Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Flicklock Poles > Owner Review by Jonathan S. Shefftz

In my view the FlickLock adjustment mechanism is simply the best on the market (and is available on all other BD poles). Unlike internal locking mechanisms, mysterious lockups and internal corrosion have never occurred with these poles. (I have assisted friends and strangers alike with such problems on other adjustable pole brands.) Although slippage sometimes occurs, I have easily (no tools, just a finger nail) and quickly (just a few seconds) fixed this by tightening the screw (while in the unlocked position).

For longer trips, I have addressed any concerns about breaking the mechanism by packing a spare FlickLock (light, compact, cheap, and easily/quickly replaceable). Note that the spare mechanism must be the correct diameter (since the aluminum FlickLock models are thicker): call BD if unclear on which size to buy. But despite the mechanism's reliability, I always store the poles with the sections separated (thereby taking pressure off the system and allowing any interior moisture to evaporate).

The grip is very comfortable for me (whether wearing heavy insulated gloves, lightweight gloves, or barehanded), incorporating relatively soft and grippy outer material wrapped around a harder inner core. The grippiness though can exact a toll on fleece liner gloves, as they quickly shredded my wife's fleece gloves that were apparently not necessarily intended as outerwear. (Some of the less-expensive BD models use a single-material grip that is harder and slicker.) I find the strap to be a nice compromise overall between supportive and supple/flexible.

The unique basket design (i.e., a typical ski pole powder basket but with the upper part cut away then enhanced with little teeth), is intended to enhance skinning up steep pitches. But I find that it has no advantage for hiking (not is it apparently intended to), and its diameter is also sufficiently large to get snagged on rocks, shrubs, and other backcountry obstacles (which I would rather not recall). A small disc-like hiking-specific basket is not available, but the plastic on the supplied basket is soft enough to be cut down to a more manageable diameter for hiking.

Unlike many hiking-specific poles, the Carbon Fiber FlickLock does not have a dedicated shock absorption mechanism, but the carbon lower shafts are relatively flexibly/whippy (unlike cross country ski racing carbon poles and some alpine skiing carbon poles), which reduces shock. (The upper shafts are aluminum, thereby preventing the pole from feeling like one big wet noodle.)

The FlickLock mechanism (and hence the lower/upper shaft overlap) is placed rather high up on the pole. This design is intended to reduce the "swing weight" for alpine skiing pole plants, but significantly limits its adjustability range (even by the standards of two-part poles) to a mere 8" (20 cm). By contrast, BD's three-part aluminum pole has an adjustment range of over 35" (90 cm). Further, I find the Carbon Fiber FlickLock even when compressed to its shortest length so long as to be rather awkward when strapped to anything short of a very large expedition pack.

The avalanche probe feature is a plus if backpacking in potential avalanche terrain, although not an entirely adequate substitute for a dedicated sectional probe. Compared to a dedicated probe, the carbon pole is too short for a moderately deep burial, can be wrenched out of a would-be-rescuer hand's if initially caught on the edge of the slide (especially since pole straps should not be used in avalanche terrain), and takes too long to assemble (especially since removing the basket requires both careful alignment of the pole between your boots followed by significant exertion). Nevertheless, the carbon pole makes a nice supplement to a dedicated probe, a loaner for an ill-equipped member of a nearby team that joins a rescue, a one-never-knows-for-sure probe on a trip where bringing a dedicated probe would seem unnecessary, or some other backpacking function entirely (although my imagination fails me here).

Durability on this 1999 model has been very good, although not perfect. The carbon lower shaft is vulnerable to nicks and slices: I wrapped some plastic tape a few times around the bottom 4" (10 cm) as a preventative measure. And assorted trauma can weaken the attachment of the carbide tip to the composite part at the very bottom of the lower shaft: mine has started to bend out a bit, but is still okay. The baskets have started to break apart from snags on assorted backcountry obstacles (though replacements are cheap, and cutting the basket down to a smaller diameter might have helped to preserve its life). And the plastic plugs in the metal probe connectors have gotten jammed, with one breaking when the pole collapses to its very shortest length.

Summary
In my experience, the BD FlickLock adjustment mechanism is the best on the market.
That said, this particular FlickLock model is not very versatile: fine for skinning up and skiing down, but not very good for backpacking. The features that distinguish it from other adjustable ski poles (i.e., lower swing weight, innovative basket, and a somewhat-capable avalanche probe) do almost nothing for its backpacking capabilities. And the small adjustment range and lack of compressibility in length represent significant backpacking drawbacks to me.
For anything other than daytrips over entirely snow-covered terrain, I leave these at home and take another pair (which are also BD FlickLock poles, but a different model).

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Flicklock Poles > Owner Review by Jonathan S. Shefftz