Splittie of the Week | Sticks? Of course, but which ones?

Foldable Poles

Foldable poles are now offered by several well-known mountain sports brands, including our partner Kohla. Even snowboard brands such as Burton have developed models specifically for splitboarding. To answer a common question upfront: if you choose folding poles for splitboarding, it’s perfectly fine as long as they come with winter baskets. They don’t need to be from Burton, Nitro, or any other snowboard brand.

The main advantage of foldable poles is their minimal pack size, which allows you to stow them inside your backpack after the ascent. This is especially helpful when using an avalanche airbag backpack, as it avoids having to strap the poles to the outside with their tips pointing downward. I’ve never tested whether pole tips could damage an airbag—and I don’t intend to find out.

The downside is the price: foldable poles are generally more expensive than standard telescopic models. They also tend to be less stable, which can reduce their lifespan. Weight is another consideration—an important factor for ski tourers—and folding poles are often slightly heavier than telescopic ones. If that’s a concern, you can opt for a carbon version instead.

When assembled, the visual differences are only apparent at second glance.

Hedwig Walther

Schlick 2000

Till Mangesius

Telescopic Poles

More specifically, three-piece telescopic poles—because two-piece models are generally too long to strap securely to your backpack for the descent. Telescopic poles are available in a much wider range than folding models. While some splitboard brands offer their own versions, they don’t provide any real advantages over those from established mountain sports manufacturers.

The key benefits of telescopic poles are their simple, reliable mechanism and their typically high level of stability. This is especially valuable on demanding tours where you may need to put significant pressure on your poles. They also offer a wider range of adjustable lengths, whereas folding poles are often available only in fixed sizes such as 135 cm.

The main drawback, as mentioned earlier, is the larger pack size, which makes it impossible to stow them inside your backpack. However, this can also be seen as an advantage: you can access the poles more quickly if you end up needing them during the descent. It may seem minor, but the telescopic system is extremely refined—and for many, the more affordable price point is a decisive factor.

One-Piece Poles

For the sake of completeness, this option deserves a mention as well. It’s the purist’s choice—and a great way to collect style points. If you already know you’ll be using poles on the descent and the terrain doesn’t require keeping both hands free, my colleague Tobi would absolutely recommend this classic variant.

On closer inspection, you can see that the folding pole (left) is thinner than the telescopic pole.

Till Mangesius

Schlick 2000

Conclusion

Each pole type has its own pros and cons, and their importance varies from one rider to another. Regardless of which option you choose, a continuous rubber grip is a real advantage, as it makes traversing steep terrain much easier.

In short, telescopic poles are affordable, robust, and highly reliable—though you’ll need to carry them on the outside of your backpack during the descent. Thanks to their durability and stability, they’re the preferred choice for me and for most of my splitboarding friends who spend a lot of time touring each winter.

Foldable poles, on the other hand, can be conveniently stowed inside your backpack, but they tend to be more expensive and generally a bit less stable.

There’s one more point worth mentioning: if, like me, you have sensitive knees, descending during summer hikes can quickly become uncomfortable. Foldable poles offer a great two-in-one solution—you can use them for both splitboarding and hiking. For anyone who enjoys relaxed hikes or wants a versatile pole for multiple purposes, they’re definitely worth considering.