Carbon Composite Material Nordic XC Alpine Ski Poles Walking poles

Cross country ski poles are defined by their three different components: their shaft, their grip, and their basket. Different poles cater to different types of skiers. At XCMAN, we carry all types of poles, from touring to elite race. Click here to check out our full selection of poles. This guide will walk you through what makes a pole, and we'll suggest some poles to choose from based on your level of skiing.

For choosing pole length, ski poles differ in length depending on whether you are classic skiing or skating. Classic poles tend to be 7 to 10 centimeters shorter than skate poles to account for the striding motion in the classic technique. The general rule is that classic poles should come to the top of your shoulder, while poles for skating should come between your lips and nose. If you don't know exactly what length pole to buy, you can select an approximate size and then mention your height in the comments section on the checkout confirmation page.

Shaft

An ideal cross country ski pole shaft is light and stiff. The shaft will be the largest contributing factor to the pole's weight, which makes a difference over the hundreds or thousands of times you lift your arms in a race, and the stiffness allows for full power transfer from your arms to the snow. The stiffer a pole is, the more it allows that power to work toward driving you forward, instead of wasting energy on bending the pole.

Touring and recreational skiers tend to favor an aluminum or low end fiberglass shaft, as these can be fairly light, and power transfer is not a major concern of the recreational skier.

For the racing athlete, most pole shafts will be a mix between carbon fiber and fiberglass. More expensive models add progressively higher amounts of carbon, with the most expensive models featuring high grade epoxies and custom weaves or braids of carbon. The poles at the lower end of this line will serve new racers well, but as an athlete becomes stronger they will want to upgrade their poles to a stiffer, higher carbon percentage pole, as they will begin to notice that composite poles literally bend during poling, wasting precious energy.

Grip

A pole's grip will generally be made of either cork or plastic coated in rubber. While similar in weight, the cork is slightly softer and less abrasive than the rubber, and so is more commonly seen on high end race level poles. Cork grips are especially nice for roller skiing and pole running, when an athlete might not want to use gloves. Cork will also last longer than rubber under intense use. This makes rubber a perfectly good material for touring poles, as they will tend not to be held as aggressively and will generally be used with thicker gloves.

Basket

There are three broad categories of baskets: normal, Triac Basket System, and roller ski ferrules.

A normal basket will be attached to the end of the pole using hot glue, and can range from a small race basket to a large touring basket. Race baskets are smaller because they will only be used on groomed trails, and so do not need to spread out their impact on the snow as much, and to lower the swing weight of the pole in the quest for speed. Touring baskets, on the other hand, cover a much wider area, sacrificing weight for the ability to stay on top of the snow when off the packed trail.

The Triac Basket System (TBS) design makes it easier to change out pole baskets, and has the advantage of there being no glue involved-- rather than the normal procedure of heating up the tip of your pole until the glue softens and you're able to pull the basket off, you simply unscrew a cuff from the basket, slide it off, slide a new one on, and screw the cuff over this. The disadvantage of this is that roller ski ferrules are about double the price for the TBS. For many skiers, though, this is not a concern, as they will never change their baskets.

Roller ski ferrules are the primary reason that people change their baskets. In the summer, to roller ski or run with poles on the road, you want a harder tip than the normal steel tip that comes on a basket, and so you get a ferrule which has a carbide tip. This ferrule will not have any extraneous basket parts on it (which are used in the winter to keep the pole at the top of the snow, and which become entirely unnecessary on pavement).

Cross Country Ski Poles or Alpine Ski Shaft: Size 16/9mm 20%/50%/70%/90%/10%/100%HM Carbon composite material poles.

Length:150/155/160/165cm

Tip:Tungsten Tip

Strap:Adjustable Soft Wrist Strap

Grip:Nature Cork

We can provide: 
1, Quality guarantees with SGS test reports and CE test reports on request.
2, Short sample and production lead times.
3, Professional services.
4, OEM and ODM designs are highly welcomed. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When can I get the quotation?

We usually quote within 24 hours after we get your inquiry. If you are very urgent to get the price, please call us or tell us in your email so that we will regard your inquiry priority.

2. How can I get a sample to check your quality?

We will provide you our existing sample to check our quality,but shipping cost need to paid by you.

Or after price confirmation, you can require for samples to check our quality, but sample cost need to paid by you .And the sample cost can be refundable if your bulk order quantity reach our request.

3. What kind of files do you accept for printing?

PDF, Core Draw, Adobe Illustrator.

4. Can you do the design for us?

Yes. We have a professional designing team, just tell us your ideas and we will help to carry out your ideas into perfect products. It is also ok if you do not have the complete files. Send us high resolution images, we can design the layout you want,until you are satisfied.

5. How long can I expect to get the sample?

After you pay the sample charge and approval the layout, mostly, the samples will be ready for delivery in 5-7 days. The samples will be sent to you via express, it is ok to use your own express account or prepay us if you do not have an account.

6. Can i order multiple product colors(of applicable products)?

Yes!You can order multiple product colors on applicable items.

Please note there is no additional charge for ordering multiple product colors with the same artwork and imprint color and you will receive the price break for the total quantity. However, if you would like two different imprint colors additional charges may apply.

7. What is your terms of delivery?

We accept EXW, FOB, CIF, etc. You can choose the one which is the most convenient or cost effective for you.

 Send your question,I am sure you will get a satisfied and professional answer;

Send your requirement,you will get a perfect artwork.

 Send the inquiry now.