Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ Review

Likes

We've long been fans of Black Diamond's ultralight series of distance trekking poles, and the Distance Carbon FLZ follows that trend. It's a lightweight carbon pole that packs down impressively small while still providing a hint of adjustability—something rarely seen in this category.

After a mix of steep climbs, long descents, and a few faster miles in both the Rocky Mountains and Utah Desert canyons, the FLZ stands out for adding just enough adjustability to a folding pole. Though it doesn't offer a huge range, it's enough to fine-tune length, which we ended up using more than expected.

It feels light and quick in hand. Holding it side-by-side with a traditional pole at a 90-degree elbow bend (a standard way to size a pole), the weight difference is immediately noticeable. On mountain climbs and short runs, the low swing weight made a difference on uneven descents, helping keep a steady rhythm while moving faster. The carbon shafts stay reasonably stiff without adding bulk or noticeable arm fatigue over long stretches.

The Z-fold design packs down small and comes together quickly, making it easy to stash in a pack during scrambles or transitions. It's a clean, efficient setup that fits well into fast-and-light days where space and weight matter. This is a pole designed for mountain runners, ultralight backpackers, and alpine climbers who value packability and capability above all else and are willing to give up a bit of refinement to achieve them.

Dislikes

To achieve such a low weight, Black Diamond pared back some comfort and durability typically expected in trekking poles. The grips and overall feel aren't as plush or forgiving as heavier models. Although the pole is light and efficient, its long-term ruggedness is not effective for weight-bearing or backpacking with heavy packs. When we are focused on moving fast and light, those tradeoffs feel intentional rather than limiting.

The Distance FLZ features ribbed foam grips that are soft and manage sweat well, and yet are slim and fairly minimal, which helps keep weight down. However, many of our testers, especially men with larger pads and digits, noted that it doesn't fit every hand well. The ergonomic shaping feels a bit petite and doesn't fully match larger hands. On longer days, it can create mild pressure points, which a more cushioned grip would absorb. The ergonomic shaping is minimal, and the thin wrist strap delivers less support than more padded designs.

For such a lightweight build, the carbon shafts provide respectable stiffness and hold up well amid typical fast-and-light use. That said, they aren't designed for heavy loading or rough treatment, and repeated hard weighting or off-trail use can push them closer to their thresholds compared to our more sturdy aluminum options.

The adjustability is useful but fairly limited compared to telescoping poles. The FLZ typically offers about 15–20 cm (roughly 6–8 inches) of total adjustability, depending on the size you choose. In contrast, more traditional telescoping poles usually provide a range of 20–30 cm (about 8–12 inches). With a small range of length change, we were able to fine-tune the fit to our height and then made minor adjustments between climbs and descents. However, it doesn't offer the same level of versatility as telescoping poles. This becomes more noticeable for taller or shorter users, or when sharing poles, where a wider adjustment range makes a useful difference.

Should You Buy The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ?

If your priority is moving fast and keeping weight to a minimum, the Distance FLZ is a good choice. It's packable, with just enough adjustability to handle changing terrain, making it well-suited for mountain runners and ultralight missions. The slight adjustability also makes it more useful than other poles in the distance series for tarp-shelter setup.

What Other Trekking Poles Should You Consider?