Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles Review

Bottom Line

The Black Diamond Pursuit trekking poles offer the perfect balance of durability, comfort, and versatility, making them ideal for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities. Tested in a range of conditions, they earned our #1 ranking for best trekking poles for their strong performance, handling everything from mogul runs to off-trail hikes with ease. 

Weighing in at just 16 ounces per pair, they are both lightweight and durable, featuring cork grips that absorb sweat and padded wrist straps for added comfort. The poles feature a short collapsed length for easy packing and come with both summer and winter baskets, making them perfect for year-round use. 

With an average price tag for our lineup of favorite trekking poles, their solid build and multi-sport capability make them an excellent value.

Durability

The Black Diamond Pursuit is our top choice for durability among our favorite pairs of poles. These aluminum telescoping poles are sturdy and quite resistant to bending during our stress test. 

We also used these poles for downhill skiing and were impressed with how well they handled. We skied down some early-season black mogul runs, and they held up just as well as our dedicated ski poles—no bending or breaking to be seen. 

The Pursuit poles also did very well cosmetically. After the throw and drop tests, there were hardly any scratches on the pole we used for the trial. Nor were there any scratches from skiing or using these poles around town. We love the durability of these poles and would gladly choose them for more challenging hikes or winter sports.

Weight

We found that the Pursuit is surprisingly lightweight without the use of carbon fiber. A single small/medium pole weighed in at 8.3 ounces with summer baskets on our scale. This is 0.3 more than the weight listed, but that is likely due to the added weight of the baskets. 

This weight is about average compared to the other poles we tested. Still, it is the lightest of the aluminum poles in our lineup. We didn’t notice the weight when we used these poles for skiing and hiking. They felt sturdy and similar to most other well-made poles we have used.

Comfort

Thanks to a generously padded wrist strap and an ergonomically designed grip, the Pursuit is the most comfortable pole we tested. 

We assigned points for various factors that impact comfort, such as padded wrist straps, cork handles, and well-shaped grips. Points were also deducted for oddly shaped lumps on the grips and wrist straps that caused rubbing. This allowed us to compare the variety of poles we tested more objectively. 

After tallying the results, the Pursuit emerged as the winner, earning the most points. The Pursuit is the only trekking pole model with actual padding in the straps among our 12 best trekking poles. Some of the others have soft straps that feel okay, but these wrist straps have true padding, making them much more comfortable to use. 

The handles are an interesting case as, on first inspection, they do not look different than any other trekking pole grip. However, the curvature of the grip fits nicely into the palm, and the curve beneath the fingers is subtle. 

Compared to poles with no curve beneath the fingers or a large bump to separate the fingers, we found this to be the most comfortable design. The fact that they are cork is an extra plus as it absorbs sweat and shock much better than foam.

Ease of Use

The Black Diamond Pursuit features flick locks that are easy to open, poles that slide smoothly, and precise measurements for a quicker setup process. 

To make things as fair as possible, we timed how long it took to open up a collapsed pole for hiking. The Pursuit came in fourth place out of the trekking poles we tested. We like how easily the telescoping poles slide once the flick lock is opened.

The measurements on both telescoping poles also speed things up once you know your ideal length. The flick locks have a fair bit of tension, but their large size and square shape make them easier to handle. Likewise, the locks spring open or closed once they pass a certain point. These traits make them easy to use for walking or as a tent pole.

Packability

Packability is another strong area for the Pursuit. They have the shortest collapsed length of the telescoping poles we tested (24 in.). 

One thing we noticed about this pole that aids in packability is that the bottom section stays firmly nested all the way inside the pole when the flick lock is closed. Some of the other poles we tested would extend slightly because part of the pole is smaller than the locking mechanism. 

These poles also come in two sizes, which helps keep your whole kit fitted to your body.

Features

Features like winter baskets and an extended grip make the Black Diamond Pursuit an excellent choice for versatility. 

These poles come with dedicated summer and winter baskets so we can have one pair for all the activities, such as hiking, backpacking, downhill, and Nordic skiing. What’s also nice is that the baskets are really easy to switch over. 

The extended grip is excellent for climbs with frequent elevation changes, so we could just move our hands rather than stopping and adjusting the locked length. 

We also appreciate that Black Diamond makes replacing the carbide tips easy when worn out.

Should You Buy The Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles?

We love how versatile the Pursuit is. This means that it will suit many people for various uses. We use these trekking poles for hiking, backpacking, skiing, and snowshoeing. 

Because they are very sturdy, they are perfect for holding up a trekking pole tent or for use on off-trail adventures. They are moderately priced, making them great for people just starting.

The pursuits might not be worth pursuing if someone wants shorter folding poles or an ultralight pair.

What Other Trekking Poles Should You Consider?

The Pursuit is pretty great, but if you aren’t 100% sure yet, we suggest checking out some alternatives below or our best trekking poles gear guide for more options.

MSR DynaLock Explore Review: Like the Pursuit, the MSR DynaLock is a telescoping, flick-lock trekking pole made of aluminum. We like that these poles are a bit easier to set up than the Pursuit. The flick locks have tension adjusters on the outside, though the telescoping portions stick a bit. Both poles have a similar number of features, and the MSR poles are slightly longer. With a slightly more affordable price tag, the Explore poles are a good alternative to the Pursuit.

Leki Makalu Cork Lite: The Makalu Cork Lite poles are another easy-to-use aluminum pole. The telescoping design on this pole has flick locks with built-in tensioners, which is an upgrade from the Pursuit. The downside is that they are a little bit longer, heavier, and less durable. However, we like that this is another cork-handled option that performs well in the field.

Black Diamond Trail Back Review: Another Black Diamond option, the Trail Back is an excellent pole for beginners, thanks to its affordable price tag. Like the Pursuit, it is incredibly durable. In our side-by-side tests, we couldn’t differentiate between the two; they were so close. With the lower price comes a slight dip in quality: the Trail Back poles weigh slightly more, are a bit longer, and have foam grips. Overall, they are an excellent alternative for those on a budget.