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Why backcountry guides don't use pole straps
- Thread starter ski diva
- Start date
Abbi
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
This is very interesting. Before I started using the Leki poles with the clip on them as demonstrated to me by @ski diva I never use the straps either. I had been talking with one of my doctors who said there would be a chance of jamming a wrist or a finger. So even on groommed trails I was holding my pole. Now with arthritic fingers I count on the clip to keep them with me and they should break loose.
MissySki
Angel Diva
Ugh this freaks me out!! I have Lekis too and really hate skiing without them locked in.. Last season at Big Sky I forgot my straps on a different pair of gloves back in the hotel so I skied without the straps for a day and it was SO WEIRD. I didn't feel like I could swing my poles nicely because I was afraid of flinging them out of my hands or something and felt I had to hold on tighter which made me more tense in my hands.. I guess I should work on this though, at least for when skiing west. I would think the poles would likely break free in an avalanche, but if you just slip into a tree well there is a real possibility that wouldn't happen right?
TNtoTaos
Angel Diva
That is interesting to hear you say that; I have never used straps (too concerned about getting them caught on my wrists in a fall, etc), but have never had difficulty swinging my poles. In fact, I often hold my poles with just my thumb and one or two fingers when I'm doing quick pole touches. Only time I've lost my pole was occasionally when I planted it too deep while moving in the lift line, and then I was glad I didn't have the strap on, as I probably would have jammed my wrist.
MissySki
Angel Diva
I think it's just having become used to one thing from doing it for so long and then it felt weird to do something else. Hopefully if I try it on a more regular basis it'll become more comfortable.
I was told by an instructor not to use the wrist straps in the trees when I first started tree skiing about 15 years ago. These days I don't go on the trees that often, but I still rarely use the straps- only on steeps where I really don't want to climb back up to retrieve them ( probably after a wipe out 
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fgor
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Exact same experience for me! I think I'm just so used to not using the pole straps, so I don't feel like i have to hold on very tight while pole planting. Occasionally I'll even crash and find that I'm still holding one or both poles. I usually let go of them though.
