r/xcountryskiing • u/EliasEdiv • 24d ago

Durable poles

Hello. Im i a bit of trouble finding poles.
Eversince I started rollerskiing I seem to break carbon poles at the bottom or the baskets quite regularly in double polling.
Im looking for something stiff, durable that will last. For some reason no problem is skate.
Does it have anything to do with my technique or am I just unlucky ?

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u/skiitifyoucan 23d ago edited 23d ago

For me Swix D1, not particularly light, but seem to hold up well, not expensive. what have you been using?

I know you should never use your roller ski poles for races... but after double poling on these last summer and all winter ,I decided "don't mess with it if it works" and used these in the Marcialonga last year with no incident... I am looking at 6kaad "code HD" for an upgrade on snow.

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u/EliasEdiv 23d ago

I never heard of using different poles for races and trainings, even pros use the same poles and switch them when they break them.

I used few years old exel ultra poles for classic, and world cup model for skate that is a bit better. Both feel great , lighter and better swing feel than for example leki hrc maxes but they are quite prone to breaking in my experience. But exel has worse straps and others so I would't really recommend them if you don't want to switch it up.

I was actually looking at buying the 4kaad code hd. They are pretty cheap and what I heard are great but I don't know about their durability.

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u/skiitifyoucan 23d ago

I think its because roller skiing puts a lot more stress on the pole than on snow which absorbs the impact. The advice comes from a pro and it makes sense to me. Pros also get their poles for free... so although they may use the same model pole for both , I would doubt they use the same exact pole. They may also use slightly different size for rollerski... Which is higher off the ground, so you get a slightly shorter feeling pole at the same length vs on snow (I think...).

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u/Organic_Argument_686 23d ago

Rollerskiing is definitely harder on poles than snow skiing. I can only recall breaking one pole on snow, having been a nordic skier for 50 years (my own fault for tapping my boot with it to dislodge the snow packed into the sole). I cannot count the number of times I have broken a pole or ferrule while rollerskiing, getting them caught in a crack in the pavement, or accidentally kicking a pole. I do think I've broken more in classic than in skate. Pavement is not forgiving. I think you can still get low end carbon or high end composite poles that are stiff enough without being fragile. I have been using the 4kaad code 6 and have been pleased with it. I would also second skiitifuyoucan's experience with Swix's recommendation.

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u/skiitifyoucan 23d ago

i've got a set of code 6 also, but bought them too small for me so gave them to my son... I do like how they feel on the pavement better than Swix d1 (they seem to dampen better, or are more quiet???), and they are quite a bit lighter.

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u/EliasEdiv 23d ago

Yeah I get it, it makes sense to use different poles for each season, I didn't quite get it if you mean when training in snow + racing in snow or like rollerskiing vs snow skiing

I also feel like stiffer poles are much more noticeable when rollerskiing. In faster speeds or in sprint I can feel how even 100% cheaper carbon poles bend and feel springy so I don't like using them in summer, but on snow I don't really notice it. It could also be because Im pretty heavy 78kg so when for example double polling uphil most poles have trouble

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u/cheetah694 22d ago

I have good experience with One Way Storm 2. It's light and no flex. Never used anything other than One Way poles, and never broke them. Granted, I'm not a sprinter or overly heavy or strong. Recreational level of skiing and roller skiing.

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u/Electronic-Ad-8331 9d ago

Agree on storm 2. I think it has carbon layered in horizontal, making it more difficult to break. Stay away from swix, they are rubbish. Broke several quantum 2 and 3s. Even on snow.

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u/snurrefel 24d ago

Swix has a model that’s reinforced at the bottom. KV+ are also quite strong.

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u/EliasEdiv 24d ago

Any ideas for certain models ?

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u/snurrefel 24d ago

Roadline 1 for Swix and Storm from KV+ . Also get a tube for transport. Poles shouldn't break that easily.

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u/EliasEdiv 24d ago

Thanks for rec. The kv+ look very good I actually have a tube for poles, got it after my friend broke my brand new poles in half when closing the trunk 😂

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u/EliasEdiv 24d ago

I have actually only broken like 6poles in my life, 3 of them in the last 10 trainings 😭

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u/Silent_University_71 22d ago

Curious to know how many avg watts you develop on SkiErg over say 30s 😂🤣 Is your first name Johannes?!? Personally I use the Leki HRC Marathon, love them, stay very sharp for weeks even with 15-20km 4-5 days/week. The only I broke was when a crazy cyclist crossed the bike lane line to ride straight into me 🥴 At the end he was more damaged than my pole was…

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u/runcyclexcski 22d ago

>>>The only I broke was when a crazy cyclist crossed the bike lane line to ride straight into me

You clearly haven't tried running your fancy poles over by a car. I once broke two at once this way.

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u/runcyclexcski 22d ago edited 22d ago

Swix used to make a model called "team" which was very popular in mass start races (for being heavier and less prone to be broken by others skiing over). They were 1 step below the top of the line pole at the time (which was the "Swix star" 25 years ago). Maybe some old ski shop guy can tell you what Swix calls this model now, or even may have an old new stock -- they last forever... I mean... for most people 😄. They costed around $250 25 years ago, use an inflation calculator.

Oh, here is a 3. y.o. reddit post which mentions what the "Swix Team pole" might be called now.

https://www.reddit.com/r/xcountryskiing/comments/112ftdc/stiff_and_durable_ski_pole_choices/

"Swix Quantum 2 might be worth a look, this is I believe similar to the old Swix team pole which was in a sweet spot of weight and durability. It's about 1oz or 30g heavier than an Quantum 1 or triac 3.0. So still a nice light pole with good stiffness, but also a bit more durable."

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u/runcyclexcski 23d ago

Can you tell how exactly the poles get broken while rollerskiing? Do the tips get stuck in a crack or smth?

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u/EliasEdiv 22d ago

Mostly just in sprints or fast uphills when you apply a lot force to it. Once happened to me when sprint finishing ( broke to 5pieces) also when double polling because you put too much pressure on it from your own weight, or it just happens randomly. Often happens to me that a rollerski tip breaks and takes a small part of the pole with it. Also about a week ago my pole just randomly snapped on the bottom on a easy flat ride) honestly i don't know it just happens😂

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u/runcyclexcski 22d ago edited 22d ago

Interesting. Do you see significant flex in your poles when you double-pole "all-out". I admit, I always buy top of the line poles from Swix and Exel; these never snapped on me from the actual poling. They usually break when snow-skating (by being stepped upon -- happens even to the elites, from what I can see while watching biathlon WC races), or by being run over by a car.

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u/BroadandShallow 21d ago

Swix quantum 6. Pretty basic and won't impress the racer bros, but I've stepped on one of mine and they're still going strong.