Ski touring poles · Test magazine 2020
Tech talk with Verena Helminger, KOMPERDELL
Marketing / Trade Fairs / Events · Print page 81
Who is Verena Helminger? Marketing, trade shows and events at KOMPERDELL
Verena Helminger works in marketing, trade shows and events at KOMPERDELL. She spends as much of her free time as possible in the mountains, hiking, trail running, ski touring or skiing on piste. Alongside her enthusiasm for the mountains, her connection to the products is important to her. In the BACKLINE 2020 test magazine, she discusses the selection, use and care of ski touring poles.
Helminger recommends two-section poles for beginners and ambitious ski tourers alike. She highlights the low weight of carbon and the robustness of aluminium. A comfortable grip and an extended grip zone for changing hand positions on steep terrain are important selection criteria for her. In her view, three-section models are particularly suitable for a compact packed size, for splitboarders and for additional use when hiking. She considers folding poles only partly suitable for winter use because of potential rattling, but useful when they need to be stowed in a backpack.
The technical trends Helminger identifies include lower weight, special grip and basket shapes for operating binding climbing aids, and simple basket-change systems for year-round use. For descents in deep snow, she advises taking hands out of pole straps; on ascents, she emphasises their energy-saving benefits. Before winter, she recommends cleaning the Powerlock locking mechanism, adjusting it correctly and checking its maximum holding force.
For which uses in ski touring do you recommend two-piece or three-piece poles, and who should use folding poles?
Two-piece poles suit every ski tourer, from beginner to ambitious summit hunter. The difference between two-piece poles clearly lies in weight: carbon poles are extremely light, aluminium poles very robust. A good grip feel is an essential point when buying a pole. The long grip zone allows you to change hand position easily and comfortably in steep terrain. Three-piece poles are highly recommended if you want a small packed size for the backpack – for example splitboarders – or if you also want to use the pole for hiking in summer. Here too the extended grip zone matters for steep terrain. If the pole is used in summer and winter, an easy system for swapping small summer baskets for large touring baskets should be included. Folding poles are only partly suitable for ski touring, because most of them rattle between the segments in winter. At Komperdell there are currently two models that can be used for touring without rattling. Folding poles make sense when they have to be stowed in the pack, for example on rocky ascents or for a splitboarder''s descent. In principle folding poles are heavier because more individual parts are built into the pole.
Which main technical trends do you expect in touring poles in the future?
Weight will play an ever more important role. We will see more and more well-thought-out solutions for specific requirements, for example operating the climbing aids on bindings easily thanks to special grip or basket shapes. Very simple basket-change systems are becoming more and more important so that one pole model can be used flexibly in summer and winter.
Mountain guide training recommends not using pole straps on the descent, because hands in the straps are harder to use in an avalanche. Many also believe it makes deploying an airbag harder. What is your position?
On deep-snow descents always take your hands out of the straps. For the ascent, however, the strap is very useful and noticeably saves energy.
Which maintenance tips for touring poles do you have for our readers before the coming winter?
I recommend cleaning the locking system (Powerlock) before winter, adjusting it properly and checking it for maximum holding force. If you are not quite sure, Komperdell offers to have the poles sent in free of charge. We are happy to check the Komperdell pole and send it back within 24 hours. In principle, though, poles are almost maintenance-free.
