Ski Poles
Not much to say about poles, but I put this page in to be complete.
The more money you spend, the nicer poles you get (sometimes...)
Skate
poles - need to be quite long (see sizing) and also fairly stiff. Given
their length and how much you use them, it's worth getting relatively
light ones. Most people spend enough money to get ones with carbon fiber shafts.
Classical poles - If you look at the sizing table,
the sizes are probably correct - if you are skiing on nicely groomed
tracks. If you are skiing around at Salmon Ridge in 'problematic
conditions', you might go a size or two shorter.
Back-country
- I like to use the adjustable ones, given how conditions can change a
lot. The old adjustable ones had a lock where you twisted half
the pole while hanging on to a ring at the end of the other half. I
have never liked those. The new ones are likely to have a 'snap clip'
that holds the adjustment (and that you can adjust how firmly the clip
holds with a screwdriver.) I like them a lot more.
This picture shows 1) the old twist style, 2) the new snap clip (open), 3) the new snap clip (closed).
