Cross Country Ski Poles for Sale
Your poles are one of the most important parts of your arsenal. A lot of your power and speed comes from your poling, so having good poles can go a long way to reaching your goals. On the recreational end we have aluminum and composite poles which are awesome if you're just getting into the sport. If you're looking to maximise efficiency you will want some carbon poles, which are incredibly light and stiff.
Are Skate and Classic Poles Different?
The poles you use for skate or classic skiing are no different in terms of construction or design, but the length will differ between the two disciplines. We'll get into the specifics below, but skate poles are longer, and classic poles are shorter.
Cross Country Ski Pole Sizing
Ski poles are measured in centimeters and the length you need is determined by your height and the ski discipline you intend to use them for. Skate poles will be longer than classic poles. When measuring for your pole length you should stand on flat ground in either your regular shoes, or ski boots. There will be a size range for both skate and classic poles depending on your ability or personal preference. Longer poles will give you better drive, but can be harder to handle, while shorter poles offer easier handling, but less drive.
For skate poles you will typically want a length that has the top of the handle somewhere between your mouth and nose height. For classic poles anywhere from your armpit to the top of your shoulder is good.
The size guide below also offers a handy way to calculate pole length based on your height (in cm). For skate, multiply your height by 0.89, and for classic multiply your height by 0.83. For example, a person who is 183cm (6') tall would use the calculation 183 x 0.89 = 163cm for their skate pole length. You can round to do nearest whole centimeter.
Ski poles typically come sized in 5cm increments, so if you're between sizes choose the longer one, as you can usually cut a pole down later if you decide it is too long, but you cannot make a pole longer.
