Black Diamond Trail Vista Shock Poles Review - ''My go-to choice of trekking pole from now on, using them over 100+ miles has been a pleasure.''
Posted by Liam Hollinshead on Jun 22, 2026
There are three things you want from your trekking poles, useability, adaptability and great build quality. Well, it’s safe to say I found all three boxes ticked when using the Trail Vista Shock Poles by Black Diamond.
I took these poles with me on an 8-day hike through Scotland where they battled in numerous ground and weather conditions. From boggy moors, rushing rivers and sand these trekking poles handled them flawlessly.
Grip and Comfort
I was impressed with how comfortable these poles were to use, as the cork handles kept my hands firmly gripped when sweaty and even when wearing gloves. Another benefit is the shape of the pole handle itself, allowing for a “claw” grip for that extra boost when climbing inclines which is especially handy on those wetter, windier days when you need that extra push.
In addition, the Trail Vista Shock Poles are adjustable, with their impressive 100cm – 140cm range making them a great choice for taller users. Plus, they can be adapted to the terrain you are facing at the time.
What really impressed me was the shock-damping system within the poles themselves; my shoulders and elbows weren’t aching or fatigued at the end of the day.
Solid design. Solid performance
As with all trekking poles, the last thing you want is to keep fumbling with the locking system in the wind and rain, but the flick-lock system on these poles has never failed me once in any situation. Once the lock was in place, they never budged, keeping the poles at my preferred setting all day.
What also impressed was that even though these poles come in at an impressive 272g per pole. It always felt strong enough to bear my weight in awkward situations when I needed that extra leverage.
While these poles are on the larger size for packing space, being 70cm collapsed, it’s a small sacrifice in my opinion.
Final Thoughts
The Trail Vista Shock Poles will be my go-to choice of trekking pole from now on, using them over 100+ miles has been a pleasure. Given the fact that I found them to be extremely comfortable, user-friendly, and that they can really take a beating when having to deal with numerous terrain types and the odd occasion where I have thrown them on the ground after a long day!
 |
||
| Liam Hollinshead | ||
|
When he’s not fixing computers or sorting out I.T issues, you can find Liam in and around the North Yorkshire Moors and the Dales. He is currently completing the Cleveland Way section by section and plans to take on the English Coast to Coast. |
||