Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Review
Our Verdict
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This Product
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork | |||||
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Awards | Best Overall Trekking Pole | Best Overall Women's-Specific Trekking Pole | Outstanding Value in a Lightweight Pole | Best Bang for Your Buck | |
Price | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $159.58 at Amazon Compare at 3 sellers | $230 List $229.95 at Amazon | $99.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $45 List $44.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | This is a comfortable pole with excellent durability and adjustability | This versatile trekking pole is the best option for most users | Expertly designed folding poles that are versatile, packable, and highly comfortable | This is the best value in a lightweight pole, though it lacks the ability to adjust its length | These affordable and fully-featured trekking poles are a great value |
Rating Categories | Black Diamond Alpin... | MSR DynaLock Ascent... | Leki Cressida FX Ca... | Black Diamond Dista... | Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 |
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Weight (20%) | |||||
Versatility (20%) | |||||
Locking and Adjustability (15%) | |||||
Packed Size (15%) | |||||
Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
Specs | Black Diamond Alpin... | MSR DynaLock Ascent... | Leki Cressida FX Ca... | Black Diamond Dista... | Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 |
Measured Weight Per Pair (Size Tested) | 17.0 oz | 17.0 oz (size: 100-120 cm) | 17.0 oz | 12.5 oz (size: 110 cm) | 26.0 oz (size: 100-120 cm) |
Measured Collapsed Length (Tested Size) | 24.0 in | 14.3 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 16.0 in | 14.0 in (size: 110 cm) | 15.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) |
Measured Max Length (Tested Size) | 51.0 in | 47.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) | 47.0 in | 43.3 in (size: 110 cm) | 47.0 in (size: 100-120 cm) |
Shaft Material | Carbon | Carbon fiber | Carbon | Aluminum | Aluminum |
Pole Design | Collapsible | Collapsible | Foldable | Foldable | Foldable |
Grip Material | Cork | Rubber, plastic, foam | Cork | EVA foam | Foam |
Locking Mechanism | Metal lever locks | Metal lever lock | Snap button extension, plastic lever lock | Snap button extension | Snap button extension and metal lever lock |
Included Baskets and/or Tip Attachments | Trail baskets, interchangeable carbide tips (included) and rubber tips (sold separately), snow baskets (sold separately) | Trail baskets, snow baskets, carbide tip, rubber tips (sold separately) | Trail basket, universal carbide flex tip | Trail baskets, interchangeable carbide and rubber tips, snow baskets (sold separately) | Trail baskets, snow baskets, carbide tip, rubber feet, rubber tips |
Sizes Available (Size Tested) | One size | 2 Sizes: 100-120 (tested), 120-140 cm | One size | 4 Sizes: 100, 110 (tested), 120, 130 cm | 2 Sizes: 115-135 cm, 100-120 cm (tested) |
Advertised Weight Per Pair By Size (Per Manufacturer) | 17.0 oz | 16 / 17.0 oz | 17.2 oz | 11.2 / 11.6 / 12.1 / 12.6 oz | 19.0 oz / 22.0 oz |
Advertised Collapsed Length (Per Available Size) | 24 in | 14.3 in / 17.5 in | 16 in | 13 / 14.6 / 15.7 / 17.3 in | 15.0 / 15.0 in |
Advertisd Max Length (Per Available Size) | 51 in | 47.0 in / 55.0 in | 47.0 in | 39.4 /43.3 / 47.2 / 51.2 in | 47.2 / 53.1 in |
Our Analysis and Test Results
These poles perform well across the board, only coming up short for their packed size and weight. In the era of Z-style, collapsable, thin carbon poles, these stand out for their strength and durability.
Performance Comparison
Comfort
The Alpine Carbon Cork uses a cork handle that molds to the user's hands over time. It is minimally contoured out of the box, but still provides immediate comfort that only improves with use. Cork is our favorite grip material for trekking poles for just these reasons. In addition, the thick carbon fiber shafts absorb impacts with solid rock, and there is a foam grip extension below the main grip that is useful for climbing steep hills or for crossing unstable slopes. The wrist straps are wide and comfortable and are even labeled with right and left hand-specific lettering for better wrist comfort.
Weight
At 17.0 ounces per pair, the Carbon Cork weighs in around the middle of the pack. Carbon shaft sections help save weight compared to aluminum construction, but the metal level locks and a cork grip add weight. Over the course of our testing period, we appreciated these touches. As a result, these poles scored higher than many lighter poles in comfort and durability. In the trekking pole field, durability and comfort are generally increased by adding weight. These poles won't weigh you down, but they aren't the lightest option out there.
Versatility
The Alpine Carbon Cork is a relatively versatile pole. We have used it for day hikes, 100-mile treks, rocky alpine approaches, and pitching our tarp tent in the evening. It can also be used for backcountry skiing or splitboarding in a pinch. For climbers and technical scramblers, we recommend foldable poles that are lighter and that collapse smaller. These poles are compatible with rubber tips for better traction and to leave no trace on desert sandstone. They are also compatible with BD's trekking pole snow baskets. Both the rubber tips and snow baskets are sold separately.
Locking and Adjustability
The Alpine Carbon Cork uses Black Diamond's excellent FlickLock Pro mechanism, which is entirely metal. In our experience, this mechanism is one of the most robust and secure on the market. It closes with a satisfying snap and holds the pole sections in place without fail. The only downside is that the tightness of the lever locks can only be adjusted with a very small Allen key. This makes on-trail adjustments impossible unless you have the tool, which BD includes with purchase. The tool is small and unnoticeable, which keeps it lightweight, but also makes it easy to lose.
Packed Size
The Alpine Carbon Cork packs down to 24 inches, which is about average in our test, and slightly better than average compared to other three-section telescoping poles. The smallest packing poles in our review feature a Z-design that packs down to around 15 inches long. The packed size of the Carbon Cork isn't a problem for most hikers and backpackers, but if you plan on stowing the poles in a backpack for a technical climb, another choice might be better suited to the task.
Construction Quality
These poles are some of the strongest in our review, despite their carbon construction. Thick shafts and metal lever locks, along with a sturdy grip design, make for impressive durability. Over the course of our heavy-duty testing, we weren't able to break or tweak these poles in the slightest. Of course, carbon chips easier than aluminum, so if you deliberately smack them against rocks, they'll wear out quickly. That said, we stuck them in between talus boulders and pulled back and forth, and couldn't get these poles to fail. They are even durable enough to be used for long-duration, heavy-duty trekking to remote regions of the earth. We believe in them that much.
Should You Buy the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork?
These poles are pricey compared to most options, but they also perform well in all of our performance metrics. We love them, and if you hike every week, we think they are worth the price. However, if you only use trekking poles a couple days a year, you can get away with a much less expensive alternative.
What Other Trekking Poles Should You Condsider?
The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon is our all-around favorite trekking pole, providing slightly less durability, but more packability. If you want to save some money, the Black Diamond Pursuit performs well across the board, and is a lot more affordable. If you don't care about all the bells and whistles, and want the lightest trekking pole on the market, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is for you. And if you only use trekking poles a few times per year, the Trekology Trek-Z 2.0 is the best value out there.