Black Diamond Distance FLZ Trekking Poles are three-segment folding aluminum poles that are adjustable in height and weigh 7.4 oz each. Designed for trail running, fastpacking, and hiking or backpacking, they have foam hand grips, lightweight wrist straps, micro pole baskets, and carbide tips. The top segment of each pole is adjustable in length, so you get the convenience of foldability with the ability to customize the poles’ length. If you plan to use them to erect a trekking pole tent, make sure you get the correct length for your shelter. There are three lengths available: 95-110 cm, 110-125 cm, and 125-140 cm.

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• Gender: Unisex
• Weight: 7.4 oz / 209g each
• Shafts: Aluminum
• Packed Length (longest segment): 14 and 1/2 inches / 36.8 cm
• Multiple Lengths Available: 95-110 cm, 110-125 cm, and 125-140 cm
• Carbide Tips: Yes
• Trekking Baskets: Yes
• Snow Baskets: Sold separately
• Rubber Tips: Included
• Pros: lightweight, adjustable lever lock, folding poles are better for travel
• Cons: Snow baskets must be purchased separately

Black Diamonds Distance FLZ trekking poles are sturdy, well-made, and suitable for hiking, backpacking, fastpacking, and trail running. While they cost more than the less expensive folding trekking poles you can get on Amazon, the quality of their manufacture is apparent as soon as you pick them up and start walking with them. They are very lightweight, just 7.4 oz each, but they have a solid feel; they’re stiff and bear weight well. Hiking with them feels very natural, and it’s easy to maintain a good cadence when walking with them.

The lower two sections lock in place with pin which is easy to depress when you want to fold the poles back up.

Folding adjustable trekking poles are very convenient if you travel because they’re easier to pack in your luggage. When folded, the longest section of these Black Diamond Distance FLZ poles is 14 1/2 inches, which should fit in most luggage bags. They’re also easier to carry in the side pocket of a backpack,  or even inside it, if you don’t need them all the time.

The Distance FLZ poles have contoured grips that are moderately sized and made with EVA foam, making them suitable for a wide range of hand sizes. The handles have a slight ridge at the bottom of the grip to prevent the heel of your hand from slipping off the bottom if your hands are sweaty. The rounded top of the grip provides a comfortable pommel to put your palm on, increasing stability when descending a slope. While the foam extends down below the grip, it’s only about an inch longer, which isn’t enough to choke up on them when climbing a hill.

The grips have a small ridge at the base that you can press down on when climbing.

The wrist strap is a porous, unpadded webbing strap. While it’s comfortable, it’s not nearly as adjustable as the beefier padded wrist straps found on Black Diamond’s heavier trekking poles. In practice, I used a looser grip on the Distance FLZ poles, which works well because they’re so lightweight. But if you like to hang off your straps with all your bodyweight, these aren’t going to be the best poles for you.

When you want to extend the poles, you insert the tip and bottom section into the middle, and the middle into the upper. Next, you pull the upper section up until it clicks, and the lower two sections are locked together. To adjust the length, you release the top lever lock and slide the upper section to the desired height marked in centimeters, closing the lever lock at the desired length. To collapse the poles, you reverse that process by undoing the lever lock and collapsing the top section, before pressing down on the locking pin and pulling the lower sections apart, before folding them together. It’s very intuitive.

The uppermost section is adjusted with a lever lock which is very reliable.

Trekking Pole Comparison

Recommendation

Black Diamond’s Distance FLZ Trekking Poles are ultralight folding aluminum trekking poles with contoured foam grips that fold for easy storage. While the bottom two sections are fixed in length, the top section is adjustable and locks with a lever lock that can be tightened with a Phillips head screwdriver if it loosens up over time. While it’d be even better if you could adjust the lever lock without requiring a tool, the fact that it is user accessible is a significant benefit. With a maximum length of 140 cm, the Distance FLZ poles should be long enough to support most trekking pole tents and mids. Being ultralight, they are a lot of fun to hike with and quite lively, although not as strong as thicker and stronger poles that you can place more bodyweight on.

Disclosure: Black Diamond donated poles for review.

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