Black Diamond isn't just refreshing its Distance Carbon Z line. It's rebuilding it from the ground up: a new magnetic glove, ever-thinner carbon, an ever-higher price. We went through the field reviews to find out whether the innovation delivers, and at what cost.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z FKT Review: In-Depth Test
8/10
The essentials in 3 sentences
The Distance Carbon Z FKT replaces the Distance Carbon Z with a new magnetic glove that wins universal praise: every tester we consulted rates it thinner and more comfortable than Leki's. At 147-162 g per pole, it's one of the lightest on the market, and its stiff carbon turns every push into climbing speed. The catches: a high price (€200), a fixed length that restricts it to running, and durability that even the most enthusiastic testers won't vouch for after just a few weeks of use.
8
An exceptional pole if you race and can live with the price. Everyone else should think it over.
Black Diamond closes the book on straps
For years, the trail pole market has played the same tune: shave weight everywhere, whatever it takes. By and large, every brand has won that battle. Black Diamond is now tackling a different job, one that barely shows up on a spec sheet but matters just as much on the trail: strap ergonomics.
The Distance Carbon Z FKT replaces the Distance Carbon Z, a well-established model that was starting to show its age against today's standards, Leki's in particular. This new generation is no cosmetic update. It's a complete redesign built around a new magnetic glove system called FKT.
Specs
| Feature | Distance Carbon Z FKT |
|---|---|
| Weight | 147 to 162 g per pole depending on size (105 to 130 cm) |
| Construction | 3 carbon sections, fixed length, internal tension system |
| Folding | Z-Pole architecture with Speed Cone technology |
| Folded length | 35 to 42 cm depending on size |
| Grip | EVA foam with grip extension |
| Strap | Magnetic FKT glove, ultralight mesh, breathable strap made from recycled materials |
| Tip | Interchangeable carbide, steel structure, flexible tip cover |
| Baskets | Minimalist, removable, snow baskets included |
| Made in | Taiwan |
| Price | €200 |
The FKT glove, the real technological leap
You won't spot the innovation at first glance. You feel it in your hand. The classic strap is gone: Black Diamond switches to an ultralight mesh glove that attaches magnetically to the pole and locks in with a single click. To free your hand, just press a button. That lets you drink from a soft flask or open a vest pocket without taking the glove off completely.
Leki's gloves are rated effective but bulkier and sometimes intrusive in the hand. The FKT aims to be more discreet without sacrificing power transfer. Field feedback suggests the bet pays off, with special mention for comfort, a point where other brands that tried the glove approach clearly failed.
The field test
On pure performance, the reviews line up to a striking degree. The carbon's stiffness impresses every time: all the energy of each push goes through with no loss, which noticeably changes the feel on sustained climbs. The Speed Cone folding system wins unanimous praise for its speed and reliability, with no fiddly handling. The glove's magnetic clip works well: it attaches fast and releases instantly with a single press.
But the consensus ends where the durability question begins. It's the one point even the most enthusiastic testers refuse to call. One of them, who typically breaks two to three pairs of Leki gloves a year at the attachment system, notes that Black Diamond's reinforced-cord approach looks sturdier on paper, but admits he has no reliable feedback after just a few weeks of use. Another tester flags a different but equally concrete issue: carbon's inherent fragility under a violent side load on scree, when it gets wedged between two boulders, or when it sinks into soft snow and the section ends up levered sideways.
The same tester points to a structural limit of the model: its fixed length. For an experienced runner chasing pure efficiency, that's not a problem. For more versatile use that includes hiking or fast hiking, where you adjust length for climbs and descents, it becomes a real constraint. The verdict is blunt: this pole is built exclusively for mountain running, not for hiking with a loaded pack.
The previous Distance Carbon Z is still available and costs less. The FKT doesn't replace it in every situation: it specifically targets runners who want the best possible energy transfer, whatever the price.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z FKT vs Leki Ultratrail FX One: which glove should you pick?
| Criterion | Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z FKT | Leki Ultratrail FX One |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 147 to 162 g per pole | Generally a few grams heavier |
| Strap system | Magnetic FKT glove, rated thinner and more comfortable | Effective but bulkier glove, the long-standing benchmark |
| Length | Fixed, not adjustable | See our dedicated review for size details |
| Durability | Still to be proven over time | Attachment system flagged as a recurring weak point |
| Price | €200 | Comparable premium positioning |
You'll find the detailed breakdown of Leki's system in our Leki Ultratrail FX One review. On paper, Black Diamond fixes precisely the flaws identified in the market leader.
Pros
- Among the lowest weights on the market, feels instantly light in the hand
- FKT glove unanimously rated more comfortable and more discreet than the competition
- Excellent carbon stiffness, direct energy transfer on climbs
- Fast deployment and folding thanks to Speed Cone technology
Cons
- High price, called elitist by several testers
- Fixed length, unsuited to versatile hiking or fast hiking use
- Carbon fragility under violent side loads or on unstable terrain
- Glove system durability still unproven over time
Our field verdict: who is it for?
The racer chasing VKs and FKTs
If you want the best possible energy transfer and price isn't an obstacle, the Distance Carbon Z FKT is probably the best thing out there right now in this category.
The all-round trail runner who also hikes
If you switch between running and hiking with a loaded pack, the fixed length and the carbon's fragility on unstable terrain are two limits to take seriously. An adjustable pole is still the better fit.
The runner who wants a safe purchase
If you'd rather wait for durability feedback before spending €200, there's no rush. The previous Distance Carbon Z remains a solid, cheaper option. To structure your progress with or without poles, check out our RunMorph training plans.
RunMorph Coach verdict: 8/10
Black Diamond delivers a genuine technical step forward with the FKT glove, more comfortable and more discreet than anything that came before. Low weight and stiffness are there. But the high price, the fixed length and still-unproven durability limit this pole to experienced racers, not versatile everyday use.
Key takeaways for your training
- A lighter, stiffer pole improves energy transfer on climbs, but it doesn't replace targeted arm and shoulder strength work.
- Check the fixed size that suits your build before buying: unlike an adjustable model, you can't correct it afterward.
- Save carbon poles for stable terrain and avoid violent side loads on scree to protect the sections.
- The magnetic glove makes quick transitions easier: practice clipping it in and out before race day to smooth them out.
- For versatile use that includes hiking with a loaded pack, go for an adjustable-length pole rather than a fixed, race-oriented model.