Review: Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ

The lightest class trekking pole is not just about its lightness.

Trekking poles have become an indispensable part of mountain trekking over the past few years, and they are extremely convenient gear that can be used to reduce the load on your feet and provide support in easy-to-go areas. On the other hand, even if it's not at all, it doesn't mean you can't take action.

For this reason, personally, the key to choosing a pole is to choose "how to eliminate waste (such as weight and volume) with a minimum level of usability ," but this black diamond distance carbon FLZ is a high-end model from the Distance series, which "follows lightness and compactness." This is the most popular pole, one of the lightest and most compact of the many trekking poles for mountain climbing. After trying it out throughout this season, I realized that it couldn't be better for mountain hiking during the spring to autumn seasons. I'd like to start a review of this trekking pole.

Detailed review

Item name (reference price)

Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ (Reference price: 21,384 yen)

 

Main Specifications and ratings

item	Specifications and ratings
size	95-110(34)cm 105-125(37)cm 120-140(40)cm ( ) When stored inside
weight	95-110cm=345g 105-125cm=355g 120-140cm=365g
Shaft material	Carbon Fiber Shaft
Storage method	Foldable
Length adjustment	Pinlock + lever lock (flick lock 2) method
grip	Lightweight EVA Foam Grip Mini Extension Grip
strap	Combined with mesh material, it is breathable strap
accessories	Rubber Tip
Ease of use	★★★★☆
weight	★★★★★
Storageability	★★★★☆
Durability	★★★☆☆
Multifunctional	★★★☆☆
price	★★☆☆☆
Overall score	★★★★☆

This is amazing!

Are you going to do it this far? Thoroughly lightweight

There is no doubt that the biggest reason for choosing this pole is its "lightness." When I tried it, it was certainly just as light as an idiot. Even a weaker person can control it without any effort, so you'll even forget that you have it. In addition to climbing using a pole, this lightness is actually very important because the upper body, such as shoulders and wrists, can be tired due to the pole's lifting movement.

By the way, there are many carbon trekking poles, the GRIPWELL Carbon Super Light , the Montbell Alpine Carbon Pole , and the SINANO Folder FREE 125 , but why is it so light that you can stand out from the head? The difference was in the attention to detail.

For example, the grip is made lighter by removing the lightweight EVA foam, which is less slippery even when wet. Of course, just because it is lighter, it doesn't make it difficult to grip. The strap is made of polyester, making it lightweight to the fullest (including an extra breathability) .

This effort to reduce the weight of the product is seen in detail, not only to reduce durability and ease of use.

Furthermore, since carbon shafts have been reduced to this extent, I have been interested in its durability, as it has been discussed in a variety of ways since the carbon shafts were introduced. So, not just this model, but also carbon from other manufacturers, I used it carefully, sometimes increasing the load and hammering it against rocks, but the truth is that up to now there have been almost no scenes where it has broken or clearly felt uneasy. For now, there is no need to worry about normal use as a threat to safety (although it is of course impossible to say that this applies at any time).

Not just light, compact storage size

It's true that it's lighter, but it's true that the reality is that there are also lighter trekking poles (such as the LOCUS GEAR CP3). However, what makes this pole superior is its storage system. By using a folding type instead of the conventional telescoping type (a type in which tubes with different diameters extend and contract, like telescopes), the storage size can be made compact to 37cm (125cm pole) ( *If you would like to know more about classifying trekking poles, see How to Choose a Trekking Pole ).

The numbers are just a few tens of centimeters, but in reality, small backpacks that are used on day hiking can be used to make a big difference in whether they can protrude or not when carrying them on your back, and the distance carbon, which uses a more compact folding type, is even more convenient when you include this portability. What's more, it can be adjusted while maintaining its lightness and compactness, so it can be said that there is no gap.

A safe and easy-to-tune locking system

The length adjustment (lock) method uses the Flick Lock 2, a lever locking method that Black Diamond has been cultivated with ski poles for over a dozen years. Naturally, the materials used here are also being made lighter.

The traditional screw lock type (a type in which the pole is rotated to lock) requires force, and there was a risk that it would loosen if it was not tightened properly, but this (lever lock type) can be secured firmly by simply snapping the lever to the length you want to secure it (and it is also easy to operate even with the gloves on) .

By the way, if you think the lever is a little loose, you can adjust it with a screwdriver.

This is not good

Basket that cannot be replaced

The Black Diamond Distance Series is positioned as a series that thoroughly pursues light and compactness, and the manufacturer's opinion is that it "is not as strong and durable as the company's other series, and is not suitable for use in winter," making it a design that makes it impossible to replace the basket for snow surfaces . I understand that view, but now that snow sports are not limited to backcountry and alpine climbing, they are now diversifying into light activities such as snowshoeing and snow hiking, so I guess it's a mistake to think that even these ultra-light models have a snow basket option. SINANO and GRIPWELL, competing products made of similarly made, offer snow baskets separately as accessories, so we hope for this kind of response.

GRIPWELL Carbon Super Light	SINANO Folder FREE 125
View details on Amazon GRIPWELL CARBON SUPER LITE	View details on Amazon SINANO Folder FREE 125

price

The cost of over 20,000 yen is certainly tough. However, this is not an abnormally expensive model compared to similar performance models , it is likely that it will be a matter of how important it will be to prioritize this quality. Black Diamond model, which is similarly usable and weighs 100g and is 5,000 yen cheaper, and the distance FLZ is a sufficiently excellent pole.

Summary: What kind of activities do you recommend?

It can be used for a wide range of purposes, from trail running to regular hiking and mountain climbing, and is easy to use and comfortable as compared to other models, and more than anything else, it is so light that you forget you have it, and the difference in walking and fatigue between holding and not having it is immeasurable. During the snowless season, you will become a more reliable and unsung hero than anyone else. The only thing that makes it difficult to use in snow is that it has a weakness in its versatility, so I don't recommend it to anyone who really wants to just do it with just one snowflake, including snow, but if you're often in a snowless season around 9:1, wanting to enjoy a comfortable mountain hiking trip between spring and autumn, or if you're planning on getting a model that's resistant to snow, this is definitely recommended!