We tested these poles for weeks under punishing conditions. The home base of the test was South Lake Tahoe. We took them on ski tours varying from morning jaunts to all-day epics. We also used these poles inbounds at Heavenly Mountain and Kirkwood Mountain to be able to test their hard-charging downhill capabilities repeatedly. The Sierra Nevada is known for its huge snowfall and long approaches. The fondly known Sierra Cement snow can be filled with a lot of moisture, adding torque to our poles in the heavy powder. Commonly, Tahoe skin tracks are icy and steep, and are a great proving ground for backcountry poles. We also tested poles in the backcountry around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where ascents and descents usually clock in around 3,500 vertical feet at a minimum. Backcountry skiers in Jackson need lightweight, high-performance ski poles that excel on both the climb and the ski down. Of course, we also got splitboarders involved to test the most collapsible and foldable models.
Ease of Use
The most important aspect of a pole is how easy it is to use in the backcountry. We test this by using all of the features of the pole, including locking our toepieces with the pole handles, flicking the heel risers with the powder baskets, and locking the poles at different lengths. We take them touring in all kinds of conditions to see what comes up. Sometimes, poles have features that seem useful at first glance but aren't actually ever used in the field, and sometimes poles have features that seem gimmicky but actually make our days easier.
The scraper tool is one such device that is new to backcountry pole design but truly makes life easier in the mountains. For the ski pole/ice axe hybrids, we use each pole in firm conditions while skiing tight, steep couloirs, and judge how well each pick digs into the snow and arrests a slip. We also find water ice to see how each pick holds in ice.
Weight
After weighing each pair of poles, we also consider how the construction impacts the weight on the scale. Some poles add useful features that also add a few grams, which is tolerable in many cases. We also get a feel for how the weight is distributed throughout the length of the pole. More weight towards the tip will increase the swing weight, making the pole feel sluggish when pole planting and swinging our arms forward with each ski turn. Poles with a pleasant swing weight add to our experience on the slopes, while poles with a sluggish swing weight will make skiing a chore, and even prevent us from turning quickly in tight, steep terrain. Splitboarders don't care as much about swing weight and generally prefer a lightweight pole that won't weigh them down on the descent.
Durability
Backcountry ski poles need to do a lot more than just plant in the snow while skinning and skiing. Ski guides use them to bang snow off upcoming tree branches, to isolate columns for hand shear tests, and to scrape out kick-turns on steep slopes. Poles that bend or show signs of damage from these tasks may be adequate for the occasional backcountry skier, but aren't useful for hardcore locals who are in the backcountry every day. We used and abused these poles, making an effort to put them through the wringer.
Packed Size
We measured each pole in its smallest configuration, and then strapped them on the outside of our backpacks to see what they looked like. Finally, we took them out on splitboarding tours and actually strapped them on our backpacks while we rode downhill. It was obvious which poles are appropriate for splitboarding and which aren't.
Comfort
Our main test for comfort is going skiing with each pole and observing how the pole feels in our hands. Some grips are a pleasure to hold, and even allow us to keep a loose grip without losing the pole. Others are not contoured to the shape of the hand and require a tight grip at all times. We use each pole with thick gloves, standard gloves, and bare hands to ensure compatibility with all hand sizes and weather conditions. We also thoroughly assess the comfort of the secondary grip, since we use this feature almost the entire time when skinning uphill. Swing weight also plays a part in our scoring for comfort.
