Black Diamond Pursuit Review

These poles receive top marks for comfort, construction quality, versatility, and adjustability. They aren't as light or compact as some options, but for most users, these poles are perfect.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

The BD Pursuit spares no expense when it comes to comfort. The cork grips are comfortable right out of the box, and they mold to the contours of the user's hands over time. The secondary grips are made of soft foam that is pleasant to grab, while the top of the handle is rounded and covered in a rubber coating. Any way you hold these poles, they are comfortable to use.

Other nice touches include rarely-seen rubberized lever locks, which add comfort when snapping the locks tight. The wrist strap has relatively thick and soft padding, making them a dream to use when wrapped around the wrists. Our picky gear testers never complained about comfort when using these poles.

Weight

At 19.0 ounces (540 grams) per pair, the Pursuit is among the heavier trekking poles on the market. This can be explained by the three-section telescoping design, solid aluminum shaft sections, and metal lever locks. All of these components add weight, but they also increase durability.

If you are looking for the lightest pole on the market for long-distance lightweight backpacking or mountain running, these poles are likely too heavy. That said, they are light enough for everyday hiking, multi-day backpacking trips with big packs, and rugged treks.

Versatility

The Black Diamond Pursuit is versatile enough for most outdoor uses. It excels on the hiking trail, and is the perfect companion for day hikes and longer backpacking trips. It also has versatility for use in the winter months, thanks to the included powder baskets that are great for backcountry skiing or snowshoeing. We wouldn't hesitate to bring these poles on trekking trips to remote destinations, thanks to their reliable durability.

These poles aren't light enough for mountain running, and their large packed size makes them less suitable for scrambling or climbing routes where we'd like to fit our poles into our backpacks. That said, they work great for pretty much everything else.

Locking and Adjustability

We are big fans of metal lever locks, since locking mechanisms are the primary points of failure for most trekking poles in the backcountry. The metal lever locks on the BD Pursuit are confidence-inspiring and durable. And, they have a rubbery coating to make opening and closing the locks more comfortable.

With three telescoping sections, these poles have 40 centimeters (16 inches) or length adjustment, which is plenty for use during all four seasons. This amount of length adjustment is more than most other trekking poles on the market, and it provides a tremendous amount of versatility. For example, the same pair of poles can be used by a variety of users of different heights. Users who like shorter poles for summer hiking can use the same pair of poles when snowshoeing or backcountry skiing, where longer poles are helpful.

The lever locks on the BD Pursuit can be tightened and loosened only with a small hexagonal bit, which is cleverly included with the poles. When the lever locks aren't providing enough tension, this bit is needed to tighten the clamping pressure of the lever lock. The bit is permanently attached to the cap of the lowest section of the pole, meaning you'll never lose the tool when out adventuring.

Packed Size

Collapsing down to 25 inches (65 centimeters), the Black Diamond Pursuit is still quite large when fully collapsed. This means that it is harder to fit into luggage, and it certainly won't fit into the inside of a day pack. Certain users, like peakbaggers and rock climbers, prefer poles that pack smaller so that they can be stowed inside a backpack when travelling through technical terrain.

Most users won't need to pack their poles away into a backpack, but many will need to fit their trekking poles into luggage for air travel. These poles will only fit into full-sized duffels and suitcases.

Construction Quality

Every component of the Black Diamond Pursuit is built to last. The aluminum shafts are sturdy and strong. And while aluminum will bend, it resists snapping, making these poles a great choice for any users who anticipate heavy loads while backpacking or trekking through rugged terrain. The lever locks are metal, meaning they won't break when impacting obstacles, and there is a carbide tip on the bottom of the pole to resist wear and tear.

The foam and cork grip components are relatively durable, and the rubber handle lasts a long time as well, in our experience with Black Diamond trekking poles. These poles are a great choice for remote treks and expeditions, thanks to their reliability and heavy-duty construction.

Should You Buy the Black Diamond Pursuit?

The Pursuit is a good choice for anyone looking for a solid, high-performance trekking pole for hiking, backpacking, and trekking. Generally, it offers the same performance as the best trekking poles on the market, and it does so at a lower price. It lacks the small packed size that specialists like mountain runners, alpine climbers, and peakbaggers might want. And, it's not the lightest pole out there for the gram-counters. But for most hikers, this pole is all you'll ever need.

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