) vs the Lifelink Variant Probe (http://www.backcountry.com/store/LIF...ant-Probe-Pole .html). My focus is whether the all metal LL pole is ultimately more reliable for extended backcountry touring, as my naive impression is that carbon is stronger/lighter but breaks instead of bending when it reaches the critical stress, whereas metal will deform but still get one thru the tour. Any comments on this issue? _ First, probe poles are useless when it really counts, carry a real probe. In my experience carbon poles do not break until they get cut. Intact carbon shafts are nearly indestructible. Of course, they are right next to those sharp steel edges. I put a foot of vinyl heat shrink tubing on the base of mine and they have lasted longer than any pair of poles I've ever had, 6 seasons so far. I've never had a pair of aluminum poles last a single season. _ Aluminum poles will break shortly after they get bent, and they bend and break much easier than carbon. _ The Life-Link Variants have a STEEL bottom section, so they are effectively indestructible, if relatively heavy. _ I tour with carbon poles. IMHO, I'm much more worried about the durablity of the adjustment mechanism, than of the carbon shaft. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQeFYpGTWTAjn5N/lAQHSWgP+Krjavvn5uT52b0ECC+zJaVBGacjMsJiv N2tGP5ClGxzPGToqqzexTVCaLqL2fA2+z7lJYDNGX9sxPJDzGP t9l0UxTUmoQOjC hioAetgSSj/Ywhy1YnWqTMysNv/d39kYk54seOw1cxWTCsTLP3pxnoDFGmvTiCKL OgiH+WieF9M= =wFJL -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
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