Black Diamond Carbon Ultra Distance Z-Poles

The Black Diamond Carbon Ultra Distance Z-Poles are ultralight folding Z-poles aimed at fast hikers and trail runners who want to shave weight in hand and on the pack. A carbon fiber shaft combined with a 3-segment folding design and push-button lock keeps a pair (110 cm length) to 264 g - folded, they collapse to 33 cm and fit in a side pack pocket or even a running vest. Unlike telescoping poles, these don't adjust continuously in length - they come in fixed lengths from 100 to 130 cm, so picking the right size for your height matters at purchase. EVA foam grips keep weight down without sacrificing hand feel, and an adjustable wrist strap plus carbide tips with a rubber override (rubber tip caps included) round out the kit for mixed terrain. There's no antishock system, consistent with a design built for speed rather than cushioning steep descents under a heavy pack. A 2-year warranty is standard for ultralight carbon poles. These make sense for fastpacking, trail running, and ultralight hiking, where minimal swing weight outweighs the versatility of telescoping poles.