The Black Diamond Compactor is a key addition to any backcountry setup. As I perfected my splitboard kit, I searched high and low for a perfect pole. Most don’t collapse small enough, and stick dangerously from my pack while I shred. Others are generally a heavy addition to my pack which is already loaded with my camera, probe, shovel, snacks, etc. Then the Black Diamond Compactor Pole came into my backcountry experience and changed everything. And they aren’t just for the snowboarder, but also a great four season pole that skiers, snowshoers, hikers and pretty much everyone will love just as much as I do.

The Breakdown

Nothing packs lighter or smaller. Folding into three sections it packs nicely inside my backpack. Lightweight rubber grip and fluted interior of shaft shave the ounces off this pole, so that I barely notice when I throw it into my pack. The ultra-compact package makes for easy storage, and the Compact Powder Baskets have a two-section pole capture to keep everything in place. Using the simple release button, the pole collapses down to three compact pieces, which are stay connected with a flexible cord which runs through the center. This makes it very easy to stow and keep everything together. To reassemble, the Black Diamond Compactor Pole locks back together as quickly as it came apart. Fluted tubing makes it lightweight, but reinforcement at the joints makes these as stong as any poles out there. This simple and effective design allows you to deploy and dismantle the poles in a matter of seconds, with no muss and fuss.

The FlickLock® Pro system offers up to 20 cm of adjustability once deployed, as well as reliable stability for tough terrain. Only a snowboarder can appreciate the need for a shorter uphill pole and longer downhill pole for the long trek out of steep landscapes. I’m no skier (yet) so I am unused to pole straps. Conveniently theses poles have a widened straps so that your can maneuver while changing pole length or reaching for risers

The kicker for me is the lip on the handle, which flips up risers really easily. Other poles I tried where lacking this feature, meaning I had to awkwardly kneel down on my splitboard, usually on a steep angle, to blindly feel for the risers to pop them up or down. The handle on the Compactor Ski Poles is a game changer for skinning in steep terrain, saving time and energy for the pow turns ahead.

The Downside

I have one little nitpick point, the release button to break down gets sticky when the temperatures drop. I am not a fan of taking off my glove to jam my thumb to get the button to depress. This has only happened a few times in really cold weather, and I am hoping it gets smoother over time.

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