Diorite Telescopic Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles

When carbon fiber poles first came out, they had a bit of a bad reputation as carbon fiber is prone to breaking when they take a perpendicular force. They seem to have gotten better over the years (it seems to take me longer to break a pair). Diorite sources their carbon fiber from the USA firm Goodwins Composites, who also supplies carbon fiber to NASA. They let me know they have been sourcing from Goodwin Composites since the very first version of the poles and have been very happy with the performance.

The telescopic poles lock in place with a simple flip-lock mechanism. It has a screw adjustment to really tighten it down. I had no worries about the lock slipping during a step descent. Initially I was concerned that the flip section had such a low profile that you would have to take your gloves off to adjust it. However, I had no problem flipping the lock with my fuzzy/slippery gloves.

The poles also come with very easy to change baskets (comes with a narrow mud basket and wide snow basket). These simply screw on and off and there doesn’t appear to be an issue with the baskets. The carbide tip is also easily replaceable.

The version I tested came with the soft EVA foam handles. These were easy grip, they worked well on hot days when my hands were sweaty. Although it was too warm to wear my previously mentioned fuzzy gloves for very long, they also gripped the handles well.

The poles felt very stable while scrambling over loose rocks and climbing steeper trails. And it was nice being able to extend them on the steeper down hills.

All these details are just table stakes for providing a reliable backcountry trekking pole, but is it going to be the “the last pole you ever buy”? As soon as you make a carbon fiber pole it is not likely going to be “the last pole you ever buy.” There is a high likely hood that you are going get the pole wedge in some rocks and you are going to break it. And if you are me, it will likely be within a couple of years.

However, it isn’t the material of the poles that are going to make these the last poles you buy, it is the way the poles are designed and the fact that every single piece of these poles can be replaced. Diorite’s poles are the only poles on the market where you replace any single section of the pole or any single piece. Diorite offers 22 different replacement parts for the poles, ranging from replacing a whole section and its sub-parts right down to replacing the Knurled Nut for the locking device (although shipping is going to cost you more than the nut itself).

I do not know of another manufacturer where you can get this kind of replacement, so this literally could be the last pole you every buy.
 

• Lightweight carbon fiber construction
• Easy length adjustment with very secure friction quick lock
• Lightweight EVA foam grip with breathable, moisture-wicking strap
• All parts are replaceable
• Both Trek Baskets (smaller) and Powder Baskets include 

The Diorite Telescopic Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles may just be the last pair of trekking poles that you ever buy. They are a light well constructed trekking pole that will work for a casual hike to a multi-day epic back packing trip. With the added bonus of standing in as a tarp or tent pole.