Poles

I was looking at graphite and carbon ski poles the other day and was really impressed by the lightness.

Unfortunately though I don't have the first idea about these new fangled poles - only ever had aluminium poles. I was a bit concerned about the bend that they have and don't know what the strength would be like either.

So I was hoping you chaps and chapesess would supply me with your sage advice on the pluses and minuses of these poles.

I've been looking at carbon poles recently. it seems they're not all that 'new fangled' anymore. If anything they seem to be harder to find these days. In the end I went for some Swix 7075 aluminium poles which are very light and a lot stiffer than the carbon.

I suspect the 'fat' freeski thing that's going on at the moment is making the skinny poles less fashionable and probably has nothing to do with their performance!

If you fall and bend a ski pole (aluminium) it can easily be straightened! (skiiercross april 2007-personal experience) but i would imagine had that been a carbon pole i would have needed to buy a new one, i landed hard enough to bend it near-right-angle. Also so expensive compared to the standard alu.

Carbon poles is the way to go in the future!

The major problems with carbon poles is not while skiing but in the transportation on planes. You see they are very strong while you ski, but they have a poor, "crush" level. Most skiers just place them along skis in ski bag when they travel. The handlers toss bags and can easily "crush" shaft.

The function of poles has changed greatly with the new skis. They are more used as "feelers" while skiing and "helpers" on flat portions of the ski resort.Just watch the WC GS races. Some racers set edges with no pole action!


As far as price let me share a secret with you! The production cost is $14. I got 100 pairs for that price 10 years ago. Here is how you can do it.

I found by chance a golf shop that makes personalized golf shafts! That is they make the handles, shafts and heads for the customer. Speaking to owner I made him realize that golf shafts and ski poles are very similar!
He had no idea what skiing was, but he was a business man and saw a potential market. So we entered in an agreement. He would produce 100 shafts of my specifications, with my colors and I would show him how to "put them on the market".He had a "factory" in Taiwan.

In two weeks I had 100 painted blank shafts. You can buy carbine pole tips at 75 cents each. Basket rings at 2$ and basket collars at $15 for 100!

I had lots of ski pole handles since I hate to see broken poles just thrown away. I recycle them.

I have used these poles for 10 years now in very very hostile situations and they have not broken!I gave some to the National Ski Patrol and they report no breakage.

If any of you fly fish you will understand the next comment. The carbon poles have a "feel" to them and transmit information so much more than alu poles. The swing weight of these poles is so light that a "slight flick" of wrist and you are in perfect ski position!

Once you have used such poles for one day, you will never go back to alu poles! As far as cost,,,,do the math over 10 years and I am sure you will see that it is cost effective!

Now if you think outside the box like me, look around at companies that make golf shafts, or fly rods and make them a proposition!

Hirsty, if you want, I will look up my Asian owner and if you want 100 poles delivered to you, it can be done! At 14$ per pole it is a bargain!

You can be the UK pole man!

Rossfra8 wrote:If you fall and bend a ski pole (aluminium) it can easily be straightened! (skiiercross april 2007-personal experience) but i would imagine had that been a carbon pole i would have needed to buy a new one, i landed hard enough to bend it near-right-angle. Also so expensive compared to the standard alu.

Aluinium polrs can be repaired?

Aluinium polrs can be repaired?

yeah I thought that odd too, in my experience whenever I've bent an aluminium pole they always seem to crease at the point of least resistance and that crease tends to remain when you try and strighten the pole, and at best you get a pole with a crease in it, at worst it snaps when trying to bend it back. I do remember years ago heating up a bent pole and strightening it by pushing another pole down the inside to reform it but in todays "throw-away" culture it seems easier just to replace with new.

I think I'd be too paranoid if I'd spent a lot on carbon poles, as Pavel says, the old baggage handlers can be quite aggressive at times!!

freezywater wrote:

Aluinium polrs can be repaired?

yeah I thought that odd too, in my experience whenever I've bent an aluminium pole they always seem to crease at the point of least resistance and that crease tends to remain when you try and strighten the pole, and at best you get a pole with a crease in it, at worst it snaps when trying to bend it back. I do remember years ago heating up a bent pole and strightening it by pushing another pole down the inside to reform it but in todays "throw-away" culture it seems easier just to replace with new.

I think I'd be too paranoid if I'd spent a lot on carbon poles, as Pavel says, the old baggage handlers can be quite aggressive at times!!

While this sounds like a good idea, I may nix thsi advice, my poles are way beyond repair, atleast the one is

:D have been using Salomon carbon fibre poles for about the last six or seven years now and find them to be very good,although i now keep my skis at my apartment so do not have the worry of damage during transit, i did purchase a solid skiss ski tube which are about £45, and it keeps the skis and poles nice and safe.
jonG.