Ski Pole Length Guide

For many skiers, poles are almost an afterthought next to the glitz of new skis and boots. While those items will admittedly make a larger difference in your skiing experience, sizing ski poles is critical to their performance. Most shops have a chart that you can look at to get an idea of how long your poles should be, but there are times when sizing them manually is better.

  1. Length Measurements

    • Ski poles are often listed in centimeters, as opposed to inches, so simply grabbing a pole based on a number is not necessarily the best way to go. Even when listed in inches, your body's frame type can affect the best size pole. For instance, even though two skiers may be the same height, someone with longer legs may prefer a longer pole than a skier with shorter legs.

    Alpine Poles

    • The quick and dirty way to measure fixed length alpine ski poles is to flip the pole upside down and rest the grip on the floor, then grasp the pole under the basket with your hand. If the pole is the right length, your arm should be bent at a 90 degree angle.

    Telemark

    • Telemark skiers use free heel ski equipment to descend steep slopes. The telemark turn brings the skier lower to the ground. For telemark, an adjustable length pole is best. Telemark skiers often prefer longer poles for uphill travel in the backcountry and then shorten the pole for the descent. With telemark skiing, pole length is often a personal preference. While the standard alpine method of grasping the pole under the basket is a good starting point, telemark skiers who ski in a low stance will usually prefer a shorter pole, while those who ski in a high stance prefer longer poles.

    Cross Country

    • For in-track cross country skiing, poles are longer. Most skiers will find that a pole that rests under the armpit is the right length for general cross country use.

    Skate Skiing

    • Skate skiers prefer longer poles, one that comes up to the base of the nose, so that the pole can be used aggressively in the stride.