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Head-to-head · Best Trekking Poles

Black Diamond Trail Back vs MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.5 vs 4.0). MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles is best for: serious backcountry explorers. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Black Diamond Trail Back
Ranked #4 in Best Trekking Poles
Black Diamond Trail Back
3 sources

Black Diamond's Trail Back poles do the job without costing much. Reviewers called them a budget-friendly workhorse, pointing to solid build quality and FlickLock adjustments that are easy to work. The trade-off shows in the grips: rough foam that lacks the hand-feel of higher-end cork and doesn't wick moisture. Durability is still good for the money, and both trekking and snow baskets come in the box for varied terrain. Casual hikers and weekend backpackers who care more about function than premium features are the audience.

Strengths
  • — Affordable and practical build
  • — More durable than lighter carbon offerings
  • — BD's Flicklocks make adjusting length a breeze
Watch-outs
  • — Rough grips that don’t wick moisture very well
  • — Relatively heavy at 1 lb. 2.8 oz. per pair
Buy at rei.comFull review →
MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Trekking Poles
MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles
2 sources$188.3as of Sep 25

The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles come close to the right balance of toughness, comfort, and packability, and they work across four seasons and a range of activities. Reviewers credited the Kevlar-reinforced carbon shafts for surviving heavy use with no breaks or cracks. A button-controlled folding mechanism gets them down to a compact packed size, and the EVA foam grips are comfortable. Testers did note they weigh more than most folding poles and pick up scratches quickly. Serious backcountry users who rank durability above ultralight weight will be happy.

Strengths
  • — Kevlar-reinforced carbon build makes it one of the most durable carbon poles on the market
  • — Adjustable length and grip extensions work well for steep terrain
  • — Folding design with button-controlled deployment offers small packed size (14.2 in collapsed)
Watch-outs
  • — Heavier than most folding designs (1 lb for small size)
  • — Scratches and scuffs accumulate quickly on the lower portion of the shaft
$188.3 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

Black Diamond Trail Back

The Black Diamond Trail Back is an aluminum pole with EVA foam grips, where the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles and Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles both have cork grips. At 1 lb 2.8 oz per pair it weighs 1.4 oz more than the Pursuit. It collapses to 24.2 inches, against 14.2 inches for the folding MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles, and includes both trekking and snow baskets.

MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles

The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles fold to 14.2 inches, about 10 inches shorter than the collapsed length of the Black Diamond Pursuit Trekking Poles (24.4 inches) and the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles (24 inches). Their carbon shafts are Kevlar-reinforced and their grips are EVA foam, where both of those Black Diamond poles use cork. At 1 lb in the small size they are within about an ounce of the 17.1 oz Alpine Carbon Cork.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBlack Diamond Trail BackMSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles
Shaft MaterialAluminumCarbon
Grip MaterialEVA foamFoam
Locking MechanismFlickLockDynaLock
Weight1 lb. 2.8 oz.1 lb
Pole Length55.1 in.47 in
Collapsed Length24.2 in14.2 in
TypeTelescoping ShaftFolding/telescoping
Dimensions16 x 13 x 2 inches—
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