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Expert Advice Snowsports Downhill Skiing

How to Choose Ski Poles

4.3 (48)

Downhill ski poles need to be strong enough for planting turns, light enough so your arms don't tire
and *exible enough to withstand hard falls.

If you're a beginner, a good ski pole is any pole that Fts. As you become more experienced, you
may want to try different materials for a better strength-to-weight ratio.

Shop REI's selection of ski poles.

Pole Fit
To Ft a pair of ski poles to you, wear shoes or stand in your ski
boots. With the poles upside down—grips touching the Loor—
grab the pole just underneath the basket so that the top of your
thumb touches the basket. Your elbow should now be at a 90°
angle.

If the angle is less than 90°, try a shorter pole. If the angle is
greater, get a longer pole. Most poles are sized in 2” increments.
If you’re in between sizes, go with the shorter pole.

See REI’s ski pole sizing chart.

Park and pipe skiers should generally go with shorter poles (by at least one 2” size) as these are
less likely to get hung up on the walls of the halfpipe.

The Strap
Most poles use a Lexible nylon wrist strap. During turns, if you lose your grip, the strap helps keep
the pole where you planted it. If you fall, the straps keep your poles with you and not buried in the
snow far upslope.

To correctly use wrist straps, your hand should go up through the strap and then the thumb and
hand grip over the strap and around the pole.

Tip: When trying on wrist straps in a store, wear ski gloves to ensure they’ll be easy on/off
when you’re on the mountain.

Some downhill ski poles now have detachable straps—tearproof loops that click in and out of the
grips for fast transitions.

The Basket
This is the plastic disk (sometimes shaped like a snowLake) near the
bottom of a ski pole. Its purpose is to keep your pole from sinking too far
into the snow.

Basket basics:

1. In powder conditions, use a bigger basket.

2. On groomed slopes or hardpack conditions, use a smaller

basket.

Some poles come with interchangeable baskets or additional baskets can be purchased
separately.

Telescoping Poles
Telescoping poles are used by ski mountaineers. These can be lengthened for uphill cross-country
climbs or shortened for alpine descents. Some models can also be extended and vertically joined
together for use as an avalanche probe.

If you choose telescoping poles, make sure they adjust from waist height for downhill skiing to just
above your armpit for effective striding.

Shop REI's selection of ski poles.

How helpful was this article? Click a star to rate.

48 votes so far - average rating 4.3

 Questions Ask a question

1–2 of 2 Questions Sort by: Newest answers ▼

Charlie · 6 months ago 1

answer
When you stand to measure ski pole length should you be
upright or in a knees bent ski position.

Joe at REI Co-op · 6 months ago

Hi Charlie. You want to stand upright while measuring. Thanks for the question.

Helpful? Yes · 2 No · 0 Report

Richard · 24 days ago 0

answers
When a dimension is stated for a ski pole length ie.,48" is
that the dimension from the top of the grip to the top of the
basket? Trying to understand the relationship of ski pole
sizes to the 90 degree test of an upside down pole held
under the basket

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