In addition to the FlickLock® mechanism BD has also developed a number of features that you won’t find in many other poles. OTHER INTERESTING INNOVATION/DESIGN NOTES of the BD LINEUP Shape and texture of the flick tab could use some improvement as well, especially to accommodate a bulky gloved digit. Color would not only help to play a role in the user understanding how it works but how to use it as well. A solid black color adds to the confusion of operation. Shape helps to aid in telling the user where and how to operate the mechanism, but not much. The same can’t be said of the FlickLock®. The FlickLock® mechanism tries to accommodate thumb (or finger) placement under the tab and flick up (loosening the joint) or over the tab to flip down (tightening the joint) but falls a bit short of proper fit, even more so on a gloved hand.Īll of the BD poles use an ergonomic shaped handle that helps to indicate proper hand placement, and 5 of the 6 poles in the lineup utilize color and materials to enhance the products ability to tell the user how to hold the grip. As an adjustable pole they are easily tailored to individual user length requirements. The grip section of the poles is nothing new, utilizing ergonomic dual-density grips with variable-width wrist straps. This new mechanism also means that you no longer have to worry about grit affecting performance, not to mention the speed at which you can expand and collapse the poles! The downside to this type of mechanism is extreme cold conditions effecting the operation the hinge point. A simple flip of the locking tab and the poles slide in/out with ease. This mechanism means the user can now operate their poles w/o ever having to take off their gloves to change the poles length. The FlickLock® is a camming mechanism that squeezes the pole shafts together creating an extremely strong joint. There has to be a better solution on the market, and there is! I introduce you to the patented FlickLock® series by Black Diamond.īlack Diamond has adapted a mechanism commonly found on camera tripods, the FlickLock®. When they do manage to lock in place they have to be so tight to stay where they are that when time comes to collapse them I end up having to take my gloves off to get the proper grip needed to torque them loose. After the plastic get worn down grit gets inside the pole creating enough slip for the poles to no longer lock. My main complaint is the locking mechanism that 90% of the poles out there seem to use (a threaded screw that is locked to the pole turns into a plastic cap that expands out as the screw treads into it) only works for a year in ideal conditions. Loosing one of my trekking/ski poles and getting fed up having long arguments with them in an attempt to persuade them to function properly, I felt it was time to see what else is out there. Hope you all had a great xmas with the fam and are bringing in the newyear with style!! Without further dely. Sorry for the long delay! I am back from my xmas vacation and newyears riding adventures with many new blog ideas.
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