Sprained my wrist at the resort a number of years ago because I was using my pole straps (went headfirst into a large snow drift, my arms stayed behind). Ever since I haven't used the straps (by either removing or just not using, depending on the type of skiing). Solid advice for backcountry or the resort. Thanks for posting, something a lot of skiers don't think about.

Thanks for posting this. I have been concerned about pole straps ever since I caught a basket on a tree and nearly had my arm removed from my body. I had not considered the avalanche and tree well scenarios though. Your post is enough to push me into permanently removing my pole straps.

Great safety points. In terms of function, I also use the grip to adjust my risers and bindings and the strap is frequently in the way and gets caught. So removing it made transitions between grades quicker.

I use the Leki with the trigger system. It releases the connection to the pole under load, just like a binding would do. Best of both worlds.

Just broke my left wrist and arm in an avalanche one week ago while snowshoeing because I had trekking pole straps on. I'll never use pole straps again and you shouldn't either. I have some nice titanium hardware and screws in my arm now and a bunch of rehab to look forward to. Thank you for posting this video.

Good message that needs to be understood more widely. Alpine racing is pretty much the only place I would consider using straps.

Thank you for this very important message. My hands were Velcroed into my cross country ski poles. When I fell on my pole, my wrist was entrapped and broke :(( I wish I knew then what I know now. I will never use ski pole straps again.

I have an old pair of Life Link carbon poles with break-away pole straps that I've used for over 15 years and other than snapping a pole shaft once, they've been totally bombproof. The straps release when pulled upward, which is exactly when you need them to release. These poles provide the advantage of pole straps, (like moving laterally, stability) and zero risk of yanking your shoulder. The trouble is it's very difficult to find replacement parts should you lose a strap.

I removed the straps from the G3 Fixies I use for resort skiing because they are so big and bulky I can't hold my poles comfortably and my hands ache! Whatever happened to the old-style pole straps that were just a simple loop with a half-twist? Very comfortable if you know how to put them on correctly and easy to remove (your hands from them) for skiing in the trees or other potentially dangerous terrain. I wish G3 would offer this type of strap as an option or extra.

The first scenario you described actually happened to me on a side hit off a blue run. Its a terrible, reocurring injury now that I don't wish on anyone where surgical intervention is the only fix (at this point). Be proactive and remove pole straps from all of your downhill and touring poles! I now only use pole straps when xc skiing on groomed trail because good technique actually relies on them, and with a releaseable system.

I never used pole straps, but after losing a pole on a steep face, with tight trees below me I started to wear straps, but I am worried about the downside. I think that know when to use them and when not to is vital for safety on and off the resort.

What about using them when skinning up and just not wrapping it around your wrist on the descent? Honest question.

I leave the pole straps attached to the poles because it makes it easier to stow the poles when I carry my skis and poles on my pack. (Loop the poles over the ski tips and secure them to the pack with a strap or something.) But I agree about not skiing with your hands through the straps. The only time I do that is when I'm lift skiing on packed snow days.

Switching to splitboarding helps the shoulders too. Joking aside, great points to consider for a beginner like myself.

What gloves are those? They look like a warm and comfortable quality product.

Couldn't agree less....Nomad trails got it mostly right in the comments. I LOVE my pole straps! Still using the same pair of Scott pencil poles someone GAVE me in 1990. Would estimate 2000 day s on them. I splitboard as well so they have missed out on about 1000 days there. They are presently on their 3rd set of straps. I use bulk backpack strap material from the local kick ass bc shop. I have both wrapped with a little duct tape 1/2 way around the loop to keep them open, and just keep my thumbs thru the straps while climbing. So there's no need to wrap your hands in the straps to benefit from the extra leverage, or use more energy gripping the pole. One of the straps is a bit longer, which makes it the uphill pole if things are steep (remember, only the thumb is thru the strap, so youre "choked up" on it...) They poles are light, comfortable, simple, shock absorbing, and have greatly reduced swing effort being so thin (had to retrain my skiing to ski them- not swinging the Gorilla poles at 50 mph). The Straps are thin and flexible, and dont interfere under the glove on the down, & makes em easy to put on the bag for booters...Like any piece of gear, say crampons, its in the proper application. DONT use them on the DOWN.

Any references to help me get my straps off my BD poles- carbon fixed length. I can’t seem to push the pin.. about to resort to scissors but it’s a little more committing... thanks for any help.

I completely agree with this and don’t use the straps on my poles. I was thinking a strap may be useful though with a whippet on steep terrain. What do you think about this situation?

This was my first season not using pole straps and I never lost a pole. I kept the straps on the pole and grip them with the handle so the straps aren't flying around. It makes a lot of sense not to use straps!

If you have poor circulation in your hands, (like me) having to grip a pole without any strap will only make your hands even colder. When going uphill, you would have to grip even harder and hands will get cold even faster. Cold hands to me is of far more concern than the slim chance of the scenarios mentioned. In 40 yrs of skiing none of those have happened to the degree that would justify me removing straps. As for avalanches, the recommendation from 30 yrs ago was take hands out of wrist loops when entering potential avalanche terrain, and undoing packbelt too. I've caught baskets on trees, they ripped off, my shoulder didn't. The reward of having wrist loops seriously outweighs the risk in my book.

Except Leki now has detachable pole straps in case of these situations... need to get some!!

All if your negatives about straps pertain to backcountry skiing. Can you talk about Alpine Ski Racers? Are their any cons to use them in alpine racing?

Don't forget skiers thumb. The oldest reason in the book to not use pole straps. Growing up my mother had to constantly wear a wrist brace on one of her hands due to a skiing injury from a pole strap tearing the tendon in her thumb. I was always very cautious of pole straps as a result.

As someone who (almost completely) tore the ligament in my thumb from holding my pole straps incorrectly and crashing, I couldn't agree more that they are one of the most dangerous and dangerously overlooked parts of the ski kit. However I do appreciate the convenience of straps, and the fact that they reduce the amount of grip tension needed to hold the pole. What do you think of new strap-release systems such as the black diamond traverse poles?

Monkini has the best idea, a strap system that releases with enough load - before your ligaments "release". BUT, when backcountry skiing use Nordic ski pole grips/straps(with release system) NOT alpine handles.

Never used them, don’t plan on it. Teaching my kids to ski this year and they’re now using poles. This was the first thing we covered is the dangers of pole straps. We just lay them under our grip, so if we are skating across flats we can still have some leverage, but they’re learning to cup the top of the pole with their hands so they can apply downward force that way. Cheers, and thanks for thinking of our safety.

I've been backcountry skiing for 50 years and I'll keep my straps. I often let go of my pole(s) to get things out of my jacket or pack while skinning and just drop them and let them hang on my wrist. I also do a fair bit of skating on the flats headed back to the car and with my poles at 135cm, the straps are very useful. I'm quite aware of where my pole are and don't get them caught in the trees. Don't get caught in a serious avalanche - it's avoidable. I once had to climb down 500' to retrieve a pole that I thought I was in the strap, but that's just my being stupid. Funny, though, that I recently quit using leashes on my ice axes.

Pole straps worked just fine in Nagano 1998!!

As a ski racer that grew up in the 2000's I never used them cause Bode Miller didn't 🤣🤣

YOU missed the danger of breaking your thumb should you fall with the pole in your grip, extending your hand to brace the fall creates a fulcrum at the thumb loint and can break your thumb. This is actaully very common occurence.

I dont put my thumb through the straps to avoid these problems

The first reason actually happened to me today

If I go in the backcountry, as a group we are counting on each other for rescue. The mechanical advantage of pole straps to get to someone injured and then to frag them out is so huge. Try loadings a sled with 150+ pounds of weight and the drag with and without pole straps and you will understand. Keep the straps.

A great example in this video of why pole straps are not needed: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/epyUeKWY17fUYIU.html

1. No full yardsales

why not just use releasable straps?

just ditch your poles and sign up for ski school!! Pizza - french fries - Pizza - french fries!!

I never put my hands through the straps all the way, I will keep my thumb OUT.

Never ever use straps. Poles are to be held if there are not even there.

only if you are skiing, ...otherwise, they are perfectly ok