On a recent backpacking trip to the wonderful snowy Cairngorms I managed to bend one of my Brasher Compact walking poles -- although it did do its job and prevent me falling into a snowy bog!

So, I'm after replacing them and have seen the Black Diamond Trail Compact, see here , which are interesting because of the different locking system -- flicklock. I have had instances where one of the Brashers has suddenly collapsed on me under load (just at the point of need!).

My questions are simple. A) has anyone used the Black Diamond Trail / Trail Compact and is the locking system truly better than the traditional twist lock? B) Would you recommend them over the Brashers (or Leki, which seem ubiquitous).

PS: The reason for "compact" is mostly so I can get them inside my pack when travelling, especially flying, and also because I only need 115cm length due to my modest stature!

Flicklocks are my personal choice of adjustable pole.  It's not so much they're stronger than a well implemented twist lock (i.e., like a Leki), but if anything does go wrong the mechanism is immediately accessible to fiddle with, instead of stuck up a big metal tube where you can't get at it.

Tension with a flicklock is "on" or "off", though you can fiddle it with a screwdriver to reduce it if it's too stiff to work the lever or increase it if it's slipping. 

Having looked at BD's trekking options I ignored them and bought the ski poles.  Partly because I use them for skiing, partly they have bigger baskets for skiing and I've never found small snow baskets a problem in general trekking use, and they give more support for bog-vaulting, and my impression (possibly false) was they're a bit tougher.  They don't have loads of extra foam on the top of the shaft like the trekking ones do, but since I couldn't really think whatI'd actually want that for I was happy not to be getting it.

Pete. 

I have some Black Diamonds - my Mrs is using them now. The replaced some Lekis which had a tendency to collapse alarmingly and dangerously. The BD flicklock system is much easier to use  with gloved hands in winter, though you need strong thumbs. You do need to make sure the adjustment screw is in the right place though, otherwise they don't work at all, so check that before you go. I believe Leki have now sorted their problem with collapsing poles, though whether they replaced all the broken noses and lost teeth caused by their original rubbish design I cannot say.

P.S. Rock and Run sell their cheaper own-brand version of the BDs - made in the same factory. See here.

Those R&R ones look to be excellent value, a good price for a good pole.

Pete. 

I have a pair of the BD Flicklock Expedition poles and they’re very good, Flicklock closures are very straightforward and dependable (subject to the adjustment Peter previously mentioned). I prefer them to most twisting closures (I wish Pacerpoles did Flicklocks!). I find I’m far more likely to adjust the pole-length to the terrain because I don’t have the worry of getting the pole screwed up tight enough again, especially in the cold or wet when fingers don’t grip so well. 

Mine only extend to 125cm max, which makes them short for packing or stowing, but I think some that look identical extend to 145cm. 

The Rock and Run ones are also good, although the grips are (or certainly were) quite a hard plastic. A friend had some BD poles which she allowed to corrode  (stored wet!) so we bought the R&R set and put the 2 lower sections together with the softer rubber BD handle sections – they work perfectly again

To let you know TUV. an indipendent german testing agency found that the Leki SLS locking system was the strongest and will take over 140kg loading before it fails, blackdiamond flick lock was second taking about 100kg. i can find the figures and others on test etc if you're really interested.

ps. Komperdel, who mak brasher poles, didn't do very well at all!

that was a good few months back, haven't been in for a while. 

I honistly don't know, having not used the new mechanism in the snow, all the ski mountaineering poles use the new SLS mechanism so i'd assume they are not as suseptable to freezing up as the old classic mechanism, not had any complaints. 

I know alot of people have moved over to the BD poles for ski touring due to their experiances of the old mechanism.

rob s. wrote (see)

To let you know TUV. an indipendent german testing agency found that the Leki SLS locking system was the strongest and will take over 140kg loading before it fails, blackdiamond flick lock was second taking about 100kg. i can find the figures and others on test etc if you're really interested.

ps. Komperdel, who mak brasher poles, didn't do very well at all!

BD poles are very well made and the flick locks work better than any other type of locking mechanisms. Get any in their range (including ski poles) and you won't be disappointed. By the way if you get the trekking ones with small baskets replace them with the ski baskets as they are slightly larker and have a flat front to them with teeth. Kind of like a set of crampons for your poles! The longer you leave the original baskets on all poles, the harder they are to remove.

I have used Kohla poles and leki poles, both have colapsed under me, usually when leaning on them whilst taking a break with a heavy load! Not nice getting a face full of collapsed pole followed by a face of mud as I fell to the ground! I think it is because you twist them slightly when putting weight on and moving along. Eventually they will give. Alternative is to check evey so often. But since you are replacing, go for flick lock.