Ski Poles
Ski poles for your day on the piste, for racing or for the little ones, in aluminium, composite and carbon, with classic or detachable straps. With outlet prices, why not treat yourself to a higher-end model?
What length of ski poles do you need?
Hold the pole upside down, with the grip on the floor and your hand just below the basket: your forearm should be horizontal. As a rough guide, the length is around 70% of your height:
| Skier height | Approximate length |
|---|---|
| 1.40 m | 100 cm |
| 1.50 m | 105 cm |
| 1.60 m | 110-115 cm |
| 1.70 m | 120 cm |
| 1.80 m | 125-130 cm |
| 1.90 m | 130-135 cm |
A pole that’s too long pushes your body back when you plant it; one that’s too short forces you to crouch.
As for materials, aluminium is tough and, if it takes a knock, tends to bend rather than break; carbon and composite are usually lighter, but a hard impact can snap them. Detachable straps, such as LEKI’s system, clip the pole to a loop or a compatible glove and release at the push of a button. For racing there are straight slalom and giant slalom poles and curved speed poles, and for children, short models with small grips.