Review: Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles || Dreamy performance but inherent limitations
It had to be the poles. Buzz Burrell of Ultimate Direction guides a group of men half his age towards Boulder-Grand Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park.
For two weeks last summer I used the Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles while guiding trips on the Pfiffner Traverse in Rocky Mountain National Park. The FK Poles were new for spring 2018 and are part of an adventure-oriented collection that also includes the FK Tarp, FK Bivy, and FK Gaiters. FK is short for “fastest known,” as in “fastest known time,” which is suggestive of the design ethos — an emphasis on performance and weight, not necessarily comfort or convenience.
The poles were given to me by Ultimate Direction, which was not expecting (but which will be thankful for) a review. As a longtime friend of the UD brand manager, Buzz Burrell, I end up with a lot of UD production and media samples, only some of which gets mentioned here.
Review: Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles
The Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles feature a single-piece shaft, foam grips (with extensions), woven nylon wrist straps, and carbide tips. Their length cannot be adjusted, and they do not collapse.
The FK Poles are stronger and stiffer than any trekking or ski pole that I have ever used, while also being among the lightest — just 3.7 oz (105 g) in my size 115 cm without straps or baskets. They are an absolute joy to use.
However, because they cannot be adjusted or collapsed, the FK Poles have limitations. They are best for local trips without extensive scrambling, because they don’t fly or stow away well; and they are not compatible with many trekking pole-supported shelters without additional pole jacks.
I found just one flaw with the FK Poles. The tips are cheap and quickly wear out, requiring premature replacement.
Product specs
4.0 oz (per pole, 115 cm)
Single-piece fixed-length carbon fiber shaft
Lower shaft wrapped in aramid (generic Kevlar) for abrasion-resistance
EVA foam grip with extensions
Woven nylon wrist strap
Available in lengths 110 cm through 135 cm, in 5-cm increments
$150
More information
The FK Poles weigh a dreamy 3.7 oz (in size 115 cm without straps or baskets). The lower shaft is wrapped with amamid for abrasion-resistance.
Strength and stiffness
All things being equal:
Carbon fiber shafts are stronger and stiffer than aluminum shafts; and,
One-piece shafts are stronger and stiffer than multi-piece shafts.
So in terms of strength and stiffness, the FK Poles already have two things going for them: they’re made of carbon fiber, and they’re one-piece.
But with the FK Poles, there’s a third ingredient at play, too: the shafts are over-sized. The maximum diameter of the FK Poles (at the top of the shaft) is 20 mm, which is an:
11 percent increase versus standard 18-mm shafts, like on the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork ($170, 7.5 oz) and Cascade Mountain Tech Quick Lock ($30, 7 oz); and,
48 percent increase versus 13.5-mm shafts, like on the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles ($170, 5 oz for 120 cm).
By increasing the shaft diameter, pole strength and stiffness both increase exponentially. If you’re a physicist or engineer, please chime in on the accuracy of UD’s claim: “Increasing the diameter doesn’t just increase the strength proportionally, it squares the strength, and cubes the increase in stiffness!”
The FK Pole is so strong and stiff that it almost feels like another material. I’ve been using carbon fiber poles for 15 years, and these feel utterly different.
The maximum diameter of the FK Poles is 20 mm. Most poles are 18 mm, and some just 13.5 mm.
Competition
If you build it, will they come? In the case of one-piece fixed-length poles, few manufacturers have been willing to find out. There are only a few other models in this space:
Black Diamond Vapor Carbon 1 ($150, 5.5 oz for 115 cm), is the most similar, with long foam grips and carbide tips, but narrower shafts;
Black Diamond Expedition 1 ($60, 6.6 oz for 115 cm), which are identical to the Carbon 1 but have aluminum shafts;
Gossamer Gear LT3 C (3.1 oz for 115 cm) are very light, but thin-shafted and relatively wobbly;
Komperdell Carbon Trail Ultralight ($150), for which the weight is unknown; and,
Leki Vertical K ($160, 5.0 oz for 120 cm) have Nordic-style grips and 16-mm shafts.
Inherent limitations
Adjustable poles out-sell fixed-length poles by multiples. If you buy the FK Poles, you’ll learn why. They:
Don’t travel well (or for free, unless you’re on Southwest or have baggage perks);
Stick about two feet above the backpack when stowed, making them unwieldy when scrambling or bushwhacking;
Are incompatible with many many trekking pole-supported shelters;
Break catastrophically, with no opportunity to repair them completely by simply replacing a broken segment; and,
Cannot be adjusted for different terrain types (e.g. extended steep downhills), outdoor activities (e.g. trekking and alpine touring), or users (e.g. you and your SO).
Only one of these issues can be easily addressed. If your shelter has a fixed height (e.g. if it’s not at 125 cm, it’s floppy), you can bring pole jacks/extensions made of aluminum or carbon fiber tubing.
Room for improvement
I found only one flaw with the FK Poles: its carbide tips. Specifically:
The carbide pieces unscrewed with use, putting them at risk of falling out completely. My solution was to super-glue them in place permanently.
The tips wore down quickly, requiring premature replacement.
The FK Pole tips are cheap and will need be replaced prematurely. This wear is only from two weeks of use.
For instructions on how to replace trekking pole tips, refer to this tutorial. Use the Leki Universal Carbide Flextip because they will have little effect on the height of the FK Poles. Normally I recommend the Black Diamond Flex Tips because they are less expensive and because the resulting change in pole height can be negated with an adjustable-length pole.
Questions about the FK Poles, or have an experience with them? Leave a comment.
Buy now: Ultimate Direction FK Trekking Poles
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