Black Diamond
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z folding trekking poles (fixed length, 120 cm)
- Weight: 9/10 How much the pair adds to your hands and pack.
- Packed size: 9/10 Whether they fit inside or along a rucksack.
Trail runners, fastpackers and ultralight walkers who want the lightest folding pole
- Weight (pair)
- 280 g (120 cm fixed length)
- Packed length
- 40 cm
- Adjusts
- 120 to 120 cm
- Lock
- Fixed
- Shaft
- Carbon
Where to buy
Alpinetrek £116.96 In stock. Free delivery. Pair, price includes VAT. Delivery 5-7 working days from supplier stock. Free UK delivery from £85, £4.49 under.
View at shop: AlpinetrekRock+Run £120 In stock. Free delivery. Free UK delivery from £100, £5.50 under.
View at shop: Rock+RunUltralight Outdoor Gear £134.99 In stock. Free delivery. Pair, 120 cm in stock. Free tracked UK delivery. The shop shows £149.99 crossed out, and Alpinetrek and Absolute Snow also strike about £149.95; Black Diamond shows no UK list price.
View at shop: Ultralight Outdoor GearPrices checked 8 Nov 2026 on each shop's own page; shops can change them. We earn no commission on these links; shops are listed by price. More
Our ratings (out of 10)
1 to 10, compared with the whole market. Each says what it's based on. How we score
Weight
From maker's figures 9/10How much the pair adds to your hands and pack. 9: Among the best you can buy for this.
Black Diamond gives 280 g for the pair in the 120 cm size (256-296 g across the range; its US and UK/EU pages agree): under 300 g. Trail & Kale also gives 280 g for the 115 cm size and Ultimate Gear Lists weighed a 120 cm pair at 285.9 g, both under 300 g too; Black Diamond's figure is the one scored.
Packed size
From maker's figures 9/10Whether they fit inside or along a rucksack. 9: Among the best you can buy for this.
Black Diamond gives a folded length of 40 cm in the 120 cm size (35-44 cm across 105-130 cm): under 45 cm.
What reviewers say (out of 10)
Ratings marked * are from reviews and are not part of the trip score. They are reviewers' scores, not our own measurements. How we score
Sturdiness*
Reviewers' average 8/10How stiff and steady they stay under your weight.
6 reviews on sturdiness, e.g. "The tradeoff is durability under heavy load—these aren't designed for hard leaning, off-trail abuse, or repeated high-force impacts.".
Reviewers disagree on this.
Locks*
Reviewers' average 7/10How well the locks hold without slipping or loosening.
5 reviews on locks, e.g. "Deployment is fast and consistent in the field, with a solid, one-piece feel once assembled.".
Reviewers disagree on this.
In short
Good for
- Trail runners, fastpackers and ultralight walkers who want the lightest folding pole
- Packing small: 40 cm folded fits a running vest or daypack
- Walkers who know their pole length and do not need to adjust it
Strengths
- 280 g for the pair in the 120 cm size, under 300 g (Black Diamond)
- Folds to 40 cm and deploys in seconds on an internal cord, with no levers to set
- EVA foam grip with a grip extension (Trail & Kale)
- Rubber and carbide tips both included (Trail & Kale)
Weaknesses
- Independent weights run a little higher than Black Diamond's: Ultimate Gear Lists weighed a 120 cm pair at 285.9 g (still under 300 g)
- Fixed length, so the 120 cm size cannot be shortened for steep ground or set to a height for a tent
- Carbon shafts break more easily under side loads than aluminium: Better Trail had one pole snap when sat on and another button lock fail
- Thin strap that caused skin abrasions on one tester, and a short grip extension (Better Trail)
- Powder baskets and a storage sleeve are not included (Better Trail)
Sources
We haven't tested this ourselves. Every score comes from these specs, tests and reviews.
ShowHide sources (10)
- Black Diamond: Distance Carbon Z Poles (blackdiamondequipment.com, 256-296 g a pair and 35-44 cm folded across 105-130 cm; US store, priced in dollars; the UK/EU store gives the same figures)
- OutdoorGearLab: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z review (Kate Pitts; the site earns commission on links)
- Better Trail: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Pole Review (the site earns commission on links; page shows "Updated" January 2025)
- Ultimate Gear Lists: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles review (Steve Edgerton; free sample from Black Diamond, disclosed; page shows "Updated" 5 Oct 2023, no earlier date found)
- Trail & Kale: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z review (Alastair Dixon; trail running)
- The Big Outside: Review: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles (Michael Lanza; 264 g for the 110 cm pair, the figure Black Diamond gives now; page also shows 16 March 2026 as an update date)
- OutdoorGearLab: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z review (Kate Pitts; GearLab buys what it tests; ranked 10 of 15 trekking poles)
- Better Trail: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Pole Review (120 cm pair; the site earns commission on links)
- GearJunkie: Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles Review (125 cm pair, trail running; the reviewer received a Black Diamond shipment)
- Black Diamond's own site: Distance Carbon Z customer reviews (73 to 77 reviews labelled verified customers, 4.4 out of 5; the maker's Yotpo feed, not independent of Black Diamond, undated)