Black Diamond Expedition 3 Ski poles
Price
€95
Gender
Mens / Unisex
Brand // Manufacturers
Black Diamond
What we liked …
Great ergonomics, strong, short collapsed length (short version!)
What we didn’t …
Corrosion of sliding shafts if you forget to dry them out after use (a risk in general with any telescopic-type pole)
The Verdict
Our Rating
4.5 out of 5
the Short Read…
The Black Diamond Expedition 3’s are a bomber and practical set of 3-piece telescopic snowboard or ski touring poles.
Weight Per Pair : 516 - 521g (depending on length)
Collapsed to Max Lengths : 57-125 cm or 62-140 cm
The Long read …
This review is about the Expedition 3 version up to the 2020 season, though the latest 2020 version of it looks like having just fairly minor tweaks. The Expedition 3 is a 3-piece collapsible telescopic pole, slightly heavier than the other telescopic pole Black Diamond make (the “Whippet”) but it also collapses shorter, which is very practical for stowage.
I’ve used Expeditions for several years, first the series 2 and now the Expedition 3. They are reliable, very sturdy and being 3-piece they collapse to a length that is short enough to stow on the inside of my pack, or on the outside and fit within the pack’s height. They are also a more reasonable cost compared to alternatives such as Leki poles.
The two locking-arms per pole are easy to operate with or without gloves and the lock pressure can be adjusted if you ever wanted to (I’ve never to).
The decent size snow baskets that come with them work just fine: very secure once fitted but easy enough to remove.
There are two lengths on offer: 57 cm (collapsed) to 125 cm, or the longer 62 cm (collapsed) to 140 cm. I’m pretty tall at 6’ 2” (188cm) but I use the shorter 125 cm poles extended to 120cm for snowboard touring, which works well for me - shorter for stowage in/outside my pack, lighter, and I still have another 5cm to spare if needed (again, never needed that so far).
Even at almost full extension, these poles are bomber - really sturdy. I can put my full weight on them, say trying to lever myself up out of the snow when I’ve sat on my arse, and the baskets and locks hold just fine.
The grip strap length is easy adjustable on the fly, should you need to.
The foam grips themselves are pretty ergonomic, with high and low shaped sections to give you options. If I was super picky I’d want that foam grip to extend even further down the shaft, right down to the first lock, but hey, I can live with them as-is.
A word of warning - probably as with any telescopic poles, you need to take care of these babies when you come inside at the end of the day - separate all the shafts complete, pull them right apart so you have 6 separate sections in your hands, and let ‘em dry. If you don’t do this, and water remains in the barrels between shafts for extended periods, then those inside surfaces will eventually corrode and you’ll end up having a hell of a time adjusting the length even inside in the warm - out on the hill when the cold has shrunk the metal a bit, it may become impossible. Look after these poles and they’ll look after you!
Overall, these are a big recommend for function and price.
