Ski poles are an essential piece of equipment for any skier. They help you balance on the snow and keep you from falling over, but what do you need to know about ski poles? How long should your ski poles be? What height should my poles be?
Is it better to have longer or shorter ski poles? Here’s everything you need to know about this crucial piece of equipment!
Is it better to have longer or shorter ski poles
Longer ski poles are better for skiing in powder, deep snow and bumps. If you’re an advanced skier who enjoys skiing on the groomed trails of your favorite resort, a longer pole may not be right for you.
Longer poles can help prevent face plants when making sharp turns at high speeds because they keep your hands higher and further away from the ground.
If you’ve ever seen someone fall down while trying to make a tight turn on their skis and wondered what happened, it’s likely because their pole length was too short and their hand got caught between them and the ground during that rotation.
What size ski poles do I need for my height
The first thing you need to do is determine your height. Your height will determine the length of ski poles, so it’s important to know this information before you buy. You can do this by measuring yourself or looking at a chart that compares your height with pole length.
Once you’ve determined your height, follow these steps:
- Determine how tall the average person is who uses ski poles similar to yours (e.g., men’s).
- Measure from the floor up and calculate how many inches are equivalent to one foot (12″).
- Multiply that number by 2.66 (the ratio between centimeters and feet) in order to convert centimeters into feet and inches. The result will be your target pole length in inches!
Are longer ski poles better
A long ski pole is better for downhill skiing.
A longer ski pole is better for cross country skiing.
A longer ski pole is better for snowboarding.
A longer ski pole is also better for hiking, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing (though there are exceptions to this rule).
How long should my ski touring poles be
If you’re looking for a pair of ski touring poles, consider getting a pair that are about 48 inches long. The length of your pole will depend on your height and how much walking you do.
Ski touring poles can be adjusted from 40-52 inches by using a simple rotating collar at the base of the pole.
If you only plan to use them on skis, then get some alpine ski poles instead—typically around 36 inches long and fixed in length.
Mountain touring poles tend to feature baskets at their tips that help provide traction when walking uphill or downhill on snowshoes with crampons attached to your boots (also known as snowshoeing).
How do I know if my ski poles are too long
If you have to bend your arms to hold the pole, it’s too long. If you have to bend your back to push off, it’s too long. If you have to lean forward to get to the snow, it’s too long.
Those are all ways of saying that if a pole is too long for you and how it feels in use makes you uncomfortable or unable to do what you want with them (like skiing), then they’re probably not right for you and should be replaced or adjusted.
What happens if ski poles are too short
If your ski poles are too short, then you won’t be able to use them properly. If you’re skiing down the mountain and can’t hold your ski poles up with your arms straight, this will be very uncomfortable and make it hard for you to carve around corners or switchbacks.
If they’re too short and you can’t put them at a 90 degree angle with bent arms, then they’ll just keep hitting the ground when you go into turns. You may also find that the tip of them hit the ground before it’s time for another step forward, which could cause some trouble if there’s snow on top of ice underneath!
Lastly, if they’re too short and only allow for 45 degree angles rather than 90 degrees while bending over at full extension (or even less), then it makes sense why people would want longer pole lengths: so that there is no need for such extreme movement from arm extension during each stride taken toward their goal destination!
What height should my poles be
Ski poles should be the same height as your ski boots. If you are wearing ski boots that are too short, you can use a pole extender to bring them up to the right height.
If you have problems with your boots being too tall (or if they don’t fit at all), there are pole shorteners available so that they can be made shorter and more comfortable.
Why don t beginner skiers use poles
If you’re a beginner skier, you may not know how to use poles. You might think that they are important for being able to balance on your skis and make turns, but in reality they can actually be dangerous if you don’t know how to use them properly.
When skiing with poles, it’s important that they are in the right place at all times. If they are too far forward or back from your body, then it is much easier for them to catch on something as you move around on the ski slope and cause an injury.
The ski slopes have lots of hazards like trees and rocks in them – if your poles get caught on one of these things then chances are that your legs will follow suit!
If beginners haven’t learned yet how long their skis should be
Is it better to ski with shorter skis
Yes, shorter skis are better for beginners. This is because they give you more control, making it easier to turn and stop. Skis that are too long can be dangerous if you’re not used to skiing on them yet. They’re also harder to turn and stop on than shorter skis, which makes them difficult for anyone learning how to ski.
Conclusion
Ski poles are an essential part of your skiing gear, so you want to make sure they’re the right length. It can be tempting to go for longer ski poles because they look more impressive or seem like they would help you ski faster.
But if you’re not used to using them yet (and especially if you’re a beginner), then longer ski poles could actually make things more difficult for you.
If your height is average or above average and you don’t have any trouble balancing, then shorter ski poles may be the best option for better control and maneuverability on slopes with lots of turns in them such as tight corners or switchbacks.
