Ski touring poles · Test magazine 2023
Tech talk with Simon Allwein, BCA
Sales and Marketing Coordinator Europe · Print page 61
Who is Simon Allwein? Sales and Marketing Coordinator Europe at BCA
Simon Allwein works at Backcountry Access (BCA) as Sales and Marketing Coordinator Europe. A snowboarder who tours on a splitboard, he lived in Revelstoke, British Columbia, for ten years. There, he gained extensive experience on backcountry splitboard tours. In the BACKLINE 2023 test magazine, he explains which ski touring poles suit different requirements.
Allwein recommends two-section poles for skiers who appreciate adjustable pole lengths and touring skiers who do not need to stow their poles during the ascent. In his view, three-section poles are particularly suitable for splitboarders and tours involving climbing sections because they telescope down to a compact size. He also recommends folding poles for ski touring and splitboarding, as well as demanding summer mountain activities where poles need to be packed away on technical sections. When buying poles, he considers individual usage preferences alongside build quality, stiffness, weight, ease of use and ergonomics.
For future pole development, Allwein wants ease of use and durability, identifying adjustment systems and grips as areas for improvement. He describes carbon as lightweight and aluminium as robust; combinations of both have also proved effective. According to Allwein, the 7075 aluminium shafts of old BCA poles can be recycled. Titanium, he notes, has not yet become established as a pole material.
To whom would you recommend two-piece or three-piece poles for ski touring, and to whom folding poles?
Two-piece poles: for traditional skiers who like adjustable pole length for different types of skiing and terrain. Also suitable for ski tourers who don't need to store their poles inside or on their backpack during ascents. Three-piece poles: for ski tourers and especially splitboarders who want to collapse the poles to a short length to store them in their backpack, for example, for splitboarders on descents or during ski tours with climbing sections where hands need to be free and poles can be attached to the backpack without obstruction. Folding poles: for ski touring and especially splitboarding, where the poles should be able to fold for storage in a backpack, for splitboarding during descents. I also recommend folding poles to anyone who is active and ambitious in the mountains during the summer and needs to stow them in their backpack during technical sections.
What should a prospective buyer look for when purchasing new touring poles?
Everyone should choose their pole type based on their own usage preferences. The quality of craftsmanship, stiffness, weight, usability, and ergonomics naturally play a more or less important or negligible role for each individual, to different degrees.
Can and are the materials of old BCA poles recycled?
Yes, the aluminum shafts (made from 7075 aluminum) can be recycled.
What innovations do you expect and wish for in the future in the field of touring poles?
Fundamentally, I want touring poles to be easy to use and durable. So, I expect that, for example, the adjustment systems and grips will be optimized. Many brands feature extended (foam) grips. As pole materials, carbon (light) and aluminum (strong), or a combination of both, have proven effective. Titanium has also been experimented with, but it hasn't established itself yet.
