The poles are a pretty conventional affair with angled duel-density grips and wide easily adjustable straps, followed by a 34.5 cm (13.5 in) long aluminium pole shaft, which end in the injected nylon FlickLock mechanism. From that point downwards the shaft is smooth and ridged carbon fiber, ending in an injected nylon tip assembly with a mount for screw on baskets and a concave metal tip. My poles adjust from 108 cm (42.5 in) to 141 cm (55 in) without any slippage.

The handle is vaguely pistol like and angled slightly forward like on many poles. Made out of a moulded plastic core (red in the pictures) set underneath a sticky and moulded black rubber outer, the handle grips well barehanded as well as with gloves or mitts on. The top of the handle is comfortable to push off with your palms on uphills, and the front overhanging lip has a notch for, "manipulating climbing wires" or "adjusting buckles". Lastly the poles feature a very comfortable and wide braided nylon pole strap (4 cm or 1.5 in where it supports your hand, and 2 cm or 3/4 in where it runs through the ladder-lock tightening device), that easily accommodates everything from bare hands to expedition mitts and also lets one grasp the poles by the top of the handle.

The first 34.5 cm (13.5 in) of the pole (basket included) is a 1.5 cm or 0.4 in wide aluminium shaft, covered in modulated red and black silk-screening and a large silver Black Diamond logo. This ends at the FlickLock  mechanism - an injected nylon camming device that squeezes the upper shaft around the lower one. Redesigned  this year to be easier to open and close as well as so the screw doesn't loosen up too easily, thus far it's been very effective and very easy to use. Also it looks to be easily field repairable (i.e. tightening it) or replaceable. The lower shafts themselves are 102 cm (40.5 in) from end to end and are made out of braided black carbon fiber, encased in a clear and smooth varnish. Both sport a 1.75 cm (0.6 in) long flat headed bolt protruding from the top of the shaft into the aluminium uppers and protected by a blue plastic screw-on guard. They also bear a smaller silver Black Diamond logo, and marks every 5 cm (2 in) indicating the poles assembled length from 115 cm to 140 cm.

The poles arrived with both the standard baskets as well as Black Diamond's new Powder Baskets, although only the standard baskets are included at retail (Powder Baskets are 5 USD extra). The standard baskets are black, about 9 cm (3.5 in) in diameter with slightly turned down edges for extra flotation and the front 1/4 to 1/3 cut out and replaced with serrated teeth on the top and bottom for uphill grip. The Powder Baskets (10 cm or 4 in, in diameter) are made of a soft grey plastic, with a black ring of gripper teeth (4.5 cm and 1.75 in, in diameter) set into the under surface for grip. Both baskets screw on and off the poles easily.

The poles tips, which are made out of injected nylon are 10 cm (4 in) in length and have a sharp concave metal bit at the end.