The Black Diamond Trail Vista Shock are the only fully extendable trekking poles in this test, which comes with both pros and cons.

They do give the biggest height adjustment due to two lever lock sections which can be adjusted independently, and the other bonus is that there’s very little to go wrong with them, but this comes at the cost of weight and collapsed length. They’re not a set of poles I could get into a rucksack, but if you don’t do much with ropes or on rocks, then having them on the outside of your bag isn’t usually an issue. I found the lever locks very stiff on first use, but they need a screwdriver to adjust, so worth checking before leaving for the day!

These are also the only poles with a cork handle, which does feel noticeably different and more pleasant, especially in warmer weather. It has a cooling effect, and doesn’t seem to make your hand feel as sweaty in use. The lower section of the handle is foam which gives you another hand position. The strap is broad and comfortable webbing, however if you are using it, you do lose some of the benefits of the cork handle.

Black Diamond Trail Vista Shock trekking poles have a comfy cork handle. Credit: Kirsty Pallas

The secret anti shock technology is also built into the handle, and made a noticeable difference in what I felt through my hands and arms on hard surfaces. Definitely worth a consideration if most of your walking is on paths and tracks. The poles come with rubber tips, and are also designed so the metal tips can be replaced, extending the lifespan of your poles. They also come with very generous snow baskets, which would give you lots of resistance in very powdery snow. Black Diamond have been making poles for years, and it shows in this model, a great choice if you are a hillwalker that is mostly on tracks and trails.

How we tested

Kirsty is 154cm tall and always carries a pair of trekking poles with her across the Highlands in her role as a qualified Mountain Leader. All weights are taken from her own scales without rubber tips, and packed lengths are measured by Kirsty.