The big ski test of the year is finally here! ProXCskiing.com has tested skin skis, double-poling skis, and poles to guide you to what’s best for you. In this article, you’ll get the information about cross-country skiing poles.

The second part of the big ski test 2023 is about cross-country skiing poles. ProXCskiing.com has tested poles from several well-known suppliers. Seven pairs of poles have been tested, five of which are for training and two of which are competition poles. The prices of the training poles vary somewhat, but these are poles suitable for training sessions, long skiing in the forest, and/or roller skiing.

The pole’s baskets are often interchangeable. ProXCskiing.com has tested the poles with the standard baskets that come with the pole when purchased. All poles also have baskets for roller skis. 

The equipment has been tested in the Torsby Ski Tunnel in Sweden. There was no wind, and the temperature was zero degrees at the time of the test. The snow was loose.

Sanna Forsman (24) is our tester and has previously been an active cross-country skier for Öje IF. Forsman is 165cm tall and weighs 52kg. This is essential to know since most poles behave differently based on height. Since Forsman is 165cm, she has used short poles (142cm). The stiffness will often be good in shorter poles, regardless of brand, as the pole is shorter. With longer poles, you will notice a more significant stiffness difference between different types of poles.

Forsman used the same skis, ski boots, and gloves for each pair of poles she tested. Each pair of poles was tested for about five minutes. The assessments are, therefore, based on first impressions.

How have the products been rated?

ProXCskiing.com has given each product a score based on an overall assessment and four criteria. The four criteria are stiffness, pendulum, hand strap, and baskets. Finally, a score from 1 to 6 has been given based on first impressions, an overall assessment, and each of the four criteria.  

The stiffness of the pole is essential to consider when choosing a pole. A stiff pole holds better and handles more power. In addition, you will get more energy out of each poling with a rigid pole than with a soft pole. With a softer pole, the energy in the poling will dissipate as the pole bends. If a strong athlete uses a lot of power and the pole is on the soft side, the pole can break in the worst-case scenario. 

The pendulum on the pole is how easy and comfortable it is to move the pole back and forth in the air. A large snow basket reduces the pendulum as the pole becomes heavier and has more air resistance. The opposite happens if the snowshoe is small. There is less air resistance, which gives a positive feeling to the pendulum.  The hand strap and baskets have been rated according to ease of use. Some hand straps and snow baskets have a simple solution for changing them, while others have a more challenging solution. The hand strap’s rating is also based on whether it is comfortable to wear.

SWIX – DYNAMIC D1
Dynamic D1 is one of Swix’s best-selling poles. It is a carbon fiber composite pole, which gives it high stiffness and durability. The company says that the pole will suit most people, both cross-country and recreational skiers. The pole has a TBS system, which allows you to change the snow baskets easily. 

Weight: 79g per meter
Price: SEK 1500,- (about 130 euros)
Use: skating, classic, tour

The first thing Forsman mentions is the handle. It’s thin – which makes it easy to hold. The stiffness of the pole was good. The hand strap has good function and acts as a classic hand strap. The strap could have been softer to avoid chafing the hand. To replace the strap, you must use a screwdriver. This is cumbersome and reduces the overall rating. The baskets Forsman tried were larger, and this was at the expense of the pendulum in the pole. Overall, this is a decent pole with some room for improvement.   

Stiffness: 5
Pendulum: 4
Hand strap: 3
Baskets: 3
Total: 4

LEKI – PRC750
Leki’s PRC750 poles are great training poles. The poles have a Nordic Shark system on the strap, which is specially developed for Nordic winter sports. This system guarantees the best connection between the hand and the pole. PRC750 also has a simple system that lets you easily “click” the strap off the pole. This makes it easy if, for example, you want to take a photo with your phone – you don’t have to remove the poles altogether. 

Weight: 79g per meter
Price: SEK 1800,- (about 155 euros)
Use: training

    

As mentioned in the description, you can easily “click” the hand strap off the pole. This is a good solution that raises the level of this pole. Not only that, but the strap itself is comfortable to wear. The pole is light, and the pendulum is good. The baskets on this Leki pole are easy to unscrew, which is an advantage when changing. The stiffness of the pole is good. This is an excellent training pole; you get a lot for your money. 

Stiffness: 6
Pendulum: 5
Hand strap: 6
Baskets: 6
Total: 5

SKIGO – ELIT
The Elit pole is a 100 percent carbon pole at an affordable price. Skigo recommends this pole for the more experienced skier. The baskets can be changed to other sizes so that you can adapt them to the conditions. In addition, there are several types of hand straps to choose from. 

Weight: 68g per meter
Price: SEK 1499,- (about 130 euros)
Use: training

Skigo’s Elite pole is simple. It is a pole in the middle of the tree on most criteria ProXCskiing.com has assessed. The handle is thin and, therefore, comfortable to hold. The stiffness of the pole is also very good. However, the pole has a bulky, thick hand strap that is somewhat uncomfortable. The baskets Forsman used during the testing were also in the middle of the pack. What Skigo could have done better with the baskets is to create a more straightforward system for changing them. Here, the snow baskets are fixed with glue, which makes it difficult to change. The pole felt heavy for a carbon pole. 

Stiffness: 5
Pendulum: 3
Hand strap: 2
Baskets: 3 
Total: 4

ONEWAY – STORM 2
Oneway’s Storm 2 poles are 100 percent carbon, making them lightweight training poles. The pole has a simple basket without glue, allowing you to change it easily. The roller ski tips are approved by FIS and are also attached without glue. The pole has a reasonable price. 

Weight: 75g per meter
Price: SEK 1299,- (about 110 euros)
Use: training and competitions

Oneway’s Storm 2 pole has a lot to offer. The most impressive thing about the pole is how easy it is to change baskets. You can easily pull off the part and put on a new one. The pole shaft seemed stable and secure. In addition, the hand strap was soft and good. Forsman used a size “small” hand strap when she tried the pole, and she found the proportions of the strap odd. It was too big around the wrist but tight around the thumb. Both the pendulum of the pole and the stiffness are in the upper range. This is a versatile pole at a reasonable price. 

Stiffness: 5 
Pendulum: 4
Hand strap: 4
Baskets: 6
Total: 5

4KAAD – CODE 6
4KAAD’s Code 6 pole is made with a 60 percent carbon blend. The supplier promises great quality and says this pole is perfect for marathon skiers and training. 

Weight: 79g per meter
Price: approx. SEK 1300,- (about 110 euros)
Use: training, marathon

4KAAD’s Code 6 pole is consistently good. The hand strap was soft and comfortable to wear, but it is cumbersome to change it as you have to use a screwdriver, which is somewhat of a drawback. The stiffness of the pole is good. The pole has screw holes, making changing the snow baskets easy. In general, the baskets felt good in the snow. The Code 6 pole is made with 60 percent carbon and felt heavy compared to the other poles ProXCskiing.com has tested. 

Stiffness: 5
Pendulum: 4 
Hand strap: 4
Baskets: 5 
Total: 4

MADSHUS – RACE PRO
Race Pro is the brand new pole from Madshus, made from 100 percent carbon. They promise good power transmission and a comfortable feel with this pole. The pole is for competitive athletes and serious recreational skiers. The price of the pole is SEK 3100,- (about 265 euros), which is higher than the other poles ProXCskiing.com has tested. 

Weight: 54g per meter
Price: SEK 3100,- (about 265 euros) 
Use: competition 

This is the first of the two competition poles ProXCskiing.com has tested. The hand strap was soft and stable, it molded to the hand. It was also comfortable to wear, and there was no pressure from the strap when Forsman tried out the pole. In addition, the handle of the pole was somewhat thick. It could have been narrower for a more comfortable feel. The stiffness was quite good, but for SEK 3100,- (about 265 euros) one would expect the stiffness to be a grade 6. Something that could have been better with the pole is the pendulum. With such an expensive pole, a more comfortable pendulum is expected. The baskets are good, with a simple screw system. 

Stiffness: 5
Pendulum: 5
Hand strap: 5
Baskets: 5
Total: 5+

KV+ – TORNADO PLUS 

KV+’s Tornado is a pole that is reserved for competitions. The pole is 100 percent carbon and weighs just 54 grams per meter. The supplier states that the hand strap has a click function and that the baskets can be easily changed. This makes the pole more user-friendly. 

Weight: 54g per meter
Price: SEK 4000,- (about 345 euros) 
Use: competition

The first thing Forsman notices about this pole is how light it is. Despite the lightweight, the stiffness of this pole is outstanding. The pendulum is excellent. The hand strap is well-fitted and feels comfortable and soft. The price of this pole is high, and for such a price, you should expect absolute perfection. 

Stiffness: 6
Pendulum: 6
Hand strap: 5
Baskets: 5
Total: 6

Read More: The Big Ski Test 2023 – Skin Skis 

Part 3 of The Big Ski Test 2023 – Double Poling Skis, will be published on Sunday, October 22, at 19:00 CET.