REASONS TO BUY
Super strong and durable
Our favorite great shock absorption system
Pretty comfortable above average foam grip
REASONS TO AVOID
Heaviest pole in the review
Smaller handed folks feel the grip was too big
Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock Review
Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock
Credit: bdel.com
Our Verdict
These poles are burly!!!! The Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock are straight up the toughest poles in our review in every way, the downside, they are also the heaviest. The Contour Elliptic Shock are unique because they feature a tear drop shaped design (instead of the normal circular design) to add strength and stiffness to the shaft. This helps them hold up to the most rugged off trail travel or heavier users that put more force on their poles. These poles also had among the most comfortable foam grips in our review and were some of the plushest poles we tested overall. Like nearly everything else about this pole the grips are big in diameter and are the best for medium to larger size hands.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock
Credit: bdel.com
Comfort
This is overall the most comfortable pole we tested. We really liked the handles and the foam covered upper shaft. Along with the similarly designed Black Diamond Trail Back, this pole had the most comfortable foam handle we tested but it is best for bigger hands. While most of our testers liked the cork grips better overall, like the ones found on the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork, the Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork or the Leki Corklite, there were a few that loved the feel and the ergonomics of the foam on this pole. If you like the grip but want a lighter pole, check out the Leki Carbonlite which has a similar foam grip but is nearly half a pound lighter.
The Authors hand on the grip of a Black Diamond Contour Ellipic Shock pole.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Locking Mechanism
Big fans of the locking mechanism. BD always leads the pack here.
The Flick lock closure mechanism featured on a Black Diamond Contour Ellipic Shock trekking pole.
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Weight
The Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock pole at 22 ounces is the heaviest trekking pole in our review and is heavier than average among the trekking poles currently on the market. All that weight is not wasted because the Contour Elliptic Shock is most certainly the most durable pole we tested, or have seen at this point and it has a lot of extra features like an extended grip and a shock absorber, but still, the heaviest remains the heaviest.
Durability
The Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock poles are straight up the most durable poles in this review. This comes mostly from their tear drop shaped shafts that, while heavier, are also stronger than traditional circular shafts. The Contour Elliptic Shock also uses a slightly beefed up version of Black Diamonds normal FlickLock Mechanism that is stronger and designed slightly differently to work with the Contour Elliptics' tear drop shape.
Showing the oval shape of the shaft of a Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Shock Absorbing system
When it comes to absorbing shock, this pole and the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock are the best. It's more durable and resists bottoming out better than the rest of the competition.
The shock absorption system on the Black Diamond Contour Ellipic Shock poles
Credit: Ian Nicholson
Packability
All the shock absorbing poles where among the longest, least compact poles in our review and the Contour Elliptic is no different. It packs down to nearly the worst size in this review; 27" (68 cm). The only poles that were longer are the other shock absorbing poles, the REI Traverse Shocklight (28") and the Black Diamond Trail Pro Shock (27").
Versatility
The Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock is ideal for trekkers, backpackers or folks that just want a Cadillac of a pole. Being the heaviest pole we tested combined with its shock mechanism makes it less ideal for climbers or hikers wanting to travel light, but will stand up fantastically to heavy loads and abusive trips.
Bottom Line
The Black Diamond Contour Elliptic Shock is a heavy, burly pole that is best appreciated by bigger, heavier users who will put more force on their poles and won't mind the extra weight for a noticeably extended usable life.
—
Ian Nicholson
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