The Pursuit is Black Diamond's do-everything aluminum pole, and it earns its reputation as the best pick for most hikers. The natural cork grip with Bloom foam extension is genuinely comfortable over long days, and the soft-touch FlickLock+ levers are the most secure external locks in this price range — they hold under full body weight on steep descents without creeping. At 464 g per pair in S/M (500 g in M/L), it is light enough for all-day use without giving up the durability that makes aluminum the right call for rocky terrain and pack-supported trips. Interchangeable carbide tech tips and included four-season baskets extend it into shoulder-season snow. The honest knock is weight: nearly half a kilo per pair is 60-80 percent heavier than folding carbon competitors, and the 62-68 cm collapsed length hangs awkwardly off small daypacks. At around $170 it also costs more than functionally similar aluminum poles from REI and Cascade Mountain Tech. But as a single pair to cover day hikes, backpacking, and rough trails for years, the comfort, lock security, and build quality justify the price better than anything else we compared.
Natural cork grip stays comfortable and dry over long days FlickLock+ levers hold securely without creep Interchangeable tech tips and four-season baskets included Durable 7075-series aluminum handles rocky terrain and hard use Heavy next to folding carbon poles at roughly 464-500 g per pair 62-68 cm collapsed length is bulky on small packs Costs more than comparable house-brand aluminum poles