Collection: SNOW SKI POLES

The easiest way to size ski poles is to turn the pole upside down, grab it directly under the basket, and stand up straight. If your elbow is at a 90-degree angle, that is the correct size. If you are shopping online, a general rule is that the pole should reach from the floor to just above your belly button when you are in your normal footwear.

Aluminum ski poles (like the Salomon Hacker) are the most common; they are durable, affordable, and will usually bend rather than snap under heavy impact. Carbon ski poles (like the Rossignol Electra Carbon) are premium options—they are significantly lighter and stiffer, which reduces arm fatigue, but they can be more prone to snapping if you take a hard fall directly onto them.

Very young beginners often start without ski poles so they can focus entirely on their leg movements and learning to snowplow or "pizza." However, once kids start skiing parallel and linking turns, introducing junior ski poles (like the Salomon Brigade Jr) is essential for helping them develop proper timing and balance.

The plastic rings near the bottom of your ski poles are called baskets, and their job is to stop the pole from sinking completely into the snow. Standard (or piste) baskets are small and lightweight, which is perfect for skiing groomed runs and hardpack conditions at Australian resorts. However, if you are heading overseas for deep snow or hitting the backcountry, you'll want poles with larger "powder baskets." These wider baskets provide the resistance you need to push and balance without your pole burying into the deep snow. Many all-mountain and freeride poles, like the Rossignol Freeride Pro, are built to handle variable conditions across the whole mountain.