Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles Review

Overview

The Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles are BD’s entry-level telescoping aluminum poles — a three-section, dual FlickLock design that has earned a loyal following for one simple reason: they just work. The 3-piece-adjustable Trail features an EVA foam grip and Variwidth plush strap, with Dual FlickLocks offering complete adjustability to suit the terrain. This is a no-frills workhorse built for hikers and backpackers who want reliable support across all seasons without the anxiety that comes with babying carbon fiber poles.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight (pair)	481 g / 1.06 lbs
Shaft Material	7075 aluminum (30% pre-consumer recycled)
Sections	3
Locking Mechanism	Dual FlickLock
Grip Material	EVA foam with grip extension
Usable Length	100–140 cm
Collapsed Length	~60 cm (23–24 in)
Includes	Trekking baskets + snow baskets
Warranty	2 years
Comparison	See how Trail Trekking Poles compare to similar gear

Performance

Locking Mechanism

The FlickLock is the Trail’s strongest selling point. The dual FlickLock adjusters are easy to use and make length changes quick and secure. The FlickLocks are made from a heavyweight plastic and are flush with the poles, which makes them secure — once adjusted and set, they never budge, even when loaded with the heavy weight of packs loaded with five days of backpacking supplies. You can easily flick the locks into place with or without gloves, making them easy to use in the winter. That’s not a small thing. I’ve had twist-lock mechanisms on cheaper poles creep loose mid-descent on a steep trail — the FlickLock simply doesn’t do that. When twist locks fail, you’re done, since the adjustment occurs when you lock the poles. The FlickLock system is much simpler and external, so you can easily adjust or diagnose any hardware problems.

Worth noting: while the locks are plastic — unlike the premium aluminum FlickLock Pro found on Black Diamond’s higher-end poles — they still feel more dependable than twist-locks. If you eventually wear them down, a small Phillips-head screw on each lock lets you re-tension the clamp in seconds.

Durability

Black Diamond manufactures the Trail poles using 7075 aluminum, a material originally developed for aircraft frames due to its strong yet lightweight properties — the same material that fighter pilots relied on during World War II and that became a staple in aerospace applications for its ability to withstand high stress while being significantly lighter than steel.

In practice, this means the shafts will bend before they snap — a forgiving failure mode compared to carbon fiber, which fractures suddenly and completely.

Carbon fiber poles tend to snap off rather easily on talus, and the brittle nature of carbon always results in total breakage rather than bending, so there’s never an opportunity to straighten a bent section.

One user on Trailspace reported hiking around 1,000 miles in six months and never once having to tighten the screws of the FlickLocks. Black Diamond also sells individual replacement sections, so if you do manage to damage a shaft, you’re not buying a whole new pair.

Grip & Comfort

The EVA foam grip is functional but shows its price. It can feel rough on the hands during long days — especially if you’re used to cork grips. A few users on Trailspace and the Black Diamond product page mention the material on the handles gets slimy when sweaty, and the foam grips can leave a black residue on your hands at first, but a wash with water clears it up.

The saving grace is the extended grip below the main handle. The foam grip extends well below the handle — useful for uphills, where you can lower your hand position instead of shortening the pole. It allows you to quickly adapt when you’re hiking in up-and-down terrain: when the trail kicks up briefly, you can just grab the poles lower and carry on without stopping to adjust length. That’s a legitimately useful feature on rolling terrain.

Packability & Weight

At 481 g (1.06 lbs) for the pair, these are not ultralight poles. If you want the ultimate light and compact pole, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is about half the weight and compacts much smaller. But for a telescoping aluminum pole, the collapsed length is genuinely compact — this is one of the most compact trekking poles out there, folding down to around 23 inches, which is a great value. Most telescoping competitors collapse to 25–26 inches, which is more awkward to strap to a pack or slide into luggage.

Four-Season Versatility

One standout bonus is the inclusion of both trekking and snow baskets out of the box — something you don’t get with similarly priced competitors like the Leki Spirit Lite or REI Co-op Trailmade. That four-season versatility adds real value if you’re planning to hike in variable terrain or conditions.

The Trail also carries a sustainability credential worth mentioning:

7075 aluminum shafts are made of 30% pre-consumer recycled aluminum (UL Validated), and by total finished weight, the poles contain a minimum of 14% recycled content.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• FlickLock mechanism is reliable, glove-friendly, and field-maintainable
• 7075 aluminum bends rather than snaps — real-world toughness matters
• Foam grip extension is genuinely useful on variable terrain
• Ships with both trekking and snow baskets — rare at this price
• Compact collapsed length (~23”) for a telescoping pole
• Replacement sections and tips available from BD

Cons

• 481 g/pair is heavy — about double the weight of BD’s own Distance Carbon Z
• EVA foam grip gets sweaty and doesn’t wick moisture like cork
• FlickLocks are plastic, not the aluminum alloy found on higher-end BD poles
• No shock absorption (minor complaint, but worth flagging for joint-sensitive hikers)
• Bulkier collapsed size than folding or Z-pole designs

Who Should Buy This

The Trail Trekking Poles are the right call for three-season hikers and backpackers who want dependable, low-maintenance poles they’ll never have to baby. They’re an ideal all-season option for beginners, experienced outdoors enthusiasts who prefer reliable gear, or communal gear that will be used by multiple people. If you’re counting every gram toward a thru-hike base weight, look at BD’s carbon offerings. But if you’re heading into rocky, technical terrain where a snapped pole would be a real problem — or simply want a pair that will outlast several pairs of boots — these are a sound investment.

Verdict

The Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles don’t do anything flashy, and that’s exactly the point. The FlickLock adjusters are the best locking system at this price, the 7075 aluminum can take a beating that would snap a carbon pole in two, and the included snow baskets give them genuine all-season range. The weight penalty over carbon is real and matters if you’re a serious gram-counter — but for everyone else, these are hard to fault. Rating: 7.5/10.