BackpackGearTest.org - Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Poles Pam Wyant

The Black Diamond Enduro CF Compact poles have a grey-colored foam grip covered in a velour-like material, which extends straight down the shaft of the pole approximately 6 in (15 cm) below the contoured portion of the hand grip, to allow the user to briefly, yet comfortably lower their grip, without adjusting the overall length of the poles. The hand grip is topped by a small hard black plastic section that holds the shaped and paddled wrist strap in place. The overall length from the top of the pole to the bottom of the hand grip is approximately 11 in (28 cm). A short metal fixed pole section (primarily red in color with black marbling) extends from the grip approximately 6 in (15 cm). An adjustable section of solid red colored metal tubing, approximately 14 in (36 cm) long slides into the fixed section when the poles are collapsed, and a similarly sized grey/black colored carbon fiber section slides into the middle section when collapsed. A 3 in (7 cm) long solid black plastic bottom section extends down to the short metal tip. The middle and bottom sections are marked with lines and centimeter markings, which allows me to quickly adjust them to the same length every time.

A special feature of the poles is Black Diamond's patented "FlickLock" adjustment system, which is described as "an external camming mechanism which, when closed, squeezes the pole shafts together to form a joint stronger than the tubing itself". The FlickLocks open and close via a lever section that Black Diamond recommends be pushed open and shut with the thumb. A small keyhole shaped slit is located directly under the FlickLock adjustment. I can't really observe the bottom of the slit since it is covered by the FlickLock, but my guess is that the slit is there to allow the poles to tighten by moving the metal in this area slightly inward for a tighter grip when the FlickLock lever is closed. The FlickLock tension is pre-adjusted, but directions are included on how to adjust the tension via an adjustment screw in the event the poles begin to slip or the FlickLock levers become too difficult to snap shut. Interestingly, looking inside the FlickLock adjustments shows the screws holding them in place are different colors, making me think they are very precisely engineered for a specialized fit.

Black Diamond recommends the FlickLocks be left open when being stored for a long time, and the poles were shipped to me with them in the open position. A small black plastic basket, approximately 1.5 in (4 cm) wide is attached to each pole. The basket attaches by screwing onto a threaded section of the tip. At first I was unable to get the baskets to come loose, and thought they were not removable, however in later playing around with them, I found by grasping the top of the tip section and twisting and exerting upward pressure at the same time, the baskets could be unscrewed. This is a somewhat slow process though and requires a bit of steady upward pressure for me to be able to twist the basket completely off. The poles also shipped with a neat plastic clip which attached them together inside a small cardboard wrapper.

Initial Impressions -

Testing Plan -

Anticipated Field Conditions
During the field test phase, I will be using the Black Diamond Mountain Series Enduro CF Compact Trekking Poles along the Appalachian Trail in Georgia in April. My trip research shows elevations from about 2500 ft to close to 4500 ft (750 to 1200 m) for the section of the trail I will be covering, and temperatures that might possibly run as low as 20 F (-5 C) range to as high as 80 F (25 C) range. I plan to cover over 80 mi (129 km) during this trip, with daily mileage that may vary from 4 mi (6 km) to 16 mi (26 km) due to placement of re-supply and reliable water sources.

Additional testing of the poles will be on the trails of West Virginia, most likely in the mountainous eastern region of the state for weekend backpacking trips varying from 7-10 mi (11-32 km) with elevations from 2500 to over 4000 ft (750 to over 1200 m) and temperatures that may range from lows around 30 F (0 C) to highs up to 80 F (25 C). I will also be using the poles for 3-10 mi (5-16 km) day hikes in the eastern and central part of the state, with elevations from 550 to 1000 ft (150 to 300 m) where temperatures will likely be similar to slightly warmer. Traveling the Appalachian trail and West Virginia’s mountain trails will involve a lot of uphill and downhill hiking from moderate to steep, and at least in West Virginia, several creek crossings. Days may vary from bright and sunny to daylong rain and anything in between. From my research it appears I can expect rain in Georgia in April, and rainfall is usually ample in West Virginia, with normal monthly levels ranging from 3-5 inches. Humidity levels during May and June (the anticipated long range test period) in West Virginia are often high and preliminary research shows high humidity common in Georgia during April.

Additional background information
I currently use trekking poles and am familiar with the rhythm involved in using such poles, their benefits, and drawbacks. I enjoy the poles to assist in climbing steep uphills, avoid sliding down steep descents, and to help me maintain a steady and slightly more rapid pace than I typically hike with when I’m not using poles. Another benefit I really like about using poles is that they help prevent hand swelling on long hikes with a weighty pack. On the downside, they can be a pain to store if I want my hands free, and they can sometimes slide on rock or sink into mud or river bottoms, failing me when I most need their stability. I plan to observe whether the Black Diamond poles seem superior to the other poles I've used in regard to these aspects.

During my 8-day Appalachian Trail hike I anticipate carrying between 30-35 lb (13-16 kg) with consumables at most times. We plan only one re-supply point, so food may cause my pack to weigh more, at least when starting out and after re-supply when food will be a major portion of the weight. I’ve found the use of poles is most helpful when loads are heavy, and especially when the terrain consists of rugged up and down mountain trails like those I expect on this trip, so I look forward to seeing how these particular poles perform under those conditions.

In addition to my Appalachian Trail adventure, I have two weekend trips planned in May. One of these is a group trip where I will be assistant teaching inexperienced or new backpackers on a moderate trail, where I won’t need the poles as much for helping me up and down mountain trails, but I’ve found they are especially useful for these short and easy but slow trips in preventing my hands from swelling. The second trip is to the Canaan Valley region and will consist of mountain trails and fairly fast packing. For this trip, I would anticipate carrying a lighter load of around 25-30 lb (11-14 kg), but the terrain will certainly put the poles to a good test and should include some creek crossings of varied size – a place where a good pole can make the difference in keeping my balance and safety when challenged by a rushing current.

Test Particulars
Of special interest to me is the “Double Flick-Lock” feature of these poles. I don’t have a lot of trouble with my current twist-lock poles, but every once in a while one will slip, shortening one pole and making me feel lopsided until I figure out what happened, or even worse totally give way when I go to plant the pole. I’d certainly like to avoid either of these scenarios on all trips, but especially on my Appalachian Trail trip, where I will be less familiar with the terrain and wanting to keep my eyes on the view more than on the trail. Will the “Double Flick-Lock” system be failsafe and make this possible?

Over the field and long term test, I will be looking at the following issues and reporting on my findings:

Extending the poles – how easy the Double Flick-Lock system is to use, both with and without gloves on, and the reliability of the system to stay locked.

Comfort, ease of holding, slip resistance, and durability of the foam hand grips – both with and without gloves on, and in varied weather conditions with particular attention to whether the grips feel stiffer and more uncomfortable in cold weather or make my hands sweat in warm weather.

Comfort, adjustment, and fit of the padded hand webbing – both with and without gloves on, whether the webbing stays adjusted or slips loose, and if it slips, how frequently and under what circumstances

Feel and heft of the poles – are they easy and rhythmic to swing? Are they sturdy enough to lean on heavily when necessary?

Smoothness and pliability – Do the poles catch easily in rock crevices – do they flex if necessary to prevent breaking?

Storage – ease of collapsing the poles (with and without gloves on), whether the grips are small enough to easily fit in an outer pocket of my pack for easy carrying when traveling or when I don’t want to use them on the trail (or if there is a more convenient way of storing them by the web straps or other means?)

Convenience of using the poles to lift the sides of my hammock tarp to catch breezes and views - Can I use these poles in the same manner I do my current ones with the grips flat on the ground and the tips slid inside the small rings attached to my tarp sides or are these grips and tips designed in such a manner that this isn’t possible?

Durability of the pole sections – did I bend or break any under normal use? Do they show corrosion or excessive paint chipping by the end of the test?

Durability of the hand grips – have they compressed, lost chunks of foam, or otherwise deteriorated over the test? Have they become excessively dirty and impossible to clean?

Durability of the webbing – is it showing signs of fraying (or even worse has it broken or come loose?)

Preliminary Likes –

Preliminary Dislikes –

Thanks to Black Diamond and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the Black Diamond Mountain Series Enduro CF Compact Trekking Poles

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Poles > Pam Wyant > Initial Report

Initial Report:

Black Diamond Mountain Series Enduro CF Compact Trekking Poles

Date: March 30, 2006

Product Information -

Features -

Initial Impressions -

Testing Plan -

Preliminary Likes –

Preliminary Dislikes –

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Enduro CF Trekking Poles > Pam Wyant > Initial Report