User Review: Black Diamond Syncline

Summary

Solid, reliable trekking poles designed for day hiking.

Far and away the best thing about these trekking poles is that while they are light they feel sturdy. This is partly do to being made from two telescoping section instead of three and partly do to the type of lock.

Many trekking poles use a cam locking system where twisting the shaft locks the pole. The problem I've had with poles like these is that they can slip if the shaft twist a little bit. Black Diamond uses a Flicklock, a lever that applies tension to a collar around the shaft very similar to the quick release used on bicycle wheels.  I have never felt the shafts slip no matter how I've used them or how much weight I've put on them. These are rock solid, comfortable trekking poles.

The downside is that they were designed more for day hiking and because they only telescope in one place they are long. This makes them hard to stow in or on a pack.