Expedition Ski Poles 26/27

The Expedition is Black Diamond's two-piece aluminum touring pole. FlickLock mechanisms make the length quick to fine-tune, and a PH3 screwdriver bit hides in the shaft for field repairs. The extended EVA foam grip lets you choke down on steep traverses without changing the pole's length.

Two sections mean fewer joints and a stouter pole than a three-piece, at the cost of packed length. If it lives on your pack more than in it, that is the right trade.

It suits backcountry skiers and ski mountaineers who want simple, durable adjustability. Skiers who fly with their gear or want the smallest possible pack size should look at the Traverse 3.

A straight-edge grip top scrapes ice and snow off skis, a tactile rubber beak handles binding adjustments on the skin track, and the girth-hitched straps come off entirely if you prefer to ski without them.

The workhorse touring pole, and one of the most-used items in our own kits. Two-year warranty.