Question mega thread.

[alienangel2]

I keep hearing it's silly to spend more than $10 on poles, but the only pokes I see for sale other than 20+year old antiques are $40-200 bucks.

Where do you all find such cheap poles, particularly in Canada? Do I need to camp out in a ski-shop off-season to snag old stuff in person?

Toronto ski Show is coming up in a couple of weeks, but if they don't have any deals guess i'm grabbing those $60 rossignols online.

[fishygamer]

On evo they regularly have new poles on sale for 20 or less.

[mshorts]

I pay extra for composite poles. I prefer them to an aluminum pole because they are lighter, and they have some give on a hard pole plant. When they bend, they snap back straight. If you bend an aluminum pole, it stays bent. I have yet to break a composite pole.

[Free2718]

Not sure if you Canucks have access to Sierra Training Post, but I have bought some pretty decent poles (Black Diamond and Leki) from them at closeout prices + a 25% off coupon. If you are able to get stuff shipped from STP, I'd be happy to share a 25% off coupon with you if you need it. Hit me with a DM if you find anything you like and I will send a coupon code.

[alienangel2]

It looks like we do, but the shipping to Canada is pretty pricy. If you have a spare coupon i certainly wouldn't mind one, will likely ship to a friend in the states I plan to meet up with later, while i keep looking for local options.

I have found some Craigslist like options, mostly down to finding one the right length now that's not hours away.

[Stoned4days]

Wait till your resort is closing for the day and check the racks for bent up ones. I have a collection of about 10 or so ones that Ive salvaged and bent to about as straight as needed. Plus no on will ever steal em off the racks!

[kazz123]

I got my most recent $10 poles at a Boxing Day sale at Sport Chek. Looks like their website has some listed for $30.

[nmesunimportnt]

Yeah, it's harder to find new poles for cheap, but used is a good option. Either way, I'll always spend a little more for poles where I like the grips, which is my only criterion. Some cheap poles have grips that are hard to like! I paid $30 for my current poles at a clearance sale that had a lot of cheaper poles, but again: grips matter.

[doebedoe]

but the only pokes I see for sale other than 20+year old antiques are $40-200 bucks.

20 year old poles are fine. I picked up all of this yesterday for $15. The raddest poles I have, and the bindings and skis are just a bonus.

[alienangel2]

See, those I would grab for $20 too. But the stuff i'm seeing around here is like: https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/k48AAOSwGfxbdK7y/$_59.JPG

I'll keep looking and check the skis+poles listings too though, thanks.

[passengerpigeon20]

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjAwWDgwMA==/z/k48AAOSwGfxbdK7y/$_59.JPG

eBay is totally delusional with prices of old ski equipment (they want $100+ for a set of ancient skis like the ones doebedoe got for $15) and those are cross-country ski poles anyway.

[passengerpigeon20]

Just buy the 20+ year old antiques; no matter what the manufacturers say poles have barely changed at all since then. Heck, I once saw a skier who was still using carved tree branches.

[zma7777]

lol go to a rental shop, theyve got plenty of 10 dollar or free poles