Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poles > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report

Initial Report - Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poes

Name: Shandra Hunt

Age: 26

Gender: Female

Height: 5' 3" (1.6 m)

Weight: 145 lbs (66 kg)

Location: Ben Lomond,California

Email: jns170@yahoo.com

Date: 6/29/05

Biography:

Growing up in the Santa Cruz mountains, I have always been an avid hiker and camper. Only recently however, I have evolved into a backpacker. I started backpacking about three years ago. Since then I have done many trips throughout California and the Southwest. I spent five days packing in Grand Canyon, which fueled my love for the sport even more. I try to backpack as often as possible, I think I may be addicted and I am constantly looking for more efficient and lightweight alternatives for the gear that I own.

Product Information:

Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poles

Manufacturer: Black Diamond Equipment Ltd.

Year of Manufacture: 2005

URL: www.blackdiamondequipment.com

Listed Weight: 1 lb 3 oz (540 g)

Measured weight: 1 lb 3 oz (540 g)

Listed collapsed Size: 28 in (71 cm)

Measured collapsed size: 27.5 in (70 cm)

Usable Range: 41 in (105 cm) - 55 in (140 cm)

Product Description:

The Black Diamond Terra CF poles are advertised by the Black Diamond company as their top of the line performance trekking poles. These poles are comprised of three main sections. The top and bottom sections of the poles are made of aluminum and the middle section is made of carbon fiber. The top section of the poles is 22 in (56 cm) long and has a foam covered handle that features a 15º corrective angle and a non-slip foam grip. The handle grip is 5 in (12.7 cm) long by 4 in (10.2 cm) in diameter and contoured to comfortably fit the hand. These poles have a unique hybrid top knob grip that is designed to increase downhill grip and control. The handle has a wrist loop that is tapered on the ends, measures 8 in (20.3 cm) long and is 1.5 in (3.8 cm) at its widest point. The top section of the Terra CF poles is a metallic blue color with the Black Diamond logo in metallic silver and measures 2.5 in (6.3 cm) in diameter. The Terra CF poles feature a patented FlickLock adjustment. The length of the poles can be adjusted by opening and closing the FlickLock lever. The Flickock is an external camming mechanism located at the bottom of the top pole section. The FlickLock mechanism works by squeezing the pole shafts together when the lever is closed.

The middle section of the Black Diamond poles is black with the Black Diamond logo in silver and is marked with centimeter measurements. The centimeter measurements on the middle section of the poles range from 110 cm (43.3 in) to 140 cm (55 in). All of the length adjustment takes place on this section of the poles. There is a stop marker before the end of the middle section but there is not a stop to prevent the poles from pulling apart. The middle section of the poles is 14.5 in (36.8 cm) long and 2.25 in (5.7 cm) in circumference.

The lower section of the Terra CF poles are silver with the Black Diamond logo printed in black. The lower section is 14 in (35.6 cm) long and 2 in (5 cm) in circumference. The lower section of the pole is adjusted using a Binary system. The Binary adjustment is activated by pulling out the lower section of the pole until it stops and twisting it until the pins pop out. The spring pin changes to red when the Binary system is engaged. To collapse the poles, the spring pins have to be depressed on both sides while the lower section of the pole is pushed into the middle section. There is a small, black basket at the bottom of the pole that looks like it is made from plastic and it measures 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter. The tip of the pole is 2.5 in (6.6 cm) long with a small concave metal tip at the end. There is a tag that comes attached to the poles that contains care and use instructions and warranty information.

Initial Impressions:

I viewed the Black Diamond website before I received the Terra CF poles and I found the poles to be exactly as they were described on the website when I first examined them. Immediately upon arrival, I took the Black Diamond Terra CF poles for a test. I walked around the neighborhood for awhile to get a feel for using the poles. The Black Diamond Terra CF poles will be the first pair of my own trekking poles that I have used. I have borrowed trekking poles from friends a few times and always liked hiking with them. I have found that I feel more stable when using trekking poles if I am hiking with a pack on. I am looking forward to really using the Terra CF poles because they will engage and utilize my arm strength and hopefully reduce some of the load on my legs. I find there is somewhat of an art to using trekking poles and even though it seemed awkward when I first tried these poles, I felt more comfortable after I used them for awhile. I like the design of these poles, it is simple, yet seems sturdy and the centimeter measurements make for quick and accurate length adjustments.

The Terra CF poles feature two different adjustment systems, the FlickLock and a Binary adjustment. I have never really used adjustment mechanisms like these before. It took me a moment to figure out how to use them. These adjustment systems are supposed to be simple, easy, and quick to adjust. This has not been my experience so far. The FlickLock lever is supposed to be pushed over and will "click" when it is completely closed. I found the lever on both poles to be very stiff and hard to close completely. The tag provided with the poles has instructions on how to adjust the FlickLock lever. This can be done by tightening or loosening a cross cut screw on the lever. I have yet to try adjusting the FlickLock lever because I would like to see if the lever becomes easier to use on its own. I found that if the FlickLock lever is not completely closed, meaning it hasn't clicked closed, the poles will stay extended for awhile and then slowly slip down. The Binary adjustment has been even harder for me to use. The lower section of the poles is shortened by depressing both sides of the spring pins in the binary mechanism. I have small hands and have had a really hard time squeezing the pins enough to disengage the mechanism. I hope that as I use the poles, this will become easier to do, because so far it has been frustrating. The sliding sections of the poles move smoothly but if the poles are extended quickly, there is no stop to prevent the middle section from being pulled completely out. There is a stop marker on the middle pole section but I have still managed to pull the pole apart several times. This section is made remove able so that it can be cleaned.

These Black Diamond poles feature a corrective, ergonomic handle. I have never seen anything ike the "erg knob", this is truly an interesting and unique design. After hiking around a little bit and trying the top knob, it became apparent why it is shaped the way it is. I found it very comfortable to use and it has a nice indentation that fits my middle finger perfectly. This design offers a lot of stability and I think this knob will be great for downhill manuevering. The rest of the handle is comfortable and the 15º corrective angle seems like it minimizes strain on the wrist. I have some concerns about the wrist straps on the poles. The straps are a bit awkward because they twist and I can't decide the most comfortable way to use them.

I look forward to really trying out the Terra CF poles for both day hiking and backpacking. I think using these poles will be a great advantage when digging in on uphill climbs and for added stability on descents, especially when wearing a pack. I am interested in the other possible uses for these poles besides a trekking aid. I have a history of spraining my ankles when hiking and in the past have had to hobble home on the injury. These poles could come in handy, acting like a cane or crutches if I did happen to get injured. These poles could also be used to erect an emergency tarp shelter, which is pretty easy to do. I hope I will never have to use these poles in an emergency situation, but I will feel better having them along if something did happen.

Test Plan:

I will be testing the Black Diamond Terra CF trekking poles in a wide variety of climates and situations. I do a fair amount of day hiking, averaging about 6 mi (9.7 km) a hike. I day hike often and backpack in Big Basin State Park on overnight trips several times a year. The terrain in this area varies from redwood forest, to chaparral, to riparian habitat. The camping and hiking area in the park is thick redwood duff. The climate in this area varies greatly. Some areas are very dark and damp and it is very common for heavy fog to blanket the park in the morning and afternoon. Temperatures in Big Basin can be in the low 30 F (17 C) and as high as 95 F (35 C). The park elevation ranges from sea level to almost 2,000 ft (610 m). I day hike most often in Henry Cowell and Fall Creek State Parks. These areas are very similar to Big Basin in terrain and climate.

I hike and backpack on many overnight trips in Castle Rock State Park, which is located at about 1,800 ft (549 m) on the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. I backpack in this area frequently throughout the year because it is only about forty five minutes from where I live, and is a great spur of the moment spot. This area is a blend of grasslands, lush forest, chaparral, and riparian habitat. The hiking trails have a tough sandstone and chaparral terrain, with equal amounts of ups and downs along the trail. The climate of Castle Rock is much like that of the other state parks located in my area.

I will be backpacking and car camping on extended trips to the Sierra Nevada Mountains over the next few months, I will be heading to the Sierras for a week in July to hike and camp. Most of the areas that I visit and camp in the Sierras are sub alpine and are located between 2,000 ft (610 m) and 9,000 ft (2,743 m). Some of the areas that I like to backpack in the Sierras are near Lake Tahoe and Yosemite Valley, where there are endless trails to explore. The climate of the Sierras is varying and unpredictable. It may snow at any time of the year. Rain is always just around the bend and the wind can pick up in an instant. These areas feature large masses of exposed granite, meadows, rivers and pine forests.

What I will be testing the Black Diamond Terra CF Poles for:

Durability:

Do all parts of the poles withstand repeated use on hard terrain? If the poles hit on rock, do they dent and does the finish chip? Do the tips have to be replaced very often? How durable are the foam grips? Does the foam deteriorate over time? How durable is the strap material? Do the straps fray or rip after repeated use?

Comfort:

How comfortable are the foam grips? This is something that is very important, especially if I need to use the poles for extended periods of time. Is it comfortable to use the “ergo” top knob? Do I have any soreness or areas that rub after using the poles for long periods of time? The wrist straps seem awkward and I would like to see how much I use them or if they tend to just be in the way.

 Performance:

One of the most important things is how well these poles work in various types of terrain. I want my gear to perform in many different situations. Do they work better on certain terrain than on others? Will these poles help reduce the amount of work my legs do by utilizing arm strength? How much do they help when hiking up and down hill? Is there a lot of vibration in the poles when I hike and does it cause annoying noise? What other uses can I find for these poles?

Ease of use:

One of my main concerns is how fast and easy are these poles to adjust when I am changing terrain? As I mentioned before, I have had some trouble operating the FlickLock and Binary mechanisms. I hike often in the fall and winter and I want to see if these poles can be adjusted easily with gloves on. Are the poles easy to use with gloves or if I have sweaty hands? If the paint chips or the pole has a ding in it, does it affect how smoothly the adjusters work? I have a small pack and I am concerned whether these poles will strap easily to my pack or if I have to add something to be able to strap them to my pack.

 Safety and Stability:

One of my main concerns when using these poles is if they shorten or collapse when a lot of weight is applied. I am interested to see how much added stability I have when hiking downhill with these poles. Many of the areas I hike have loose, rocky terrain. As I mentioned before, I do not have a lot of experience hiking with trekking poles and I want to see how easy it is to get used to hiking with the poles or if I find them to be more in the way. The baskets on these poles seem on the small side to me and I am concerned that they may sink in mud and slushy terrain.

Maintenance:

I will be testing these poles to see if the adjustment mechanisms need to be periodically tightened, and if so, how often and how easily can it be done. The tag that accompanies the Terra CF poles recommends that the poles be checked before and after each use to insure that the FlickLock and Binary adjustments are working smooth and properly. The FlickLock tension can be adjusted by rotating a cross cut screw. I am concerned that if I have to make this adjustment on the trail, I may not have the appropriate tool to do so. It is recommend by the company that oil be applied on the lever pin and where the FlickLock lever rotates if it becomes hard to open or close. I am interested to see if the FlickLock adjusters get bound up with dirt and if they do, how easy it is to clean them. The middle and lower sections of the poles can be removed for cleaning but it looks like it would be more difficult to try to clean the adjustments mechanisms. Do any of the parts have to be replaced after extended use? Replacement parts can be obtained from a local Black Diamond dealer or directly from Black Diamond. It is recommended that the poles be stored dry, with the FlickLock tension released.

Reviews > Trekking Poles > Poles > Black Diamond Terra CF Trekking Poles > Shandra Hunt > Initial Report