Ski Poles for Adults & Kids | Borderline Outdoor

Ski Poles buying guide

Pick the length

One Way's guide puts pole length at about 0.7 × your height. Its chart gives 115–120 cm for skiers 165–170 cm tall, 120–125 cm at 175 cm, 125–130 cm at 180 cm and 130–135 cm at 185–190 cm. For kids it runs from 80–85 cm at 115–120 cm tall to 110–115 cm at 160 cm. Most poles here are fixed length in 5 cm steps. The Salomon Steep Vario Jr adjusts from 80 to 110 cm with its Easy Lock system, so it can be lengthened as a child grows.

Shaft, grip and strap

Most shafts here are aluminium, many in 6061 alloy (the Salomon Steep and Polar, the Faction poles and One Way's junior poles). The carbon-shaft options are One Way's GT 13 Carbon Mag (70% carbon) and GT 13 Comp Mag (30% carbon) and Atomic's Revent Carbon Lite. Shafts run from 13 mm on the slim One Way GT 13 to 18 mm on the Salomon Steep and Polar and the Faction Prodigy. One Way's Mag Point poles use a strap system with an integrated safety release, and the junior poles have grips and straps sized for kids' hands.

Baskets

Many poles come with a piste or all-mountain basket. Salomon's Steep has a freeride basket sized for on- and off-piste skiing, and Faction's Prodigy a 60 mm freestyle basket. Salomon's Steep and Polar baskets screw onto a plastic ring, and One Way lists its larger Off Piste Basket as compatible with all its alpine poles, so a bigger powder basket can be fitted later.

Questions

What length ski poles do I need?

One Way's guide is about 0.7 × your height: for example 115–120 cm if you are 165–170 cm tall, 125–130 cm at 180 cm and 130–135 cm at 185–190 cm.

What length poles does my child need?

One Way's junior chart gives 80–85 cm for kids 115–120 cm tall, 95–100 cm at 140 cm and 110–115 cm at 160 cm. An adjustable pole like the Salomon Steep Vario Jr (80–110 cm) can be lengthened as they grow.

Are these ski poles adjustable?

Most are fixed length, in 5 cm steps. The Salomon Steep Vario Jr is adjustable, from 80 to 110 cm.

Can I change the baskets for powder?

On many, yes. Salomon's Steep and Polar baskets screw onto a plastic ring, and One Way lists its larger Off Piste Basket as compatible with all its alpine poles.

Which poles have carbon shafts?

One Way's GT 13 Carbon Mag (70% carbon, 222 g per pole at 125 cm) and GT 13 Comp Mag (30% carbon), and Atomic's Revent Carbon Lite. The aluminium poles include the Salomon Steep and Polar and the Faction Lite, which Faction calls its lightest full-size pole.