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abjectwoe
May, 2025

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What does everybody have against pole straps?

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Blindsurfer
Posts: 2252 - Karma: 2,802
i always see people with their pole straps removed, why do people do this? is it just for the look?
13 years ago
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Dr.Gnar
Posts: 896 - Karma: 197
If the trees are this tight, you won't be moving so fast anyhow, and normally if you actually know what you're doing with your poles, it should never happen. Besides, I worry about much more likely to happen injuries. A few times it HAS happened but so long your straps aren't too tight, your hands will slide out/glove will get pulled off before your shoulder dislocates. But to each his own. I just keep it old school the way I've always done. It's also the reason you should use your straps properly (strap is grabbed between pole and palm).
13 years ago
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,018
i've always used them for some reason, mine are huge loops so i just can slide my hand through easily with my gloves on
13 years ago
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prairie_skier
Posts: 23 - Karma: 10
I think pole straps are a great invention and can save a lot of skiers from going down the hill just to get their pole because it fell off the lift. Whoever has something against them should be ashamed haha
13 years ago
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benji.walts
Posts: 29 - Karma: 11
mine are broken...
13 years ago
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Stan_Darsh
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 185
If you're skiing backcountry and get in an avy, you want to be able to ditch your poles as well
13 years ago
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chardi
Posts: 5040 - Karma: 59
i like them when hiking rails so i can just pop my skis up and pick them up and don't have to worry about holding poles, just let them dangle. other than that i think they're pretty useless
13 years ago
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
quality thread, making me feel good about myself. Haven't used pole straps since I raced over a decade ago. Basically fucked my thumbs a half dozen times due to pole straps, but shit you can skate and pole faster so it was worth it right? Probably dropped a pole 10 times in the 10 years since and twice were because of poles stuck in trees I wasn't expecting to "investigate", definitely been worth that 40-60 seconds of gathering those 10 poles and not impaling myself or fucking my thumbs again or detaching my fucking arm. Have fun with your straps, good luck and godspeed.
13 years ago
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crawley
Posts: 605 - Karma: 729
haha, double post but forgot to point out: I leave the straps on my poles even though I don't use them because how else can you put together your texas briefcase?
13 years ago
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skifoo
Posts: 1396 - Karma: 45
Maybe try new tricks and dont be afraid of falling like an idiot?
13 years ago
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
has anybody here actually dislocated their shoulder because their pole got caught skiing trees? I hear about it all the time, but baskets and grips come off of poles, and I feel like that would happen first.....
13 years ago
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.Roockley.
Posts: 3872 - Karma: 4,146
i feel as though some people don't know how to hold the poles correctly with straps on

if you hold them properly ie hand through the loop let them drop and put them up into your hand then you are safe from dislocated thumbs etc, however if your hand is through the loop and the pole strap is between index finger and thumb then kiss goodby to your thumb

(i hope that made sense)

if not, this should clear it up, this is the correct way
Click for larger image


i dont use straps in park, just a habit from not having straps from the first pair i was given
13 years ago
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Dr.Gnar
Posts: 896 - Karma: 197
Not that anyone's obligated to use their straps at all obviously.  But having to trudge 30 feet back up a run in deep pow to retrieve a dropped pole, or interrupt a flat cat track coast, is such a pain in the ass.
13 years ago
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AMcT
Posts: 204 - Karma: 41
This!! I usually wear mine but sometimes I just forgot to and I have ate shit while doing so and I still didnt lose a pole, to be honest I didnt even realize my straps weren't on till I got to the lift
13 years ago
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ForeverYung
Posts: 8385 - Karma: 2,060
wtf. Why are your arms twigs?
13 years ago
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Nikkekoivisto
Posts: 602 - Karma: 1,233
Easy to breake your thumbs when using them.  logic
13 years ago
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james6345789
Posts: 4763 - Karma: 464
I don't use straps because I use bike grips but I never drop my poles when I fall... Should I?
13 years ago
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3mania
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 10,875
Thumbs get injured because you people are opening your hands when you go down. It's a natural reaction. If you get used to keeping your hand tight around the pole grip, your thumbs can't get hurt. It has absolutely nothing to do with pole straps. Learn how to use your equipment properly.
13 years ago
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Dr.Dickless
Posts: 2620 - Karma: 1,392
Mine just broke, I would prefer having them for sure
13 years ago
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KneeDrop
Posts: 641 - Karma: 1,487
Wrong.
The strap has been the reason 100% for my tendon damage/broken thumbs...

When you do it, you'll know.

Everyone can stop tellin me their harmless if used properly, because I'll never believe you
13 years ago
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Dr.Gnar
Posts: 896 - Karma: 197
If you know how to ski well, straps pretty harmless.
13 years ago
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KneeDrop
Posts: 641 - Karma: 1,487
lolls...

Guess I just suck at skiing


Like I said, when you do it, you'll know. and you'll change your tune
13 years ago
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3ski6guy0
Posts: 9201 - Karma: 135
skiing at resorts i like to use straps but in the BC i never use them
13 years ago
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Mr_Bump
Posts: 689 - Karma: 427
in 22 years of skiing I have broken 1 thumb, and that was on dendix.

I do ski in europe though where there isn't a lot of tree skiing... but even then I have broken enough poles to think that the pole would shear or you'd lose a basket before really doing any damage.
as for stabbing yourself with a pole... use a proper length pole and hold onto it and I can't see the problem
In fact, if you don't have straps you might ditch the pole while eating shit and then land on it.

Personally I won't stop using them
13 years ago
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Drail
Posts: 14045 - Karma: 10,323
this.
13 years ago
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QuinnBestwick
Posts: 693 - Karma: 751
you seriously are the biggest ass on this website
13 years ago
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fucking
Posts: 376 - Karma: 4
you might be one of the biggest pussies.
13 years ago
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,753
yeah, because every fall is a totally controlled, graceful experience, right? Fuck outta here, can't count how many times I've seen skiers better than you or I murk themselves with their poles. Ahmet in Realtime comes to mind.
13 years ago
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QuinnBestwick
Posts: 693 - Karma: 751
just look at your karma dick
13 years ago
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SKIINGISEASY
Posts: 1552 - Karma: 2,200
always use mine, but really loose. i dont use them in trees tho.

My brother has to hike for his poles erry run, so annoying
13 years ago
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DUKES
Posts: 5152 - Karma: 701
i dont use poles....so i dont have to lose them or hurt myself.......win win
13 years ago
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*spike*
Posts: 538 - Karma: 65
never use them!
13 years ago
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 122
NO POLE STRAPS?! PEOPLE WILL CHOKE, PEOPLE WILL DIE!
13 years ago
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roddy116
Posts: 10657 - Karma: 7,743
I always have straps and i take good care of my straps and put new ducktape on them like once every two weeks.

i do however made ski poles for when i go out west that have little straps that will come apart if their is enough tug to them, pretty nice.
13 years ago
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chicken
Posts: 6844 - Karma: 2,122
you can still break your thumb like that though. I have 3 times...
13 years ago
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
great! you can break your thumb masturbating. Whenever I see anyone not using pole straps, or using them in an uni tended way, my opinion of how good of a skier they are drops 15 points.
13 years ago
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Milksteak
Posts: 9948 - Karma: 832
Fuuuck pole straps- When I fall (Which is often) I have a tendency to just throw my poles mid air. Fight me.
13 years ago
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84891jnf92048
Posts: 11552 - Karma: 2,550
it's funny as fuck
13 years ago
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Milksteak
Posts: 9948 - Karma: 832
I got a good clip for you. Hold on.
13 years ago
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jkauffman22
Posts: 2592 - Karma: 1,150
I don't because I tore ligaments in both my thumbs last year. I believe it's called skier thumb. A big occurance with ski injuries if I'm not mistaken
13 years ago
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JamesR
Posts: 3396 - Karma: -12
Because I don't use poles, I have talons.  My talons being childrens' poles from a ski swap that have been forged through many trials (falls) into menacing (bent) talons. When people ask me what's up with my poles I tell them I prefer to ski like a velociraptor.  And velociraptors don't need straps.



13 years ago
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TNORTS
Posts: 2077 - Karma: 2,761

I have those line poles that look like the strap is bolted in at the top with a fake shiny plastic bolt. Well one day I looked at my poles while skiing adn realized one of the bolts fell off and my strap was gone, so I took the other bolt off with a wrench. Probably gunna make some makeshift straps so I have them when I need them but for now, no straps.

In generaly though for me:

Groomers/bumps/general cruising= straps

Powder= straps

Trees= no straps

Park= no straps

13 years ago
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L.G.P.
Posts: 906 - Karma: 187
its not that anybody has anything against them its just that they get in the way
13 years ago
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washparkdub
Posts: 266 - Karma: 66
I use pole straps but i hate those fucking things. I'll spend half a run sometimes trying to fit my mitten through the damn straps.
All to avoid having to hike back up the hill or dig em up though the pow.
But fuck straps, i never drop my shit.

13 years ago
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,847
When used correctly pole straps give you a ton of support. Great for pole planting and skating. You basically don't need to grip them any more than to keep the pole in your hand, the strap does the work
13 years ago
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WI_Personallty
Posts: 881 - Karma: 161
just have the straps looser and its just as easy
13 years ago
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207
Posts: 8969 - Karma: 3,852
i dont ever use my straps. its just a habit
13 years ago
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Edward.
Posts: 9366 - Karma: 445
pole straps are just not trendy anymore. youre clearly a ns noob if you havent used the searchbar on this topic. i made a thread about this way back in 09
13 years ago
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Heart
Posts: 6156 - Karma: 3,464
no i think hes just butthurt. personally i never use pole straps. i see no point to it, seeing as i have a death grip when i fall, and here in minnesota there is zero powder
13 years ago
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