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Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Review

This pole features durable construction, a comfortable cork grip, and plenty of length adjustability
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black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review
Credit: Black Diamond
Price:  $200 List
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Manufacturer:   Black Diamond
By Jeff Dobronyi ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Aug 21, 2020
77
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 17
  • Comfort - 20% 10.0
  • Weight - 20% 5.9
  • Versatility - 20% 7.0
  • Locking and Adjustability - 15% 9.0
  • Packed Size - 15% 5.0
  • Construction Quality - 10% 10.0

Our Verdict

The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork is a strong, comfortable, durable, and versatile trekking pole. Other options may be better suited for specialized uses, but the Alpine Carbon Cork is an all-around pole for most occasions, especially if you tend to carry heavy packs. Even though these poles are made with thicker carbon than average, they are still lighter than most aluminum poles, without compromising durability. One of our testers used this set of poles for over seven years, and they held up well. These aren't the lightest or most packable poles we tested, but they make up for this with their comfort, durability, and versatility.
REASONS TO BUY
Tough
Comfortable
Great locking mechanism
Compatible with different tips and baskets
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as light or packable as other poles
Pricey

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Overall Score Sort Icon
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64
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This is a comfortable pole with excellent durability and adjustabilityThis versatile trekking pole is the best option for most usersExpertly designed folding poles that are versatile, packable, and highly comfortableThis is the best value in a lightweight pole, though it lacks the ability to adjust its lengthThese 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%)
10.0
10.0
10.0
6.0
8.0
Weight (20%)
5.9
5.9
5.9
8.1
2.0
Versatility (20%)
7.0
9.0
9.0
6.0
6.0
Locking and Adjustability (15%)
9.0
9.0
9.0
3.0
7.0
Packed Size (15%)
5.0
9.0
7.0
10.0
8.0
Construction Quality (10%)
10.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
Specs Black Diamond Alpin... MSR DynaLock Ascent... Leki Cressida FX Ca... Black Diamond Dista... Trekology Trek-Z 2.0
Measured Weight (per pair) 17.0 oz 17.0 oz 17.0 oz 12.5 oz 26.0 oz
Shaft Material Carbon Carbon fiber Carbon Aluminum Aluminum
Collapsed Length 24 in 14.25 in 16 in 13/14/16/17 in 15 in
Max Length 51 in 47 in 47 in 39/43/47/51 in 47 in
Pole Design Collapsible Collapsible Foldable Foldable Foldable
Grip Material Cork Rubber, plastic, foam Cork EVA foam Foam
Locking Mechanism FlickLock Pro DynaLock Lever lock Speed Cone Deployment Lever lock
Baskets/Tip Attachments? Yes, carbide tips, trail baskets and snow baskets (sold separately) Yes, winter and summer baskets Yes, trekking Yes, rubber and carbide tips Yes, powder and trail baskets, boots, and narrow tips
Size Tested One size 100-120 cm One size 110 cm 100-120 cm

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


black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - the black diamond alpine carbon cork on an overnight hike in...
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork on an overnight hike in southern Utah.
Credit: sam willits

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.

black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - the bd alpine carbon cork grips are excellent and contour to the...
The BD Alpine Carbon Cork grips are excellent and contour to the user's hand over time.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Weight


Weighing in at 17.0 ounces per pair, the Carbon Cork is among the heaviest of the poles in our review. Metal level locks and a cork grip add weight compared to other options, but over the course of the review, 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.

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 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.

black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - the lever lock mechanism is made of metal and locks very securely.
The lever lock mechanism is made of metal and locks very securely.
Credit: jeff dobronyi

black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - this small allen wrench is included with purchase and is used to...
This small allen wrench is included with purchase and is used to adjust the Alpine Carbon Cork's lever lock tightness.
Credit: jeff dobronyi

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.

black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - the alpine carbon cork doesn't compact nearly as small as foldable...
The Alpine Carbon Cork doesn't compact nearly as small as foldable poles.
Credit: jeff dobronyi

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.

Value


These poles are pricey compared to most options, but the durability and strength that they provide are well worth the cost. They're also relatively versatile, providing comfort for every activity from light day hiking to long-distance trekking in rugged and remote environments. Black Diamond has an excellent warranty program to help protect your investment.

Conclusion


The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork are comfortable, durable, and versatile. Other poles may be better for trips that include technical climbing and scrambling, but if those activities aren't on the agenda, these are some of the best you can buy. They will last for many years and are well worth the investment.

black diamond alpine carbon cork trekking poles review - the bd alpine carbon cork is perfect for overnight hikes with heavy...
The BD Alpine Carbon Cork is perfect for overnight hikes with heavy backpacks.
Credit: sam willits

Jeff Dobronyi