How Old Are the Poles that You Still Use?

About 35 years old. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by catskills 

I have a set of 32 year old Rossignol ski poles that I use about 20+ days a year.   I had to replace the baskets using recycled baskets from broken ski poles.  Hey they still work.

 

How old are your poles? 

 

My skis on the other had are 2 years old. 

 

Does 32 year old ski poles make me a gapper? 

 

 

 

1981 baby with THICK leather breakaway straps that still work great when needed.  I will use these poles until they are useless then cry many tears.

Good for you.  32 year old poles prove you're not a tool of the ski gear companies.  While there are great materials that make them light and springy, yada, yada, yada, they're just sticks.

I'm on my 3rd pair of poles since 1967 and I've spent a grand total of $12 on all of them together.  I carry my beat up sticks with pride.  I would still be on my second pair which were free, but I found the ones I use now at a ski swap for $7 and they are lighter and swing better, so I went crazy and splurged.

I agree, it's not a good idea to do this with skis.

Yes, changing poles that often does make you a gaper. 

Still use regularly a pair of Kermas with non-stock baskets, unfortunately.  They matched my last pair of Rossi Stratos. from the early 70s'. 

Would love to find some stock baskets for them somewhere.  Can ski poles qualify for Medicaid?

Mine are only three or four years old, but that's about when I started skiing. I went through a couple of aluminum poles (bent on a few falls) and now use Scott Series C carbon fiber. I love that they can bend under pressure but then straighten right up. I bought three pair when they were on a fantastic sale. I'll probably have them 20 years.

Here's the pole quiver, nothing new here!

Purchased mine in '79.  They were my first pro-deal the year I started patrolling.

Mine are also from 1979.  Part of a "ski package".  One is slightly bent. 

2 older pair. Scotts w/ the strapless hand grips and Kerma Equipe with Rossi bird on them.

Quote:

Does 32 year old ski poles make me a gapper? 

 Not at all.... in fact it's the opposite.   One of the best skiers I know has old mismatched poles that he found in the dumpster at a ski resort..... someone breaks one pole and throws away the pair, so he finds 2 and he's good for the season.  I think he takes pride in his mismatched poles,   Now, if I skied with mismatched poles... you would think I;m a gapper.

My main pair are 4-5 year old, went carbon.  Aluminum poles bend too easily.  3 years ago, I inherited a set of rental poles from Killington, I keep them around as a backup set.

1988 Scott World Cups.  The black ones with gold band, Plake used them in Blizzard.  Newer grips and straps...so many days using these.

1991 Goode's. Way long but $20. Cut em down and still going strong. I imagined the broken end of

my pole going through my parka and forearm and out the other side w/ the gnarled carbon

splintered end sticking out when it was new, and now, when its so old. I have an active

imagination I guess.

Do XC poles count? Mine are 1974 bamboo. The Chinese placed an export embargo in 1976 on their grade "A" stuff so these things a bomber!

I am still using the only poles I've ever owned.  Scott strapless grips.  I still remember the brochure made a big deal about the 7000 series aluminum alloy (7075 maybe?).  The baskets have been replaced a couple of times.

Probably bought them around 1983, so that would be about 28 years old.  And yeah, my skis are two years old.  (Don't ask about the boots.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino 

Kermas from the '80's w/leather straps and orig baskets.

Ah..........ditto on those.....uh......until that mid-station surprised me in Utah.

http://www.epicski.com/forum/thread/91463/2010-epicski-gathering-trip-report-thread#post_1186329

1975 molded grip handle, blue metallic paint and unpainted silver aluminum with K2 logo still nice.  College GF gave them to me for Christmas '75 before a ski club trip to Keystone and I used them for many years.

Paint still good and no bend from banging on side of boot to ge packed snow off.  They dont make em like they used to.

I must confess that I dont use them anymore but they are prominently displayed next to my 210cm K2 610 slalom skis in the historical joeski museum in the weight room cave.

I'm using Scott poles purchased by my Dad at a ski swap in Boise in 1974.  I grafted a set of Scott plastic death grips on to them about 1977.  Still going strong.