I rounded the corner, hitting a patch of ice quicker than I’d like. I’m either going to tumble or catch myself — hopefully, the latter. To my elation, the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles caught me, with just enough flex to conform to my weight while retaining enough support to keep me upright. 

I was running around Durango, Colo., in early spring, testing this 100% carbon fiber pole while training for the Leadville 100. I wanted to see if the Distance Carbon Zs could make the cut and become my default racing sticks, and wow, did they ever deliver. The miles continued to accrue, and so did my appreciation. Ultralight, compact, and sporting an intuitive and rapid deployment system — what more could I ask for?

The latter really nails it with what the Distance Carbon Zs are about: poles made with intention by and for ultra and trail runners. This niche group specifically needs a design that’s light enough that you’re constantly forgetting you’re holding a pair of poles, compact enough to fit any modular vest or fastpack system, and intuitive enough to set up without breaking stride. It’s these three aspects where the Distance Carbon Zs shine and specialize.

In short: The Distance Carbon Zs are a stellar design sitting at the upper end of the trekking pole market made for folks looking to run. Whether lining up for a long-distance ultra, aiming to catch some Strava segments on your local backyard trail, or even striving to lay down a speedy road marathon time, the Carbon Distance Zs are the perfect addition to your running quiver.

These are our favorite trekking poles to run with, but they’re flanked by a whole spectrum of other options out there. For more, check out GearJunkie’s Best Trekking Poles Buyer’s Guide.

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles: Review

First Impressions With the Carbon Zs

When I first received my Black Diamond shipment in the mail, I could’ve sworn the box was empty if I were judging on weight alone. Then, pulling the poles out, it felt like the cardboard packaging was heavier than the poles themselves! Talk about lightweight — at 140 g per pole, a single Distance Carbon Z is lighter than a full 150 mL soft flask.

The colors are striking in person, and the poles were already begging me to take them for a spin. I enjoy nothing more than feeling excited to take my gear outside, an extra layer of motivation to get in some miles.

Once the poles were out of the package, snapping them into their usable length was an absolute breeze and exceptionally intuitive. All it takes is pulling on the second section with another hand on the grip, and everything falls into place securely. Within roughly 2 minutes of opening the box, my Distance Carbon Z Poles were ready to run. 

Born to Run Design

My Distance Carbon Zs saw a wide variety of terrain this spring — dirt single track, gravel roads, sandy washes, slick rock, snow, ice, and even concrete. I’m not a small human, either; at 195 pounds, I really tested these poles in terms of durability and wanted to see if I could cause a crack.

I’m happy to say that other than your expected paint scratches, these poles took a beating and continued running with no visible defects or deficiencies in function. 

The rapid deployment of these poles has to be my favorite feature. When I was ready for a little extra support on my runs, I was able to reach back into my vest or fastpack without taking it off, quickly pull out my Distance Carbon Zs to get them snapped into place, and keep on moving without a hitch. 

For my slick rock adventures near Moab and my in-town runs on the concrete Animas River Trail in Durango, Colo., the rubber tech tips came in handy with some extra grip. The low-profile baskets were the perfect supplement for the sandy washes I wandered in the Canyonlands Needles District. 

Additionally, I found the breathable straps to be comfortable enough to actually use. I’m generally not a strap person, as I don’t appreciate the extra rubbing and buildup of sweat. Still, these straps have obviously been designed with this in mind. 

Lastly, the EVA foam grips are a dream to handle. They are soft and durable, didn’t cause one hotspot on my hands, and are far superior to the heavier and more critter-attracting cork grips that are standard on cheaper trekking poles.

Other Lightweight Options

When it comes down to it, the best competition for these poles is, well … Black Diamond. The Carbon Distance Z is essentially the middle ground between the lighter but nonfolding Distance Carbons and the heavier but length-adjustable Distance Carbon FLZs. 

Outside of Black Diamond’s offerings, I was able to directly compare my Carbon Distance Zs to another set of poles in this space, the Gossamer Gear LT5s. Both are essentially the same weight, are made of 100% carbon fiber, and feature EVA foam grips. 

The major difference here is that the LT5s are teles-coping twist-lock poles and, therefore, adjustable. The LT5s’ telescoping package means that they are a lengthier (but thinner) package when stored, and the twist-locks can be finicky if not cleaned regularly and can take longer to extend and lock into place for use. 

Overall, I’d recommend the Carbon Distance Zs for people looking to run and the Gossamer Gear LT5s for people looking to hike.

Shortcomings

The true caveat of the Distance Carbon Z Poles is that they are fixed length; no adjustment from uphill to downhill or sharing with your shorter or taller friends. The poles are offered in five different lengths (and men’s and women’s versions), with lengths of 110, 115, 120, 125, and 130 cm available for men, and 100, 105, 110, 115, and 125 cm for women.

Thankfully, Black Diamond is on top of it with an adjustable flicklock version on the Distance Carbon FLZ if you’re after different lengths — the downside being the penalty of added weight. Changing your trekking pole length can be advantageous when switching from uphill to downhill, though runners typically pick a length and stick with it.

The only other adjustment I’d make here is an extended grip further down the shaft, allowing you to choke further down the pole when going up steep hills.

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles: Conclusion

The Black Diamond Carbon Distance Z poles are tailor-made for people looking to run, specifically on trails. The ultralight carbon build is ideal for longer distances, the compact folding design is perfect for storage integration with a running vest, and the rapid deployment is essential for keeping your focus in the zone while moving. 

For those running on the road or desert slick rock, the rubber tech tips are a simple switch from the carbide tips. And the icing on the cake: with the comfy EVA foam grips and breathable straps, you won’t have a problem going the distance.

As for other options runners should consider, if a length-adjustable running pole is your main priority, the Distance Carbon FLZs are the ticket. If you’re looking for the lightest package possible, the nonfolding Distance Carbons are as light as they get.

For those searching for a do-it-all set of poles with some hiking in mind, the Leki Black Series FX Carbons or Gossamer Gear LT5s are serious high-end competitors. But for me, the Distance Carbon Zs are my new race pole of choice, blending the aspects of weight, storage, ease of use, and durability into the balanced package I’ve always been looking for.