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About ski poles at Alpenglow Sports
As a core backcountry shop, we only stock collapsible poles for backcountry skiing. These poles have stood up to cornice thwacking, ice clearing, riser flipping, and everything else you'd want out from your collapsible touring pole.
Telescoping or Z-Pole
There are two types of adjustable-length poles for backcountry skiing: Z-poles and telescoping poles. Telescoping poles have two or three sections that slide, or "telescope" in and out to create your desired length. Telescoping poles are generally more durable thanks to the overlapping sections providing additional rigidity. You'll need this for thwacking cornices! We also have some data that telescoping poles are more reliable thanks to simple, flick-lock closures between sections.
Z-Poles are significantly smaller when collapsed. Compared to a three section telescoping pole, Z-Poles are, on average, 8 inches shorter. If your pack does not have an external option to carry your poles, a Z-Pole is the best option for storing inside your pack. Many snowboarders prefer Z-poles for this reason.