MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Trekking Pole Review
Updated:
Jan 20, 2025
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Weight
1 lb.
Type
Folding/telescoping
Shaft Material
Carbon
Grip Material
Foam
Max/min Length
47/39 in.
Collapsed Length
14.2 in.
Pros
Cons
MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Trekking Poles.
Some poles with four-season intentions compromise a little bit of comfort in the name of toughness and durability. However, over years of use, we found the MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon to offer surprising comfort in a burly package. Look, for instance, at the grips: The premium EVA foam is firm, with a natural shape, and wrapped in a soft-touch, brushed fabric. The grips fade into the background seamlessly and include a notch below the pointer finger that helps keep your hands comfortably in place.
We’ve used the MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon poles for numerous all-day efforts, including running a massive circuit in Patagonia, featuring more than 40 rugged miles and 12,000 feet of elevation gain. They’re also light enough that we’ve kept them in hand for miles when they’re not strictly necessary and more or less forgot they were there. In even the most extreme of adventures, we haven’t experienced any rubbing or chafing, and have never had one comfort-related complaint. The grips are great, the straps have light cushioning and soft fabric wrap, and the choke-up extensions also feature EVA foam and a soft material.
In more than two years of heavy use—from the mountains of Patagonia to backpacking in Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness—the MSRs have proved exceptionally durable for the weight. That said, their chief durability-related downside is that they scratch easily. In fact, one of our tester’s set of poles looked worn after just one day out. Another tester’s poles almost look two-tone from accruing so many scratches out on the trail. However, these are aesthetic quibbles; the MSR’s durability is one of its greatest strengths.
Our testers have put these through the wringer, and the Kevlar-reinforced carbon build has proved tough and does not require babying like some lighter carbon trekking poles. We’ve gotten the pole stuck between rocks too many times to count, leaned hard into the pole with a 40+ pound pack, and planted these poles hard on steep, fast descents. In all these endeavors, the poles held strong, with no cracks or breaks.
In addition to their button-controlled folding design, the DynaLock offers 20 centimeters (nearly 8 in.) of adjustability via a lever lock. Those locks feature a twist dial on the locking knob to adjust the tightness of the metal lever lock. Impressively, we've never once had to re-tighten this; the poles have remained in place and never slipped even after many hundreds of miles of use. After more than two years of abuse, one tester notes that the poles’ hard plastic baskets are certainly beat up but are still fully functional and in one piece. Even the carbide tips have plenty of life left.
The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbons run a bit heavy for a carbon, folding pole. However, that’s a product of MSR’s focus on four-season durability. The size small poles are 1 pound, while the large poles weighed in at exactly their listed weight of 1 pound 1 ounce on our scale. This is more than 7 ounces heavier than true ultralight poles like Black Diamond’s Distance Carbon Z. Instead, these fall in about the same weight class as aluminum designs like BD’s Pursuit. In practice, this weight is perfectly reasonable for the vast majority of endeavors on the trail. As mentioned above, they’re light enough that we’ve taken these on runs and kept on running with them even when they’re not needed. Unless weight is your top consideration, you likely won’t notice the extra ounces of the MSR’s build.
The MSRs feature a folding design, meaning you push a button toward the top of the shaft to separate the pieces of the pole and fold them into a “Z”-shape. Like BD’s Distance series and Leki’s Ultratrail FX.One, two virtues of this design are the ability to deploy the pole quickly and a tiny packed size compared to more traditional telescoping trekking poles. Our tester’s large pole measured 15.5 inches collapsed, while the small is even less at 14.3 inches. This makes it super easy to travel with, store in the side of a daypack or backpacking pack, and carry comfortably in-hand. Our only nitpick here is that the total pole diameter is a bit wider than skinnier poles like BD’s Distance. This makes it more challenging to store the pole quickly in, for example, the compact side pockets of a BD Distance 15 pack or the base of a Salomon ADV running vest. However, this is a small tradeoff all things considered, and a product of one of our favorite aspects of this pole: its durability.
The MSR checks the right boxes for features: It comes with choke-up grips, which work great for steep sections of trail, and two sets of baskets included for trail and snow use (though we did find it to be a pain to slide the snow baskets on). It also features a healthy 20 centimeters (8 in.) of adjustability for on-trail adjustments, and we’re big fans of the twist-dial tightener on the lever locks. The wrist straps are easy to adjust, and we haven’t had any issues with the pole’s collapsible design, either.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
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
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
We tested both sizes of the MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon—the small, which adjusts from about 39 to 47 inches, and the large, which adjusts from 47 to 55 inches. Both sizes offer nearly 8 inches of adjustability, making it easy to dial in the fit, make small adjustments on the trail, or even pitch a trekking pole shelter (though we do think a fully telescoping trekking pole is better suited for this purpose). Many other adjustable folding poles offer closer to 6 inches of range, so this is another standout feature of the MSR. Plus, the pole’s choke-up grip extensions make it easy to shift your hands on short and very steep uphills.
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork ($230): A Four-Season Alternative
If you’re in the market for a lightweight four-season trekking pole, also check out the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. The Alpine Carbon doesn’t pack up nearly as small as the MSR (24 in. vs. 14.3 in.) and is a hair heavier, which makes us less likely to recommend it to space-conscious splitboarders and mountaineers. On the other hand, you could make a strong argument that its telescoping design is sturdier than the DynaLock Ascent’s folding design, especially in concrete-like snow (however, it does not feature any added Kevlar reinforcements). It also has 12 inches of adjustability compared to the MSR’s 8. For a smaller investment, we’ll stick with the more packable DynaLock Ascent, but the Alpine Carbon Cork is still a compelling four-season option. For more, read our Alpine Carbon Cork review.
Black Diamond Distance Z ($180): For Ounce Counters
If you don’t anticipate needing the DynaLock’s range of adjustability and want to save your pennies, check out the Black Diamond Distance Z. For slightly less, the folding Distance Z comes close to matching the DynaLock’s packed size (15.7 in. vs. 14.25 in.) and is noticeably lighter at 12.1 ounces. What’s more, it’s built from aluminum—which bends when carbon snaps—although the MSR’s slightly thicker shaft feels very sturdy for a carbon design. There are a few shortcomings with the Distance Z: It has a fixed length (for an adjustable design, check out the Distance FLZ), very small choke-up grips, and, unlike the DynaLock, does not come with snow baskets. From a pure performance standpoint we still favor the DynaLock, but if you prioritize savings or a lightweight build, the Distance collection has a lot to offer. For more, read our review of the Distance Z.
Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ ($170): A Cheaper and Lighter Aluminum Pole
The Trail Vista FLZ is Black Diamond's affordable take on the folding, adjustable trekking pole. Like the MSR DynaLock, it features a tri-folding design and telescoping upper shaft that enables about 6 inches of adjustability (a hair shy of the MSR’s 8 in.). While it doesn’t showcase fancy materials like carbon and Kevlar, the aluminum build should hold up to most uphill travel in the snow. The Trail Vista does check in heavier at 1 pound 1.9 ounces for medium size (110 to 125 cm), but it'll save you $20. Finally, we love that the BD features screw-in, replaceable tips, which only add to the pole’s longevity.
Mixing Kevlar-reinforced carbon in a folding design, MSR’s premium poles excel at just about everything, from mountaineering to fastpacking and running. However, if you don’t need the extra strength or snow baskets, there are more affordable and lightweight options.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
This sturdy, four-season pole is built for comfort and durability during demanding trips in variable terrain. However, the carbon build will cost you, despite not saving much in terms of weight. The Alpine Carbon Cork is undeniably premium, but we’d look elsewhere for better value.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
With a folding, fixed-length design, the Distance Z aims for a low weight and collapsed size at a reasonable price. You can go 3 ounces lighter with a carbon version, but we’d advise all but the most weight-conscious hikers to stick with this aluminum model. Just make sure you don’t need adjustability.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Is the DynaLock Ascent Carbon for You?
MSR undersells the versatility of the Dynalock Ascent Carbon. While the brand’s advertising is heavily oriented towards mountaineering, snowshoeing, and splitboarding, the pole’s greatest appeal is as a jack of all trades. It’s light, packable, and feature-rich for hiking and backpacking. At the same time, it’s collapsible enough for mountain running and offers enough adjustability to support a trekking pole shelter. And it does feature enough durability for winter use as well.
However, despite its versatility, every niche could find a more specialized pole. Dedicated mountain runners might want to go lighter; backpackers might want something even burlier; trekking pole shelter users might want something more adjustable. In short, there are sacrifices for each specialized activity. But those sacrifices are minor. There’s a lot to be said for saving money and not buying stuff you don’t need. As an all-arounder for almost everything, the MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon blows most other trekking poles out of the water.
the backcountry awaits
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