From my experience over the years, Black Diamond can be counted as true experts when it comes to poles for outdoor use, offering a huge breadth of options to cater for different types of trips and needs. This pair, the Trail Vista FLZ, is designed for treks into rough country – when you want a trekking pole that strikes the right balance between weight and durability.
I’ve been using them through this spring, most notably on a round of Helvellyn and its two ridges, and also during a two-day trek of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, and the set has performed well for me. I’ve also been impressed by the materials and design.
Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ: The Top Line
These recycled aluminium poles strike a very good balance, being reasonably light but also very durable. The Z-shaped folding system makes them very compact, but there’s also height adjustment – something that a lot of Z-type poles don’t offer. All of this is rounded off by a long, ergonomic grip and a comfortable strap.
Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ
★★★★★
Durability
I’ve tested a lot of poles, mainly carbon ones, that do have a slightly fragile feel to them. Carbon poles are often prized for their low weight and ability to dampen trail vibration. However, that weight saving can come at a cost, as carbon is generally less forgiving under sudden stress and more prone to snapping rather than bending – particularly in cold conditions. On rough, rocky ground or when scrambling, aluminium options like these from Black Diamond trade a slight weight penalty for noticeably greater resilience and longevity. This was most clearly demonstrated on our Yorkshire Three Peaks trek, on which Dave, who I was hiking with, managed to snap his Leki carbon pole, while I had no issues with these.
Another thing I noticed is how durable the paint is. I’ve used poles in the past where the paint chips and scratches off very easily, but my pair of Trail Vistas have held up well and still look smart even after a lot of use.
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Despite being aluminium, they don’t feel harsh or overly jarring on hard surfaces either. There’s still a decent level of natural shock absorption through the shaft, so you’re not taking the full impact through your arms on harder terrain, which makes a difference over longer days.
Height Adjustment and Packability
You can buy the Trail Vista FLZ in two sizes, with a minimum-maximum length of 110 to 125cm or 120 to 135cm. These sizes should cater for most people. I’m 5 foot 10 and had the 120 to 135cm version, which worked nicely for me – and it also worked with my Durston tarp tent.
