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Poles: Cut 'em or no?

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SkinTrack
Posts: 360 - Karma: 41
Alright so I'm trying to do a little survey for a local shop and i'd be stoked if you guys could answer these questions for me.

When you guys go out to buy a new set of poles what do you look for?

Also, do you buy them for your size or usually just get something kinda close and cut them to your personal preference?


+++ Karma to all answers!!

Thanks guys!



Feb 27 2011 1:10PM
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StillGhood
Posts: 305 - Karma: 613

1. Size

2. Color

3. Brand

They're going to get hacked up so who cares what brand

Feb 27 2011 1:16PM
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owenoc118
Posts: 617 - Karma: 41
i guess its always good to get em a litle big .. then u can cut them down to whatever u like
what brand do u want ?  cuz if u want to just cut go with armada cuz the grips pop off with this switch thing, and then it makes it easier to cut
Feb 27 2011 1:19PM
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mmckechnie
Posts: 1483 - Karma: 29
I look for a decent price.  Poles should cost no more than 30 or 40 dollars.  I mean it's just and aluminum tube with a grip and a tip.  Besides they break easily.  I try to approximately size them to my preference.  But if there is nothing close to what I want i have no problem buying a little big and then using a pipe cutter to make them shorter with a nice smooth cut.  Bright colors or an interesting design is always nice.
Feb 27 2011 1:20PM
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mmckechnie
Posts: 1483 - Karma: 29
Sorry for the dub post, but I have 3 pairs.  One short pair for 100% park, one long pair for when skiing pow, trees, or just groomers, and an in between pair for a mix of park laps as well as all mountain runs.  A durable adjustable length pole would be kind of nice.
Feb 27 2011 1:23PM
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[J_Gasper]
Posts: 2983 - Karma: 1,594
a good color. nice grip and throw in some pow baskets with it. I like to get mine to size so i dont have to cut them but it wouldnt be that big of a deal if u have to cut them. also no more than 50 bucks
Feb 27 2011 1:24PM
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trettzilla
Posts: 931 - Karma: 29
cheap like not over 50 or 60 bucks and i buy them to size because it can be a pain to cut them down. brand isnt huge to me i just think poles are poles and they are the pretty much the same but they need to be the right size.
Feb 27 2011 1:40PM
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trettzilla
Posts: 931 - Karma: 29
cheap like not over 50 or 60 bucks and i buy them to size because it can be a pain to cut them down. brand isnt huge to me i just think poles are poles and they are the pretty much the same but they need to be the right size.
Feb 27 2011 1:40PM
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reverendwrong
Posts: 3145 - Karma: 142
Grip, that is all I care about...the scott contour grips are the shit. After I find the grip I like best, I buy the cheapest pair regardless of length (unless they are too short) then I take em home and cut them myself with a pipe cutter
Feb 27 2011 1:41PM
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BITS
Posts: 1808 - Karma: 866
i bought my line pins only because of the thin grips.. so comfy and easy grabbing skis
Feb 27 2011 1:42PM
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3-6-steeze
Posts: 1135 - Karma: 147
I just got my poles cut.

color doesn't really matter but it's cool if it matches skis or jacket or whatever. I like head cause i haven't broken mine yet, and i've fallen on them about 10 times this season
Feb 27 2011 1:46PM
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JBlend
Posts: 299 - Karma: 499
Price - If it doesn't really improve my performance even a little bit, I have a hard time justifying to myself that it would be worth it to spend more than $30-$40.

Design - Probably whatever matches my jacket or skis at the time because why not.

Size - I have never cut my poles so I just find the size I like.
Feb 27 2011 2:40PM
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crab_pretzel
Posts: 3919 - Karma: 622
always size. but price i normally take for granted, but that would prob be the first thing. i dont mind color and design so much
Feb 27 2011 3:02PM
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Zvarenza_724
Posts: 206 - Karma: 13
I look for a pole thats durable beacuse i hate when poles bend or snap.
Feb 27 2011 3:03PM
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N.L.
Posts: 2420 - Karma: 2,746

park poles- get one grip you like, and some little baskets, cut them short enough so when you bend down low they are not to tall.

powder poles- get a taller pole with fat baskets for touring without breaking your back

Feb 27 2011 3:22PM
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Malcolm
Posts: 15951 - Karma: 9,451
When you guys go out to buy a new set of poles what do you look for?

whatever's cheapest.

Also, do you buy them for your size or usually just get something kinda close and cut them to your personal preference?

i buy them big and then just cut them down. and like someone else said, i just keep grips that i like
Feb 27 2011 3:27PM
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Elmo.
Posts: 4317 - Karma: 662
i look for design then size (im juts gunna cut em down to like 34/36 inches lol) then durability(scott) there poles dont seem to fail me
Feb 27 2011 3:29PM
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Broseph_Stalin
Posts: 3745 - Karma: 179
1. size
2. wieght
3. grips
4. color
Feb 27 2011 3:33PM
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RalphLauren.
Posts: 710 - Karma: 106
durability. i dont want something that will break easily
Feb 27 2011 3:34PM
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PeteySkeety
Posts: 996 - Karma: 209
I look for a sturdy looking pole with a comfortable handle, nice straps (I don't like adjustable straps), pole baskets (powder vs. park), and color i guess.

I try to buy them my size but if I really like the pole I will buy it then cut it.
Feb 27 2011 3:45PM
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b-ladd
Posts: 2300 - Karma: 48
If I'm actually buying poles, price is the first thing. I would never pay more than $20-$25 for poles, they are easily the most overpriced equipment out there. Aside from that, I couldn't give a shit about how they look, and I try to get them in a size close to what's ideal. I don't mind if they're not dead on, and I never really cut down my poles. Right now I've got one pole with a powder basket and one without, and there's about a centimeter ot two difference in size between the two of them.
Feb 27 2011 3:52PM
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MaryO
Posts: 2583 - Karma: 5,996

Scott, because that is what Tom uses! And I would first try to get em in your preferred length. If not, you have to cut them down to how you like to ride. Comes down to personal preference really.

Feb 27 2011 4:08PM
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_DUSTY_
Posts: 1097 - Karma: 686
Durability, then size. Cutting them can be a bitch.
Feb 27 2011 4:12PM
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chill_davis
Posts: 2107 - Karma: 650
Armada makes a really do it your self pole where they make one size and let you cut it to preference. The grips go on and off easy and its an all around light pole.
Feb 27 2011 4:45PM
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lukemeahan.
Posts: 1689 - Karma: 330
i wanna know how to cut them? yeah i know with a saw or something but like what steps and shit?
Feb 27 2011 5:00PM
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BITS
Posts: 1808 - Karma: 866
1) Heat up the grip (ex.: hairdryer)
2) Pull it off
3) Cut the pole
4) Put grip back on

Thats just about it :)
Feb 27 2011 5:02PM
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lukemeahan.
Posts: 1689 - Karma: 330
thank you! +k
Feb 27 2011 5:37PM
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,462
1. Durable
2. Not more than $50-60
3. Appearance

size doesnt matter, as long as theyre big to begin with so they can be cut to preference. armada does this with their poles.
Feb 27 2011 6:12PM
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Stickity
Posts: 7750 - Karma: 769
don't use them
Feb 27 2011 6:16PM
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.squirrely.
Posts: 7563 - Karma: 7,546
i only buy scott punishers because tom wallisch uses scott punishers
Feb 27 2011 8:03PM
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000000000000
Posts: 843 - Karma: 1,552

cheapest possible, cut em if they are long, retro colors.  Don't use poles that often

Feb 27 2011 8:12PM
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613.
Posts: 827 - Karma: 164
usually color, then size, then price. weight and all dont really matter too much for me...
Feb 27 2011 8:20PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
price, cheaper the better

i get somthing close to the sixe i want then cut from there
Feb 27 2011 8:22PM
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all-i-do-is=ski
Posts: 700 - Karma: 248
1. price
2. grips
3. colour
3. size
Feb 27 2011 8:24PM
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dlilly
Posts: 241 - Karma: 10
here's a neat little fact: I've been using the same pair of poles since i started skiing and they have never broken...im proud of my poles.
Feb 27 2011 8:36PM
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Yinzer
Posts: 1011 - Karma: 73
Be careful, some grips just don't come off.
Feb 27 2011 8:38PM
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chill_davis
Posts: 2107 - Karma: 650
cool story bro
Feb 27 2011 9:10PM
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canterbury
Posts: 2382 - Karma: 55
I have a full length pair of Surface team poles with pow baskets that I use for pow days, and a cheap pair of short junior poles for regular days use and abuse.
Feb 27 2011 9:15PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
size
durability
basket changibility
grips
graphics
brand


In that order. Im 5' 7" and have 46" poles, not cut
Feb 27 2011 10:54PM
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alden.
Posts: 855 - Karma: 360
grips & baskets,
color can be spray painted and size will be shortened anyway
Feb 27 2011 10:55PM
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Parrish
Posts: 8695 - Karma: 1,009
Price, I usually get poles at thrift stores anyways.

Who cares what grips they have , what size they are or what brand they are when you are going to rip the grips off to put on bike grips, cut them down, and probably paint them to your liking.
Feb 27 2011 10:56PM
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Drew_ski.
Posts: 1310 - Karma: 1,858
yep this for me too
Feb 27 2011 10:59PM
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Jennings
Posts: 2190 - Karma: 90
1. price
2. price
3. price
4. price
5. price
6. price
7. price
8. price
9. price
10. price
11. price
12. price
13. price
14. grips
15. color
Feb 27 2011 11:01PM
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EastCoastPowBird
Posts: 100 - Karma: 20

I get rental poles or poles i am givin, cut them to the size i like and make my own grips. Really easy to tell when people try and steal your poles on the mountain too!

Feb 27 2011 11:09PM
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c4t_l0ver
Posts: 5485 - Karma: 810

plain coloured childrens poles.

or armada poles.

Feb 27 2011 11:16PM
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Parrish
Posts: 8695 - Karma: 1,009
Rocking these right now
Feb 27 2011 11:40PM
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snowbombz
Posts: 2456 - Karma: 96
just jack some little kid ones from a rental shop!
Feb 27 2011 11:42PM
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Troy.
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 12,549
1. Cost
2. Grips
3. Design

Grips I can just deal with, and the design I don't care about that much, because I just end up painting mine.

And I don't tend to care about size, because local shops here are nice and cut down for free.
Feb 27 2011 11:45PM
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LittleFoot
Posts: 1667 - Karma: 57
this is the worst survey ever. your questions are really not clear
Feb 27 2011 11:54PM
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hjb
Posts: 742 - Karma: 40
I try not to pay for poles. I think it's better to recycle pairs from second hand shops or lost and found. It doesn't make a huge difference to me which poles I'm using when I ski. Sure, grips and design will influence peoples' decisions on what pair they buy, but they're probably the least durable part of your equipment and end up breaking/bending far too often. So for me it doesn't make sense at all to pay for them (Or pay very much for them) when you go through 2 sets a year.

Although, the qualities I'd look for in a pole in descending order are as follows:

Price
Grips
Weight
Baskets
Graphics
Feb 28 2011 9:56AM
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SkinTrack
Posts: 360 - Karma: 41
Thanks for all the feedback guys!

++K to all!
Mar 1 2011 6:03AM
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