Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Pole Review
Updated:
Jan 20, 2025Black Diamond’s ultralight Distance Carbon Z ($220) pole is custom-built for mountain running, but in practice, it proves much more versatile. We put the pole to the test on a grueling five-week journey into British Columbia’s Waddington Range and came away impressed by the pole’s ability to stash away unnoticed and survive even the harshest conditions. The Distance Carbon Z isn’t ideal for pitching trekking pole shelters or for users regularly hauling particularly heavy loads. But for those looking to go fast and light, it’s hard to beat.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Weight
9.9 oz.
Type
Folding
Shaft Material
Carbon
Grip Material
Foam
Max/min Length
47.2 in.
Collapsed Length
15.7 in.
Pros
Cons
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Trekking Poles.
From a comfort perspective, BD’s Distance Carbon Z pole doesn’t offer anything flashy—this is a racecar, not a luxury SUV. However, the pole’s combination of low weight and streamlined features makes for its own version of comfort since the poles are easy to carry and stash away when not in use. I often forget I’m holding on to anything at all when using the Distance Carbon Z, which speaks volumes.
In terms of construction, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z’s carbon makes for a little better shock absorption than an aluminum pole, and the pole’s EVA foam grips feature ribs to help wick moisture when the going gets sweaty. The straps are adjustable thin fabric loops—they’re not uncomfortable, but they’re certainly not as plush as the Solution straps on Black Diamond’s Pursuit and Alpine Carbon Cork poles. After hours of particularly heavy use on our expedition, I did notice some skin abrasions from the strap on my wrist. But all told, while being far from the most plush offering on the market, I have no gripes about the Distance Carbon Z’s comfort.
I put the Distance Carbon Z through, shall we say… uncommon abuse. Carbon trekking poles are notorious for being weaker and having less flex than heavier aluminum poles, and my testing conditions were wild: I took weird bushwacking falls with the end of the pole caught between rocks and pushed hard on it to help support big steps with close to 100 pounds on my back. To my surprise, the pole didn’t snap. It flexed while under load and bent back to its original form each time. The pole’s fixed length also proved to be an advantage on the durability front, as lever and twist-locks on telescoping poles can often collapse when undergoing heavy abuse. In this case, there are no locks to loosen and collapse, so the length of my pole always stayed right where I needed it.
While the pole did hold up for me, it’s worth noting that an aluminum pole will generally offer more durability than a carbon pole in the vast majority of cases. Another staff member at Better Trail has had a few issues with the Distance Carbon Z—one pole snapped when she accidentally sat on it (we’ll admit this was user error) and another had the button lock fail. Black Diamond quickly replaced the poles free of charge, and she hasn’t had the same issues since. (We do, however, wish that the Distance Carbon Z was more repairable, as now we have unusable poles lying around with perfectly good components.)
One final flourish on the Distance Carbon Z is its innovative screw-in tip. I love these for several reasons: First, tips are regularly the first part of a trekking pole to wear out, so easily replacing them prolongs the pole’s life. Second, Black Diamond includes screw-in rubber tips for hard surfaces. The more traditional rubber tips that slide over carbide points have a bad habit of popping off poles and littering trails, and screwing in dedicated rubber tips (ideal for use on rock or pavement) eliminates that possibility. It is worth noting, however, that my pole lost its screw-in tip on the tenth day of our expedition, so it’s far from a perfect solution.
At 9.9 ounces for the 120-centimeter version, it’s hard to find a lighter trekking pole. REI Co-op’s two lightest poles, the comparably designed Swiftland TT Carbon and the Flash Carbon, run a good bit heavier than the Distance, at 11.2 ounces (for the 115-cm. version) and 13.6 ounces, respectively. There are lighter poles out there, to be sure: Leki’s racing-dedicated 9.7-ounce Ultratrail FX.One Superlite marginally beats out the BD, but that comes at the cost of durability and an extra 60 dollars. You can also go marginally lighter with Durston’s Iceline poles, which weigh 9.4 ounces. The Durstons boast almost a foot of adjustability and even run a bit cheaper than the BDs—but they’re nearly always out of stock online.
As a whole, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z’s light weight made the poles feel airy and maneuverable. When you get used to them, the poles feel almost like an extension of your body. I didn’t feel any fatigue even after hours of using this pole, and it added imperceptible weight when stashed on my back.
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles feature a unique design. They’re made up of three separate shafts that deploy a bit like an avalanche probe, with a button lock near the handle securing them in place. The three pole sections pack down to 15.7 inches long, and about 2.25 inches in girth at the widest part of the pole. This is a remarkably tiny package: For comparison, Black Diamond’s Pursuit, a more traditional telescoping pole, takes up an additional 11 inches in length when collapsed.
The packed size pays dividends when stashing the poles in your pack. During the initial nine-day bike touring portion of the Waddington expedition, I left a pole in the bottom of a bike pannier and forgot about it. In fact, the poles pack down so small (and are so light) that I often take them with me on expeditions in which I don’t expect to use them. A Better Trail editor asserts that they’re the perfect pole for hunting trips since they hardly add weight to an already-heavy backpack and can be a lifesaver for a heavy packout.
As a whole, the Distance Carbon Z is a relatively barebones trekking pole. It doesn’t come with powder baskets or sleeves for storage, its strap is thin and no-nonsense, and even its grip is relatively basic. The pole also lacks adjustability, extending to one length only. If you’re hoping to share the pole with a partner, set up a trekking pole shelter, or even just fine-tune the length to fit your body, you should look elsewhere. But fundamentally, this is a pole for moving fast and light in the mountains, and its lack of extras is a necessary sacrifice for maintaining its light weight.
In general, I didn’t find the Distance Carbon Z lacking anything major, with one notable exception. While the poles have a 2-inch grip extension for steep travel, I found myself craving a longer grip to effectively shorten the poles in slightly more extreme and uneven terrain. This wasn’t a concern on most maintained trails, but while groveling up the side of a moraine, I certainly would have preferred more foam real estate.
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Longevity
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Recycled Materials
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Replacement Parts
Replacement parts help extend a product’s lifespan by allowing consumers to repair damaged components—like ski goggle lenses or trekking pole clips—rather than purchasing a new one. A green check indicates a brand offers a robust selection of replacement parts, a yellow check indicates a more limited offering, and a red X indicates no replacement parts are available for this product.
Responsible Manufacturing
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Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
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Carbon Footprint Tracking
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Annual Impact Report
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The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is a fixed-length pole; I chose the 120-centimeter version, which proved just right for my 5’8” frame. The pole comes in five possible lengths, offered in five-centimeter intervals from 110 up to 130 centimeters. A disadvantage of a pole like this is that you can’t customize the length to find that Golidlocks, just-right measurement. That said, my experience with the length was positive. Even if you run in between the sizes offered here, I found the body quickly acclimates to whatever length you set. If you’re a stickler for adjustability, BD also offers an “FLZ” version of the Distance Carbon: It costs an extra 20 dollars, checks in at 12 ounces for the same size (that’s over two oz. heavier for the pair), and offers about six inches of adjustability.
Leki Ultratrail FX.One ($220): Another Stellar UL Pole
Compared to the BD, the Leki Ultratrail FX.One is almost three ounces heavier, but it’s still no slouch for moving fast through the mountains. One of the biggest selling points of the Leki is the pole’s unique Trail Shark grip system: Instead of a traditional wrist loop, the Trail Shark literally fits like a glove, which keeps your pole secure to your body (no accidental drops here) and makes for very efficient weight transfer. The system makes clicking in and out of the pole a breeze, although it also means you’ll be wearing the gloves all day. All in all, we think the BD is a sturdier option, but the Leki is a solid bet for moving light and fast. And for dedicated runners, Leki also makes the even lighter Ultratrail FX.One Superlite, which is 9.7 ounces and $250. For more, read our Ultratrail FX.One review.
Durston Iceline ($189): Trekking Pole Shelter Compatible
At 9.5 ounces for the pair, ultralight-aficionado Durston claims their Iceline to be the lightest adjustable pole on the market. These trekking poles are custom-made by one of the leaders in trekking pole shelters, with the primary aim of balancing weight savings and burliness. Every aspect of the design has been fine-tuned, including dialing in how much glue is needed to hold together the EVA foam handles, separating the lowest piece of the shaft from the pole system to save a couple of ounces of connective tissue, and using larger-diameter tubing to increase overall strength. The result is a pole that’s 3.5 ounces lighter than the adjustable version of the Distance Carbon (the FLZ), and our recommendation for those needing more customization. For more, read our review of the Durston Iceline.
REI Co-op Swiftland TT ($189): A More Affordable Mountain Running Pole
REI Co-op knows its outdoor gear, and on paper, there are a lot of similarities between the Distance Carbon Z and the mountain running-oriented Swiftland TT. Both poles feature a tri-folding design locked in by a button, along with a minuscule packed size. And while the Black Diamond costs about $30 more than the REI, it’s 1.9 ounces lighter, which pays off for ounce counters or racers. It also features interchangeable screw-in tips. Tips are often the first part of a pole to wear out, and the ease of replacement and promise of a longer-lived pole more than offset the extra cost. For more, see our review of the REI Co-op Swiftland TT Carbon.
If you're moving fast or far, the Distance Carbon Z is the pole to get. Our testers swear by this ultralight offering for mountain and trail running, fast-and-light mountaineering, and fastpacking—despite its high price, middling durability, and lack of adjustability.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
The Ultratrail FX.One is a fast-and-light hiker’s dream, featuring Leki’s glove-like Trail Shark grip system that offers next-level control and power transfer between body and pole. However, it’s heavier than the BD Distance Carbon Z and $20 more.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Ounce counters and runners, look out! REI Co-op’s Swiftland TT is a solid offering that feels like a feather and still holds up great on the trail. But while it has a lot to offer, it can’t compete with the performance or price of poles in Black Diamond’s Distance series.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Is the Distance Carbon Z for You?
We’ll put it bluntly: For mountain enthusiasts looking to save weight in the name of moving quickly, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is the pole you want to have in your quiver. Don’t be too put off by the carbon build; we’ve been impressed by how well this pole holds up to the elements. I’ve taken this ultralight pole on about as gnarly of terrain as you can find, and other Better Trail staff and testers have put it through its paces on backpacking trips, climbing approaches, and long mountain runs all over the world. However, if you’re regularly doing a lot of high-impact hiking with heavy loads or using your trekking poles to set up your shelter, you’d be better equipped with a more robust, adjustable, and comfortable pole.
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