Les Batons d'Alain
The Chamonix ski mountaineering pole. Coming to us from across the pond and made in the shadow of the great and icy Mont Blanc, these unorthodox ski poles offer many small yet meaningful solutions to many small yet meaningful problems ski mountaineers face in the mountains. Made by mountain guide Alain Desez, the 18mm aluminum poles feature long ribbed foam grips which extend nearly halfway down each pole. Alain's Sticks are durable and allow you to grip anywhere along the top half of each pole without slipping. Also, no wrist straps! Straps can make ordinary falls rather dangerous and can make activating your airbag difficult in the event of an avalanche. Without them, you can more easily plunge the tops of the poles into snow. Proven by Chamoniard mountain guides on steep north faces and by American ski alpinists on routes like Foraker's Archangel Ridge, the highest level of pole design is now available to the powder-hunting, couloir-dropping, European-flag-loving masses.
Note: Depending on availability, ferrule and basket color may deviate from the picture.
- 18mm 7075 anodized aluminum makes up the shaft for great strength.
- The pommels (the plastic caps on the top) have a strap attachment point.
- Reflective strips adorn these poles for improved visibility at night.
- Includes easily swappable powder and piste baskets.
- Tungsten carbide tips are slightly flexible.
- Comes in lots of fun grip colors.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Length(s) cm | 105, 115, 125, 135, 145 |
|
Weight |
201g [125] 225g [135] |
| Weight (pair) | 402g [125] 450g [135] |
| Sections | 1 |
| Grip | 70cm long extended foam |
| Basket & Tip | 85mm powder baskets and 38mm mini baskets, carbide tip |
| Diameter | 18mm |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
7075 aluminum, EVA foam, polymer, carbide |
| Strap | Sold separately |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Steep skiing, mountain running |
| Notes | Infinite handle position |
| Bottom Line | Fixed length aluminum with limitless grip options |
| Compare to other Fixed Length Ski Poles | |
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Questions & Reviews
One tip, you need to leave some extra grip foam that overlaps beyond where you cut the aluminum shaft. You can see I did it properly in the top one, but didn't leave quite enough extra foam in the bottom one. Rolling the foam back and temporarily taping it out of the way for when you cut the aluminum worked very well.
They are at their best putting them between your shoulder straps/blades like a piolet: strapped and adjustable poles always hang up, these don't. I did put powder baskets on mine, the little discs seem like they are for summer. I've never heard of anyone breaking them, which is a plus if you've ever broken a pole (or a few).
They will stick in the snow either end down (little known plus). I will admit a friend once loaned me a Whippet on a tricky descent instead of one of these and I was grateful, but that could hold for any pole. And Brian H can clearly ski things I can't look at with them, so they work for those at that end of the spectrum too. I have enjoyed them for everything from ski mountaineering to casual punting around the woods. It makes the question of where to put your hands irrelevant: you grab them and go.
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