Black Diamond goes Pro with FlickLock redesign

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The new FlickLock Pro locking mechanism from Black Diamond has twice the holding strength, a lower profile, and stainless-steel construction. ...

Full article at http://www.trailspace.com/articles/2012/02/06/black-diamond-flicklock-pro.html

As I said on FB "Great product, but until they have a warranty better than the 1yr that they offer I will be hanging out in the Leki camp(lifetime on poles.)"

I know alot of people complain or have troubles with the twist locks on some models. 

My Leki's have yet to cause me grief. Then again, I tear them down and clean out the trail crud that can get into the tubing after ever trip...

Maintenance is key with any item of gear one uses. 

The FlickLock is most definitely NOT a twist lock. I have had the original FlickLocks in heavy use for close to 15 years now in 2 versions of the probe poles (aluminum and carbon fiber, and a Whippet conversion) and the Expedition poles. I use them heavily for skiing, regular training in the local hills, and for mountaineering expeditions (those are the expedition poles in my avatar on the 2006 Antarctic trip). So I have no worries about the warranty question. I had one minor problem with the clamp not being tight enough a couple years back on the expedition poles, (after 7 or 8 years of use). A call to BD's warranty phone got a set of replacement Flicklocks by mail within a few days, which completely cured the problem.

I have Leki poles as well (with their "flicklock" version). These have also proven dependable. Both Barb and I have had occasional slippage with the Leki twist poles, mostly due to insufficient tightening, but also due to overnight temperature changes when we didn't loosen them for the night. Either BD or Leki are quite good, with some points in favor of each. On the other hand, Komperdell's (both with their own label and with the REI label) have worn out pretty quickly.

Bill, I wasn't aware who was the actual manufacturer on REI poles. Thanks for that tid bit of info. 

Now if I could just figure out who manufactures their tents lol.

I've tried the REI poles and the Black Diamond.  I would have to constantly adjust the REI poles throught the trip...always slipping, but the the BD flicklocks I set them once and they stayed that way.

Black Diamond’s warranty dept. has been stellar in my opinion.  They’ve sent me two replacement lower pole sections and a few wrist straps free with just a phone call.  They have never hassled me about a one year warranty.  

Black Diamond is one of the Cadillac’s of the outdoor industry!

Love it

I love Black Diamond. They sent me two lower pole replacements, and a few wrist wraps, for free. I've never had to fight them at all for any warranty stuff. But then I do call them directly and talk to people.

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