Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ Trekking Pole Review
Black Diamond’s Trail Vista collection represents their workhorse aluminum poles, and the FLZ is the adjustable folding option. For $50 to $70 less than Black Diamond’s premium carbon offerings, the Trail Vista FLZ ($170) includes many of the same core features, including a highly packable folding design, 6 inches of adjustability, and replaceable tips. I tested them over a month of hiking and backpacking in Utah’s canyon country and was pleased with the design—until I tried my wife’s Pursuit Carbon FLZ. In comparison, the Trail Vista’s cork-and-foam grip and wrist straps feel like a step down, and even the sturdy aluminum build doesn’t quite match the stiffness of carbon. But if you’re motivated by a lower price and a small packed size is high on your list, the Trail Vista FLZ stands out as one of the better combinations in the category.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Weight
1 lb. 1.9 oz.
Type
Folding/telescoping
Shaft Material
Aluminum
Grip Material
Cork & foam
Max/min Length
49.2/43.3 in.
Collapsed Length
14.6 in.
Pros
Cons
Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Trekking Poles.
The Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ threads the needle between cost savings and performance, and that balance shows clearly in its comfort features. Instead of going full cork like premium poles or all foam like budget options, it uses a hybrid cork-and-foam grip. In practice, the cork does most of the work: The grips felt natural in my hands, offering that dry, secure feel cork is known for, with a slightly softer touch. There was no break-in period, and they felt just as good after weeks of use as they did on day one. I have medium-sized hands and found the fit to be spot-on.
The wrist straps are fairly standard but well executed, with a soft, brushed interior that stayed comfortable on long days. That said, after trying my wife’s Pursuit Carbon FLZ poles, the difference was noticeable—those airy mesh straps are on another level. In comparison, the Trail Vista’s straps felt a bit more abrasive and slightly more noticeable on the wrist. Still, if I hadn’t tried the higher-end option, I would’ve been perfectly satisfied.
There’s no shock absorption here, although the aluminum build means these poles feel slightly less stiff than carbon alternatives, but I found the grip does a decent job muting vibration. Over a month of day hikes and backpacking trips, the trekking poles stayed comfortable whether I was pushing through sand, navigating rocky terrain, or grinding uphill. All told, they delivered reliable, all-day comfort without overcomplicating things.
The Trail Vista FLZ impressed me with its durability, especially for a three-piece folding design. The aluminum shaft gives it a sturdy, confidence-inspiring feel, and each segment locks together cleanly without any play or wobble. On multiple outings, I fully committed my weight to the poles while navigating boulder fields, river cobble, and rocky ledges, and never felt the need to baby them—they held up without issue whether I was stepping down off ledges or bracing on uneven terrain.
That solid feel carries through the rest of the build. The FlickLock levers close securely, the carbide tips are holding their edge after a month of steady use, and the grips add to the overall sense of durability. The metal button that releases the poles into segments worked flawlessly during testing, though I know from experience it may require occasional maintenance to keep grit from interfering with its function.
In terms of repairability, Black Diamond’s replaceable Flex Tip design is a welcome inclusion. The tips are tough to remove and require a tool, but the ability to swap them out over time (or swap in the included rubber tips) is a nice long-term benefit. My only real complaint is the lack of a built-in hex tool for adjusting the FlickLock tension—something that would make quick field fixes easier as the locks inevitably loosen with use. Compared to Black Diamond’s base Trail poles, these feel far more refined, though they don’t quite reach the premium finish of the Pursuit line. Still, for an aluminum folding pole, the Trail Vista FLZ strikes a strong balance between durability, performance, and long-term usability.
At 1 pound 1.9 ounces for the pair, the Trail Vista FLZ lands in an appealing weight class for most backpackers. It’s lighter than many aluminum poles while still maintaining a sturdy, confidence-inspiring build; and while it can’t compete with true ultralight options like the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z (9.9 oz.), those lighter poles come with tradeoffs in durability and cost. In fact, the Trail Vista FLZ comes in around the same weight as the premium Pursuit Carbon FLZ (1 lb. 1.3 oz.), while saving you $50. All told, for most backpackers, it’s a solid combination of weight, durability, and price.
In hand, the poles feel light and nimble and never overly bulky or fatiguing, even over long days. I used them extensively while backpacking in Utah’s canyon country and never felt weighed down. They’re not ideal for fastpacking or mountain running, but they’re more durable and versatile than most ultralight designs. For weight-conscious hikers who still want reliability without overspending, the Trail Vista FLZ hits a practical sweet spot.
The Trail Vista FLZ packs down exceptionally well, collapsing to about 14.5 inches—right in line with Black Diamond’s best folding designs (the Pursuit Carbon FLZ shaves off just a fraction at 14.2 in.). Deployment and breakdown are quick and intuitive thanks to the push-button system, which has recently been updated with a longer, easier-to-press button design. A nice bonus is that the poles retain your FlickLock-adjusted length when folded, so you don’t have to reset them each time—though this can result in a slightly longer packed size if you’re running them near max length.
That compact size puts the Trail Vista well ahead of traditional telescoping trekking poles, which typically collapse to over 2 feet, and competitive with most folding models. In practice, it made a noticeable difference while backpacking—I could easily stash the poles in my pack or side pockets and grab them without taking my pack off. I found this especially useful when transitioning between hiking and scrambling or anytime I wanted them out of the way quickly.
The Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ packs in a strong mix of practical, performance-focused features. As the name suggests, it combines Black Diamond’s FlickLock (“FL”) and Z-pole (“Z”) designs, pairing a plastic FlickLock lever for length adjustment with a folding push-button system. I found the FlickLock easy to operate and not overly stiff, and the updated push-button—now longer and more textured—makes deploying and collapsing the poles quick and intuitive. In use, I had no issues with slipping or unintended collapse, and the system felt reliable throughout testing.
That said, unlike many of Black Diamond’s telescoping poles, there’s no built-in hex tool for adjusting the FlickLock tension, which is a bit of a miss. It’s a really handy feature on other models, and here you’ll need to carry a small Allen wrench for field adjustments.
Otherwise, the feature set covers most of what you’d want for year-round use. The poles come with both carbide and rubber tips, along with snow baskets that should work well for winter or shoulder-season travel. The tips are technically replaceable, though I found them difficult to remove without tools. There’s also a few inches of foam grip extension below the main handle, which I found genuinely useful for sidehilling and steep climbs—it’s a lot nicer than grabbing bare aluminum. The poles don’t include a storage bag, but the baskets have a notch that helps secure them together when collapsed, which is a thoughtful touch. All told, for the price, the Trail Vista FLZ delivers a well-rounded and highly usable feature set.
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Longevity
Choosing durable outdoor gear and keeping it in use for longer is one of the best ways to reduce environmental impact. Our proprietary longevity rating assesses factors like overall build quality, materials, fabric denier, component durability, and real-world performance. A green check indicates that we expect the product to be long-lasting relative to its peers, a yellow check mark indicates average longevity, and a red X indicates a product that may have a limited lifespan.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Replacement Parts
Replacement parts help extend a product’s lifespan by allowing consumers to repair damaged components—like ski goggle lenses or trekking pole clips—rather than purchasing a new one. A green check indicates a brand offers a robust selection of replacement parts, a yellow check indicates a more limited offering, and a red X indicates no replacement parts are available for this product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
The Trail Vista FLZ comes in three sizes: 95-110, 110-125, and 120-135 centimeters. Like most folding poles, adjustability is more limited than what you get with traditional telescoping designs, but Black Diamond adds a useful 15-centimeter (about 6-inch) adjustment via the FlickLock on the upper shaft. That gives it more versatility than fixed-length folding poles like the Distance Carbon Z, while still maintaining a compact, packable design.
I’m 5’10” and opted for the 110-125 cm version, setting the poles to my usual length of 120 centimeters, which worked well for me. Adjusting the height is quick and straightforward with the FlickLock, and the large, clearly marked measurements make dialing in your size easy. Once set, the poles held their length securely, even after repeated collapsing and redeploying in Z-pole mode. I also found the grip size to be a great match for my medium-sized hands, contributing to the overall comfort and control.
Black Diamond Pursuit Carbon FLZ ($220): Feeling Premium?
While the Trail Vista line represents Black Diamond’s aluminum workhorse poles, the Pursuit collection is a step up for those seeking a more premium feel. The Trail Vista FLZ and Pursuit Carbon FLZ share an almost identical folding FlickLock Z-pole design with similar weight (1 lb. 1.3 oz. vs. 1 lb. 1.9 oz.) and packed size (14.2 vs. 14.5 in.), but the Pursuit swaps in a stiffer carbon shaft, full cork grips, and more breathable, padded wrist straps. The difference in hand is noticeable, but you’ll have to ask yourself whether or not it's worth it for $50. The Trail Vista FLZ’s aluminum build is also more forgiving under stress—more likely to bend than snap—while carbon, even in the Pursuit’s thicker design, carries a higher risk of failure under extreme load. For a deeper dive, read our Pursuit Carbon FLZ review.
REI Co-op Traverse ($119): A Better Value
The REI Co-op Traverse targets a similar balance of performance and value but at a lower price. Like the Trail Vista FLZ, it’s an aluminum pole with cork grips, though it’s slightly heavier at 1 pound 2.5 ounces. The key difference is in the design: The Traverse uses a telescoping build that collapses to 23.5 inches, which makes it less packable but allows for a wider adjustment range (95-140 cm across the two sizes). It also features metal lever locks with tool-free adjustments, unlike the Trail Vista’s plastic locks that require an Allen wrench to tighten. For $50 less, the Traverse is a better value if you don’t need a folding pole—but for packability and quick stowability, the Trail Vista FLZ is the better choice. For more, read our review of the REI Co-op Traverse poles.
A durable, packable folding pole that balances aluminum toughness with a compact 14.5-inch collapsed size, the Trail Vista FLZ is built for backpackers who frequently stash their poles. It’s not the lightest or most adjustable option, but for the price, it delivers a strong mix of comfort, reliability, and usability.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
The Black Diamond Pursuit Carbon FLZ pairs a highly packable folding design with standout comfort, thanks to excellent cork grips and breathable straps. It’s not the lightest option, but for backpackers who want compact storage without giving up all-day usability, it’s a top-tier pick.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
A durable, do-all option that won’t break the bank, REI Co-op’s aluminum Traverse is suitable for everything from casual day hiking to lengthy backpacks. Tool-free adjustments and included rubber tips are two main highlights. However, the relatively heavy construction will take it off the list for ounce-counters.
Comfort
Durability
Weight
Packed Size
Features
Sustainability
Is the Trail Vista FLZ for You?
The Black Diamond Trail Vista FLZ is a great fit for backpackers who want a durable, well-rounded trekking pole with excellent packability. More than anything, the draw here is the folding design at a reasonable price: For $50 less than Black Diamond’s premium FLZ option (the Pursuit Carbon), the Trail Vista still packs down small and stashes easily in a pack, side pocket, or duffel for travel (its aluminum build also adds a bit more long-term durability). If that level of packability isn’t a priority, you’ll likely find better value in a more affordable telescoping pole.
Go for it if you want a compact, folding pole that blends aluminum durability, solid comfort, and a fair price.
Pass on it if you’re chasing the lightest possible setup or don’t need the convenience of a highly packable design.
the backcountry awaits
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