Black Diamond FlickLock trekking poles

[Michael Tamada]

I took advantage of REI's 20% off coupon to get a pair of Black Diamond trekking poles, the Trail model.  The flicklocks unlock quite easily, but seem to take a lot of pressure to lock.  The instructions mention that there's a screw whose tension one can adjust, I might try that although the instructions warn that if the screw is too loose, then the sections might slip instead of being locked into position.

One other thing that I'm considering:  for each measured length (e.g. 120 mm), one adjusts both the lower section and the middle section, so they are both set at 120mm.

But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?  And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the middle section.

That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.

The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage to adjusting just one section?


--MKT

[Jerry Goller]

Not in my experience. I do much the same thing but I fully extent the middle
section and adjust the lower one. That means the largest (strongest) section
is the one that is fully extended.

Jerry


http://www.BackpackGearTest.org : the most comprehensive interactive gear
reviews and tests on the planet.

-----Original Message-----
From: BackpackingLight@...
[mailto:BackpackingLight@...] On Behalf Of mkt
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 3:29 PM
To: BackpackingLight@...
Subject: [BackpackingLight] Black Diamond FlickLock trekking poles

I took advantage of REI's 20% off coupon to get a pair of Black Diamond
trekking poles, the Trail model.  The flicklocks unlock quite easily, but
seem to take a lot of pressure to lock.  The instructions mention that
there's a screw whose tension one can adjust, I might try that although the
instructions warn that if the screw is too loose, then the sections might
slip instead of being locked into position.

One other thing that I'm considering:  for each measured length (e.g. 120
mm), one adjusts both the lower section and the middle section, so they are
both set at 120mm.

But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply
set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?
And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the
middle section.

That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to
its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.

The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one
will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage
to adjusting just one section?


--MKT



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[Cara Lin Bridgman]

That's what I do and with the same logic.

CL

Jerry Goller wrote:

> Not in my experience. I do much the same thing but I fully extent the middle
> section and adjust the lower one. That means the largest (strongest) section
> is the one that is fully extended.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BackpackingLight@...
> [mailto:BackpackingLight@...] On Behalf Of mkt
>
> But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply
> set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?
> And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the
> middle section.
>
> That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to
> its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.
>
> The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one
> will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage
> to adjusting just one section?

[James D. Marco-2]

When I was using adjustable poles, that is what I did, also.
        jdm
At 05:56 PM 11/2/2009, you wrote:

>That's what I do and with the same logic.
>
>CL
>
>Jerry Goller wrote:
>> Not in my experience. I do much the same thing but I fully extent the middle
>> section and adjust the lower one. That means the largest (strongest) section
>> is the one that is fully extended.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: BackpackingLight@...
>> [mailto:BackpackingLight@...] On Behalf Of mkt
>>
>> But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply
>> set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?
>> And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the
>> middle section.
>>
>> That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to
>> its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.
>>
>> The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one
>> will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage
>> to adjusting just one section?
>
>
>
>------------------------------------
>
>
>+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+
>BackpackingLight Mailing List
>To unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
>BackpackingLight-unsubscribe@...
>
>Post messages by E-mailing them to:
>BackpackingLight@...
>+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

James Marco
Computer Operations Manager, Desktop Support
Biomedical Engineering and
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Cornell University
B78A Olin Hall,
Ithaca,  NY  14853
Office: 255-7312

[gajslk-2]

Mine came too tight. Adjusting the tension was easy and it took about a minute to do both poles.

The marks are on the poles for a reason. Once you know your length, no adjusting is needed. Just go to the right marks and lock.

The pole will be strongest with both sections extended roughly the same distance from the lock. Fully extending a section creates a weak spot near the lock since there is little overlap between sections. I'd assume that the length markings were chosen for near maximum strength at a given length.

 I always store and transport mine fully compressed, so both sections always need to be set anyway.

Gordon

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "mkt" <tamada@...> wrote:

>
> I took advantage of REI's 20% off coupon to get a pair of Black Diamond trekking poles, the Trail model.  The flicklocks unlock quite easily, but seem to take a lot of pressure to lock.  The instructions mention that there's a screw whose tension one can adjust, I might try that although the instructions warn that if the screw is too loose, then the sections might slip instead of being locked into position.
>
> One other thing that I'm considering:  for each measured length (e.g. 120 mm), one adjusts both the lower section and the middle section, so they are both set at 120mm.
>
> But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?  And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the middle section.
>
> That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.
>
> The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage to adjusting just one section?
>
>
> --MKT
>

[mrartallen]

--- In BackpackingLight@..., "mkt" <tamada@...> wrote:
>

Adjusting the poles will change the center of mass of the poles by adjusting the far end out the center of mass will be closer to your hands than if you lengthen the section next to your hands.  The former will be like adding a bit of weight to the pole as you try to control the pole.  It will probably be a bit more tiring to your wrists and arms.  The strength of the pole will be different when you adjust the poles differently.  I cannot tell which way would be stronger not knowing the strength, failure modes, adjusting hardware, and configuration of the sections ask Gerry about his analysis, he has probably hiked thousands of miles and has experience in poles that would set an engineer's analysis on it's ear.  He knows his equipment and knows what has happened to it.  

Art
 
 

> One other thing that I'm considering:  for each measured length (e.g. 120 mm), one adjusts both the lower section and the middle section, so they are both set at 120mm.
>
> But, to reduce the amount of adjusting that I have to do, what if I simply set the lower section at its maximum (which is 140mm) and left it there?  And, whenever I wanted to lengthen or shorten the poles, simply adjusted the middle section.
>
> That's the default technique with my Lekis; the lower section is extended to its max length and then one only has to adjust one section, the middle one.
>
> The instructions don't address this issue.  I guess they presume that one will always adjust both sections not just one, but is there any disadvantage to adjusting just one section?
>
>
> --MKT
>

[Michael Tamada]

>When I was using adjustable poles, that is what I did, also.
>jdm
>At 05:56 PM 11/2/2009, you wrote:
>>That's what I do and with the same logic.
>>
>>CL
>>
>>Jerry Goller wrote:
>>> Not in my experience. I do much the same thing but I fully extent
the middle
>>> section and adjust the lower one. That means the largest (strongest)
section
>>> is the one that is fully extended.

Good thoughts, thanks.  
 
 
As for the other thread, about pole lengths, I'm 5'7" and usually set my
lengths at 115mm for going uphill and 125 for downhill.  One potentially
nice thing about the Black Diamond Trail model is its extra lengths of
grippy stuff extending down from the top of the pole, which I hope to
use as an alternative to shortening the poles, i.e. shift my grip
downwards.  OTOH I'm used to relying on the straps, not the grips so
we'll have to see how that works.
 
Most of the dayhikes that I do are basically one long steep uphill and
one long steep downhill to return.  So the adjustability is worth it for
me, because I only have to make one adjustment mid-hike, and the result
is I always have my poles at perfect length.  If there was more mixture
of ups and downs on my trails, then it'd be more of a pain to constantly
adjust.
 
 
--MKT