Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles Review

Black Diamond’s Traverse 3 poles are simplicity refined. The Traverse 3 is a 125cm touring pole in 3 sections, a magical hiking staff powerful enough to tour up any peak but versatile enough to can fit into your pack without issue.

An aside, and something I love about adjustable poles, is that my son was able to use them when I decided to snowboard for quick tours, on adventure travels, or if I simply forgot his poles. But you want versatility? Try a pair of poles that a 40-something man can use while hiking up a ridge and fit in his pack for the down, that the same 180-pound man can use for skiing hardpack with lots of pole plants, and that his 10-year-old son can use while skiing and hiking anything you throw in front of him.

FlickLock Technology

BD’s Traverse 3 is a FlickLock, which is an “old” technology I really love. I’ve had other systems fail me when in really cold conditions but flicklocks pretty much always work in any condition. Plus the FlickLock means that the sections disappear into the handle so it no longer takes up any width, unlike Z-poles.

FlickLock’s also show why I love simple technology in backcountry winter situations. Poles that need to be screwed down to lock in can freeze easily and become tough to shrink or expand, as can poles with z-technology or foldable poles as some companies call them. While they may be lighter and some people consider them sturdier, that’s little help when the locking mechanism is frozen.

Black Diamond Traverse 3 Durability

The poles are made of aluminum which means they may be a little heavier than carbon poles.  On the other hand, having used plenty of carbon poles I can say that there’s a sturdiness in aluminum poles that even the best carbon poles can sometimes struggle to match. Aluminum is time-tested and trusted to be that ageless perfect blend of lightness and strength.

Additional Fun Features

Yeah, this Traverse 3 pole is a splitboard pole so it has an extra lip on the handle. That makes it considerably easier to lift your climbing wires for the ascent: You know, flip it upside down the way we all love, use that lip to grab the wire and pull it. I also loved the extra grip a little below the standard handle when hiking, a smart little feature which gave me some extra push heading up that sidecountry bootpack.

Finally Black Diamond has their powder baskets, the best in the biz, to push back from snow and ice so your poles will stay above whatever you’re pushing into. Black Diamond knows how to get your traveling proper over snow.

Where to Use?

I’ve broken a lot of poles in my day. And something just felt right about the Traverse 3 poles when I hiked up the steep Glory Bowl bootpack on the south edge of the Grand Tetons. But I’m also a big, strong experienced backcountry splitboarder so I figured I’d let my son try the Black Diamond Traverse 3 Poles.

He started using them in freeride practice, skiing and hucking and hiking. Then he used them on a trip to Japan, on a trip where performance really counted since we’d never been there before or explored this amazing land.

Those poles were like his talisman. He was skiing harder, hucking bigger, and he didn’t ever back off some of our rowdy sidecountry adventures. The flicklock made it easy to adjust for him, and also made it really easy to pack the poles in my boardbag which held all of our hardgoods.

He loves Black Diamond’s Traverse 3 poles, to the point that it’s gonna be tough to tell him they’re mine. Because I love them too, especially since they work so well and still fit in my backpack smaller than most telescoping poles.

Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles Pros & Cons

Pros:

• FlickLock technology for easy adjustment
• Durable aluminum construction for strength
• Additional features like climbing wire lip and powder baskets

Cons:

• Heavier than carbon poles
• May not fold as compact as Z-poles

Overall Impression

Black Diamond Traverse 3 Pooles: Dependable Versatile Touring Poles for big adventures

Black Diamond has a long history of making amazing tools for backcountry mountain exploration. These dependable, high-performing bits of gear have fueled their country and the Traverse 3 Poles deliver on that long reputation.

The Black Diamond Traverse 3 Poles ($129.99) have flicklocks to control extension and shrinking, aluminum construction to deliver strength, adjustable straps for all the fun, an extra handle and bomber powder baskets. If you want poles that are simple but strong, perform well and are endlessly dependable, you need to pick up a pair of Black Diamond’s Traverse 3 Poles.

Related Touring Poles

1. Folkrm Wyeast Ski Touring Poles
2. Atomic BCT Touring Poles
3. Black Diamond Freebird Poles