Ski poles are a necessary element of skiing equipment for all levels of skiers. Balance is provided, as is assistance in timing your turns, and they aid in activities such as hiking, skating, and moving about the mountain. They also provide a sense of style to your skiing and allow you to accessorize more effectively. After all, looking good when skiing is an important component of the sport.
If you want to get the most out of that massive slope, you’ll want to make sure you have the best ski poles you can find in your hands. Not only will high-quality poles aid your navigation and help you avoid death cookies along the route, but they will also aid your ascent to the pinnacle of the mountain. Finding a decent pair of ski poles, on the other hand, can be a difficult undertaking due to a large number of variations available on the market.
In this article, we’ll take a look at one of the most popular ski poles on the market right now: the Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole. As soon as Zipline began manufacturing poles for the United States Winter Olympic team, they made a big statement. Besides the fact that these poles represent the pinnacle of skiing technology, they are also quite reasonably priced.
Features
Former World Cup freestyle skiers and coaches founded the Zipline Ski company. Its management team has extensive experience in the retail and manufacturing sides of the ski and sporting goods business.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole is the official supplier of the United States Ski Team and choice of Olympic Gold Medalist, David Wise. It stands out as a top choice among the rest of the pack. The graphite carbon composite technique is used in the construction of these ski poles. In addition to being lightweight and sturdy, the design has a reduced swing weight.
Let’s take a look into the features of the Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole.
Material
Ski poles are commonly composed of graphite, aluminum, fiberglass, or composite materials, with weight, price, and performance changes depending on the material. In today’s market, most models are composed of several different materials, each of which provides a unique set of advantages. A pole that seems too hefty will throw you off your balance, while a racing pole that is too light will not be able to resist the normal wear and tear of a ski resort.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole is made using Graphite Carbon Composite Technology. Using high modulus carbon fiber graphite in place of outdated aluminum in most ski poles results in a pole that lowers vibration with each pole pant. Additionally, because of the use of this material, the pole is incredibly lightweight and sturdy.
Besides being lighter than aluminum, carbon fiber flexes naturally when subjected to light pressure, whereas stiffer aluminum does not have this property. On the other hand, carbon may split and break under extreme pressure, as opposed to aluminum, which bends.
The result is that it is not the best material for people who are rough on their equipment or for those who hit huge features in the terrain park or perform the periodic cliff drop. A high-quality aluminum ski pole would be more beneficial to those skiers.
However, while carbon fiber is unquestionably the lightest material available, you should consider the material’s longevity as well, especially if you plan to do most of your riding off-piste.
Weight
Backcountry and sidecountry skiers place the most value on the weight of their ski poles, but resort skiers can also benefit from a lighter feel in their poles. Indeed, the weight of a ski pole is most typically correlated with the material used, but this does not imply that a carbon pole is always the lightest option. The thickness of the ski pole’s shaft has an impact on how well it performs.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole is extremely light, weighing only 1.1 pounds. A lightweight, all-carbon pole is a possible option for skiers embarking on multi-day ski expeditions or ski races, but you can anticipate durability and lifetime to suffer greatly.
In the end, striking the correct balance between weight and resilience for your specific riding style should be a primary consideration when selecting ski poles for your next adventure.
Handle
Dual-density handles are generally more comfortable than single-density handles since they can feel slightly softer and typically grip better. Handles made of a single material will be less expensive, but they will not be as comfortable. Women’s-specific poles may have a smaller handle than men’s poles.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole has a tapered pole shaft that tapers from 16.0mm at the handle to 14.0mm at the tip, resulting in a stiffer pole with a lighter swing weight than the competition. Downhill racers benefit from the aerodynamic design and reduced swing weight of the curved poles, which improves performance.
Grips
Because they are a portion of the pole, you grasp while skiing, the grips determine how comfortable it is. There are a variety of grips available for you to pick from when playing the game. It is important to take into mind the poles that have a firm grasp on the ground.
Plastic, rubber, foam, and cork are the materials that are most commonly used, and the most lasting of them are rubber and plastic, while foam and cork are a more stable choice of material.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole has a “ZIP TOUCH” Dual Density Grip that provides a secure grip. With its trademark “trigger finger” design, ZipGrip is constructed of thermoplastic (TPU) and molds to the shape of your hand, keeping your gloves from slipping.
Basket
A basket is a ring-like structure that you can see below the pole. They are the most crucial portion of the pole because they prevent the pole from being entangled in the snow during its movements.
An extra-large powder basket is included with the Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole. This pole is particularly popular with freeskiers and powder skiers since the 9mm huge powder basket can tackle the fresh powder that all skiers dream of skiing in.
Straps
It is necessary to loop the straps around your wrists to have a better supportive grasp and prevent your poles from being accidentally released when you mistakenly release your grip.
The Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole is equipped with Velcro straps that allow for quick and simple adjustments on the fly.
Size and Color Options
There are nine different sizes of the Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole available to accommodate the needs of all skiers. The available lengths range from 40 to 54 inches.
Additionally, this ski pole is available in a wide choice of colorful hues, including Army Green, Fire Engine Red, Gray Carbon, Honeycomb, Lime, Midnight Black, Monster Green, Orioles Orange, Plum, Screaming Yellow, Silver Chrome, Slate Blue, Steel Gray, Tropical Blue, and White.
Conclusion
With a sturdy pole like the Zipline Blurr 16.0 Graphite Composite Ski Pole, you’ll be able to go quickly and safely across even the roughest terrain or deep snow. These Zipline poles are great all-around choices, and there are no severe issues reported yet. You can’t go wrong with these poles if your budget is less than $100.
You may learn more about other great possibilities and how to get your hands on the perfect one by consulting our in-depth buying guide for ski poles.