Carbon fiber vs. aluminum ski poles?

Question

What advantages are there to carbon ski poles and are they worth the extra cost?

Answer 1

I am a ski racer in Canada, and unless you are going for provincial/national trials, there is no point purchasing high end poles. Basically skier to skier, a pole is a pole.

Answer 2

I have had both. The carbon will bend and then flex back into position rather than break. If you are an aggressive skier this can be an advantage. However for many years I had a pair of aluminum poles. They were fine and I never had to worry about them getting stolen.

Answer 3

Not unless you are getting to the professional level.  Weight is the primary difference and as a intermediate or beginning skier it not going to make that much difference.  Use that money for lift tickets.  it will be better spent!

Answer 4

I stole a great pair of Carbon Fiber poles one day in Vermont. I love them.

Just kidding. After bending or breaking aluminum poles for years I picked up a pair of Goode poles a few years ago. I beat the snot out of them for years. The basket broke before the pole did...actually, the pole never broke.

I bought another pair at end of season three years ago. I still use these but now switch off between a pair of aluminum Black Diamond poles. The carbon poles, while tough as heck, don't adjust...so when I'm in the backcountry I used the BD poles. If I'm at the resort all day...I use the Goode poles.

Also...you can get a decent pair of carbon poles for $25. Just look around. They won't break your bank.

Answer 5

Go to almost any Goodwill and pick up a used pair for $2-5. Fit is all that matters. I even stopped using poles and I can mogul just as well by just using the same arm motions. Poles are a crutch unless you are doing something extreme and specialized or have a hard time in lift lines that go uphill, which is really the best use for poles. Take it from a guy who has sprained both thumbs using poles even without the straps, or ask a ski pro or an orthopedic surgeon about skiers thumbs, and NEVER EVER use those stupid straps.

Answer 6

I had a pair of carbon fiber poles once.

I disliked them. In the end, they were stolen in Vermont...the only time something was taken from me like that and I really felt like "who cares?"

Anyways, for me, the poles vibrated (probably very, very little), but I think the vibration set up a frequency that disagreed with my arms....really really weird. Anyways, after a day of skiing, my arm muscles felt oddly sore - almost painful to move.

As soon as I went back to aluminum, the strange, soreness disappeared.

For Paul above: true, you can do most things without poles. However, they are used as a rhythmic device to help time turns. Can you provide rhythm without? Maybe.

Maybe it's just habit. But they aren't worthless. And yes, I agree...ditch the stupid straps. That's the first thing I do when I buy poles...take the straps off.