Cutting Guide for Ski Poles?

[Tony S]

bait, bait, and more bait

 

[pais alto]

…where all pole discussions evolve into the timeless strap/no strap debate.

 

[cantunamunch]

bait, bait, and more bait

As the vulgar eel said to JK Rowling, "keep slitherin'"

 

[Andy Mink]

I like straps, attached properly, as they give a bit more to push against while poling on the flats. I also tend to grip the pole very loosely with just my thumb, index, and middle finger. With good breakaway straps I don't worry about dropping my poles until they need to come off.

 

[DoggParadox]

…where all pole discussions evolve into the timeless strap/no strap debate.

Haha and I (OP) mostly ski Nordic, so the straps are 100% staying on for me.

 

[markojp]

Haven't used straps while skiing in years. Skinning though, yes. Boot packing, no.

 

[slow-line-fast]

A buddy of mine swears by these:

View attachment 180192

Les Batons d'Alain

The Chamonix ski mountaineering pole. Coming to us from across the pond and made in the shadow of the great and icy Mont Blanc, these unorthodox ski poles offer many small yet meaningful solutions to many small yet meaningful problems ski mountaineers fac...

skimo.co

Skinning, hand can easily move down on uphill pole after kick turn.

Sounds like OP knows a specific desired length, so just cut it to that.

 

[Yo Momma]

Now that OP has "gone there" LOL What about terrain where you cannot climb back up or it would take over an hour to lift and side country back to if you could get back there before the lifts and poss inbound snowcats close, or waist to chest deep, or you just don't have the energy to repeat that level of run? In other words, you lose the poles... they are most likely gone...

No Judgement, simply Straps or no Straps and if straps, how would you wear them?

 

[Tony S]

Now that OP has "gone there" LOL What about terrain where you cannot climb back up or it would take over an hour to lift and side country back to if you could get back there before the lifts and poss inbound snowcats close, or waist to chest deep, or you just don't have the energy to repeat that level of run? In other words, you lose the poles... they are most likely gone...

No Judgement, simply Straps or no Straps and if straps, how would you wear them?

In that case poles or no poles is a relatively peripheral issue. It's not like they're snowshoes you can strap on and magically get yourself out of trouble, cutting the required effort by 2/3.

 

[Yo Momma]

In that case poles or no poles is a relatively peripheral issue. It's not like they're snowshoes you can strap on and magically get yourself out of trouble, cutting the required effort by 2/3.

True ... I think?... That is until you get to a 50 yrd + traverse near the bottom that leads back to civilization where your buddies convert to "ditching" mode bec it's hard to keep up w/ them without poles as you make your way back to retrieve them. (Been there, didn't attach to it and took my time! Many times East coast lungs were more the issue! LOL) Not sure I'm quite on point on that one? Again, just curious as to the options available....

 

[Tony S]

(Been there, didn't attach to it and took my time! Many times East coast lungs were more the issue! LOL)

OH YES!