Initial Report

Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poles

Date: July 7, 2005

Reviewer Information

Name: Jim Sabiston
Age: 51
Height: 6' 3" (1.90 m)
Weight: 210 lb (94 kg)
Email address: JimSabis(at)aol(dot)com
State: New York
Country: USA

Backpacking Background:

I've been camping since my teens. My outdoor activities include backpacking, canoeing, sea kayaking, snowshoeing, mountaineering and cross country skiing. I have expanded my backpacking to include winter mountaineering, back country skiing and ski backpacking. I have received winter mountaineering training with Chauvin International Climbing Guides. I actively study ways to backpack lighter and more efficiently. During the summer months, my style tends toward very light, but not quite ultralight. I use a hammock or tarp for warm weather, and a small four-season tent for winter trips. Most of my other gear is very changeable, as I am constantly experimenting with gear and techniques.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Black Diamond Equipment
Year of Manufacture: 2005
URL: www.bdel.com

Manufacturer’s Specifications:

Weight (pair): 1 lb 3 oz (540 g)
Collapsed Length : 28 in (71 cm)

Adjusting Range:  41 in (105 cm) – 55 in (140 cm)

MSRP: 124.95 US
 
Weight as measured (pair): 1 lb 3.5 oz (553 g)
Length as measured:
            - Collapsed: 27.9 in (71 cm)
            - Extended to 55.25 in (140 cm) per marking on shaft



Fig. 1: Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poles.

Initial Impressions:

Wow!

I have accumulated something like six sets of hiking poles over the years. I actively use at least three of those sets at present, depending on which best suits the use at hand. I have never had a pair of poles impress me as much as the Terra CFs did right out of the box. The combination of varied quality materials in design specific applications results in a very hi-tech appearance. The foam handle with cork/rubber head piece and thick shaft sections gives a slightly bulky, but very purposeful, appearance. This lead to a very pleasant surprise when I picked up the poles and realized how light they are. Most lightweight poles are made with narrow section tubing, but Black Diamond has gone in the opposite direction with the Terra CFs. The pole sections appear to be a more typical width, so I assume a thinner wall section must be used. In theory, this should result in a stiffer pole with a reduced tendency to vibrate.

The Terra CF is a three section pole. The upper shaft is blue painted aluminum, the center shaft is natural finished carbon fiber, and the lower shaft is spun finished aluminum. The lower shaft is adjusted using the Black Diamond Binary system. The overall pole length is adjusted using Black Diamond’s Flicklock system, mounted between the upper and middle sections. The tip is the fairly typical hard black plastic with a metal (carbide?) tip.

The hand grip is black foam with a rubberized cork top. The top has a distinctive sculpted shape, unique among all the poles I’ve seen or used. The broad shape makes ‘palming’ the pole very comfortable and should be a real boon during long descents.

There is no anti-shock system. This is something of a surprise, given the feature-rich design of the Terra CFs. That being said, I am not a fan of anti-shock systems, finding them generally useless, and I consider the absence a real plus. It also helps keep the weight down.

There was a hang tag attached to one pole, and the two poles were held together by a small plastic clip. I suspect the plastic clip is just for shipping, but it appears to be robust enough for regular use. The hang tag contains general use and maintenance information on the poles in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Comments on Specific Features:

1 – The hand grips are made of black foam extending well down the upper shaft. This design is a favorite of mine and I will not purchase hiking poles that do not have it. The upper hand grip is angled forward. I have never used an 'ergonomically angled' handgrip before, consigning the idea to the 'silly frills' file. This will be my first experience with the style. The foam handle extends 5.9 in (15 cm) below the main hand grip, surrounding the upper aluminum shaft with black foam. I have long preferred this handle style, as I hike in rough, rocky terrain and mountains and it allows me to adjust the position of my hand on the pole shaft to adjust the relative pole length rather than stopping to constantly adjust the actual pole length to changing terrain. There is a slight sacrifice in pole weight but, for me, this is more than offset by the comfort and quick adaptability gained. The main grip is smooth, sculpted foam. The lower foam extension has six grooves around the circumference, probably to improve grip on the otherwise straight shaft.



Fig. 2: The Terra CF Handgrip. Note the angled grip, the handle extention and the cork/rubber top.

2 - The black webbing wrist strap is obviously well made with quality materials. The strap adjusts easily and is very comfortable. There is a liner patch made of a white, soft terry cloth like material. This makes the strap supremely comfortable against the skin on the back of my wrist. The strap is finished with edge piping and oozes quality.

3 - Flicklock mechanism: I am a recent convert to the lever type locking mechanism, having just tested the Black Diamond Carbon Fiber Flicklocks. I like the thoughtfully designed lever and simplicity of the overall concept. The Terra CF lock seems much smoother in operation. The information tag states that the lock tension is set at the factory and should not require adjustment. This was not the case with the poles I received. They arrived in the open position and when I attempted to close them, I found them to be much too tight, to the point that I was concerned about damaging the pole if I forced it. This was easily rectified by backing off on the adjusting screw one full turn on each pole. They still close firmly after making this adjustment. I did not mind having to do this, as it gave me an excuse to fiddle with the new design.

I'm of mixed feelings on the recessed tension adjusting screw. I like the protection it offers, but it requires using a screwdriver to adjust it, as a coin cannot reach the screw slot and the screw movement is too stiff to be turned with my fingernail. I normally carry a small multi-tool (a Leatherman Squirt P4) and the small screwdriver is just right for making these adjustments. When storing the poles, I am in the habit of releasing the lock. This may not be necessary, but it might also help the locking mechanism last longer. I noted that the Terra CFs arrived with the Flicklocks in the open position.

4 – The Carbon Fiber shaft is nicely finished. The length markers are clear and aesthetically pleasing, if a bit small. The silver paint is reflective enough to stand out under the beam of a flashlight or headlamp. Length markings are very accurate as measured. In a new turn for a three section pole, only the center section is adjustable, which leads us to the:

5 – The Binary Lock secures the lower shaft. The locking mechanism is housed in a grey plastic piece that is fitted at the joint between the middle and lower shaft sections. The lower shaft is made of satin finished aluminum. It slides inside the carbon Fiber shaft and is secured by the Binary locking mechanism to the carbon fiber midsection. The Binary system is comprised of a two pin, spring loaded lock. Contrary to the instructions in the hang tag, the lock does not engage when the shaft is in the closed position. The friction inherent in the mechanism seems more than sufficient to hold the lower shaft in place when closed, however. I think I prefer the way it actually works, as it would otherwise require unlocking the shaft to extend it. As it is, it simply requires grabbing the pole tip and giving it an easy pull to extend and lock it.



Fig. 3: Left – the pole tip showing the small basket; Center – the Binary system; Right – the Flicklock.

The Binary system engages only when the lower shaft is fully extended. The locking action is announced with a clearly audible ‘click’. The shaft will not retract at this point, but the lock is not fully engaged until the lower shaft is rotated to the point that a second ‘click’ is heard. The shaft will not rotate beyond this point. The locking pins are covered and protected by a soft, clear plastic band wrapped around the middle of the grey plastic Binary housing. As a visual aid to ensure the locking pins are fully engaged, the pin tops are colored red and can be clearly seen through the protective plastic collar when properly engaged.

Collapsing the lower shaft is accomplished by pinching the two pins simultaneously while pushing the lower shaft into the pole midsection. This is accomplished with a moderate amount of pressure on the pins.

Once accustomed to it, I decided I liked the design a lot. I like the positive lock, and I like being able to adjust the pole length by setting only one section, not two, which is unique in my experience with three section poles.

6 - Lower Section has a spun aluminum finish on the slightly tapered section and is aesthetically pleasing. The removable plastic basket, which prevents leaves and such from riding up the pole, appears to be no bigger than necessary and has a nice understated appearance (see Fig. 3).

Summary

The Terra CFs are clearly Black Diamond’s top end trekking pole. The well thought out design with application specific choices of various materials demonstrate a good amount of thought went into every facet of the design of these poles. There are lighter poles out there, but it appears to me that Black Diamond made some very effective trade-offs for the very minor weight gain. I have a pair of bare bones, two-section, carbonfiber/aluminum ski/trekking poles that are favorites of mine. The Terra CF are only 1 oz (28 g) heavier than these poles. That minimal additional weight gets me a very packable three section pole with better ergonomic features and detailing. The combination of light weight and features make an excellent package. I am tempted to describe them as the 'Cadillac' of hiking poles. I am truly hard pressed to find a substantive complaint or suggestion for improvement.

I think Black Diamond has a real winning design here!

Test Plan:

The primary focus and goal of the testing program will be to test the effectiveness of the Flicklock and Binary locking systems, as well as the overall durability of the materials used in construction.

- How do the mechanisms hold up under extended use?
- How well does the newer Flicklock mechanism work? Is there any tendency to slip?
- Can the locks be used and adjusted when wearing gloves?
- How comfortable is the angled foam handgrip?
- How does the foam used in the handles hold up?
- Will the collapsed length be small enough to be out of the way during dense bushwhacks?
- How easy/difficult is it to adjust the hand strap length? How about with gloves?
- How well do these poles work as tarp or hammock struts?
- Does that sculpted cork/rubber top make a difference in comfort?

The poles will see a great deal of varied terrain in the Catskills and Adirondacks, so they will get a good workout!