Let me start by saying I never write reviews. But after what happened last weekend, I figured these poles earned one. I picked up the Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles a couple of months ago after my old pair finally bit the dust. I didn’t think too hard about it—just needed something lightweight, collapsible, and reliable for backpacking. I’ve used them on a few training hikes around northern Utah, but nothing major… until this past weekend. My buddy and I were deep in the Wind River Range doing a 4-day loop. On day two, we got caught in an unexpected storm while crossing a sketchy ridgeline between Indian Pass and Titcomb Basin. Wind was howling, rain turned to sleet, and the rock got slick. At one point, the trail completely vanished, and we were basically scrambling across boulders with full packs, trying to keep our footing. These poles were the only thing that kept me from eating granite multiple times. They’re light enough that they didn’t slow me down on the climb, but solid when I really needed to lean into them. The flick locks didn’t slip once—even after getting soaked—and the carbide tips bit into wet rock way better than I expected. What really blew me away was how stable I felt while sidehilling across loose scree at 11,500 feet. I’m not the most graceful hiker (my trail name is “Tripwire”), but I stayed upright the entire time. No rolled ankles. No falls. Just a ton of confidence in each step. I genuinely think I would’ve bailed on the route if I hadn’t had these with me. Zero regrets on this purchase. If you’re on the fence, don’t be. These are the real deal.
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