Gear Review: Black Diamond Traverse WR 2 Ski Poles
Value Rating: 10
Durability Rating: 9
Overall Rating: 10
Location of Test: Backcountry Tours and Resort days
Duration of Test: 2 months
Product Name: Traverse WR 2 Adjustable Ski Pole
Product Brand: Black Diamond
Best Use: Ski Tours, Mountaineering, Ski Resort, Trekking, Snowshoeing
The Full Review:
The first thing that drew me to the Traverse WR 2 trekking/Ski poles was the fantastic grip it has. It has a nice firm rubber grip that seemed to fit into my hand perfectly. They were also very light when I picked them up. If you are doing long tours or mountaineering it is really worth it to have some lightweight poles, considering you will be carrying them all day on the snow.
The other thing I really like about these poles is that they extend to 140CM. As a somewhat tall guy at 6'2" I usually have my poles around 130 or 135 and sometimes up to 140 when I’m doing some steep uphill with skins on or the powder is really deep. Another great feature to this pole is that the mechanism to adjust the length, called the flicklock, is made out of METAL! Yes...NOT PLASTIC! If not for any other reason this alone should sell this ski pole. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen those flimsy plastic clips break on peoples poles while we are out in the backcountry. As a backcountry ski pole, I give these 10 stars. I have put my full weight on them while skinning uphill and they didn't flex a bit.
The other reason I bought these poles is they are great mountaineering poles. The durability alone shows this to be true, but they also come with an option to add a "Whippet" to your poles. This is basically a mini ice ax. You can peel back the top piece of the pole and insert it when needed. This is a great option as a second tool for steep ascents or descents or as your main tool for less intense mountains. This will save you from carrying extra weight by having to bring extra tools.
The Good:
Durable
Lights
Metal adjustment
Extends to 140CM
2 Piece construction (stronger than 3Piece)
Comfy Grip that won't break down over time
"Whippet" ready!
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is these are probably the best adjustable ski poles on the market for the backcountry, the resort, and mountaineering. You can use this pole for all of these. I have been super impressed with the strength and durability over the last couple of months and would recommend them to anyone. These really are the one set of poles to rule them all.
The Full Review:
The first thing that drew me to the Traverse WR 2 trekking/Ski poles was the fantastic grip it has. It has a nice firm rubber grip that seemed to fit into my hand perfectly. They were also very light when I picked them up. If you are doing long tours or mountaineering it is really worth it to have some lightweight poles, considering you will be carrying them all day on the snow.
The other thing I really like about these poles is that they extend to 140CM. As a somewhat tall guy at 6'2" I usually have my poles around 130 or 135 and sometimes up to 140 when I’m doing some steep uphill with skins on or the powder is really deep. Another great feature to this pole is that the mechanism to adjust the length, called the flicklock, is made out of METAL! Yes...NOT PLASTIC! If not for any other reason this alone should sell this ski pole. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen those flimsy plastic clips break on peoples poles while we are out in the backcountry. As a backcountry ski pole, I give these 10 stars. I have put my full weight on them while skinning uphill and they didn't flex a bit.
The other reason I bought these poles is they are great mountaineering poles. The durability alone shows this to be true, but they also come with an option to add a "Whippet" to your poles. This is basically a mini ice ax. You can peel back the top piece of the pole and insert it when needed. This is a great option as a second tool for steep ascents or descents or as your main tool for less intense mountains. This will save you from carrying extra weight by having to bring extra tools.
The Good:
Durable
Lights
Metal adjustment
Extends to 140CM
2 Piece construction (stronger than 3Piece)
Comfy Grip that won't break down over time
"Whippet" ready!
The Bottom Line:
The bottom line is these are probably the best adjustable ski poles on the market for the backcountry, the resort, and mountaineering. You can use this pole for all of these. I have been super impressed with the strength and durability over the last couple of months and would recommend them to anyone. These really are the one set of poles to rule them all.