Torn between an ultra-specialized trail pole and a versatile partner for races, long runs and fastpacking? The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z has been carving its own path in this hybrid category for ten years. The 2026 version beefs up its joints by 30%, keeps the Z-fold at 40 cm when folded and sticks with a breathable EVA grip that has proven itself. Price: around 180 euros a pair. Let's see what it's worth out on the trail.
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Review: The Z-Fold That Rules Ultras
8.5/10
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z: the safe bet in carbon Z-fold poles
Black Diamond doesn't reinvent anything with the Distance Carbon Z. The American brand refines. Since its original launch, this pole has become the benchmark Z-fold (a three-section fold, tent-pole style) in full-carbon construction. The 2026 version sticks to the recipe: 100% carbon shaft, joints reinforced by 30% over the previous generation, breathable EVA foam grip, recycled nylon strap and interchangeable carbide/rubber Tech Tips.
Claimed weight varies with length: 280 g per pair at 110 cm, up to 298 g at 130 cm. That makes it slightly heavier than the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite (274 g), but the Distance Carbon Z makes up for it with greater versatility and a price of around 180 euros, about ten euros below its German rival.
RunMorph's tip: the Distance Carbon Z is one of the few poles that can go from a 25 km race to a multi-day trek without breaking a sweat. If you're new to trail poles, it's the most forgiving choice. Pair it with the Black Diamond Distance 22 pack or the Salomon Adv Skin 12, both of which take this pole format with no trouble.
Objective technical specs
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Black Diamond |
| Model | Distance Carbon Z (2026 version) |
| Shaft material | 100% carbon, aluminum joint ring |
| Construction | 3-section Z-fold, joints reinforced +30% |
| Folded length | 33 cm (100 cm size) to 40 cm (130 cm size) |
| Extended lengths | 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130 cm (fixed length) |
| Weight per pole | 140 g (110 cm) to 149 g (130 cm) |
| Weight per pair | 280 g to 298 g depending on size |
| Deployment system | Speed Cone push-button at the top |
| Grip | Breathable EVA foam, extended lower grip |
| Strap | Recycled nylon, adjustable |
| Tips | Interchangeable Tech Tips (carbide + rubber) |
| Official price | around 180 euros |
Who are these poles for?
The skyrunner looking for a balance of weight and versatility
If you run 2-3 skyraces a year and do long runs the rest of the time, the Distance Carbon Z ticks the right boxes. You don't get the featherweight build of the FX.One Superlite, but you gain interchangeable Tech Tips (rubber in town and on rock slabs, carbide in the mountains) and a joint that is more forgiving of side impacts. This is the pole we recommend to runners who want one product that does it all.
The ultra finisher and the long-distance trail fan
At 100 km and beyond, the EVA foam grip makes a real difference compared with stiffer cork grips. The foam soaks up sweat, wicks away moisture and rinses clean in seconds at an aid station fountain. The extension below the grip is shorter than on the FX.One, which can bother runners who like to slide their hand down on flat traverses. Try it in store and decide for yourself.
The fastpacker and the fast trekker
This is where the Distance Carbon Z pulls away from pure trail racing poles. With its rubber Tech Tips and reinforced joints, it handles a 6 to 8 kg pack without flinching. You can string together three days of trekking on the GR20 or the Haute Route Pyrénéenne with it, without worrying about a break on the first rocky descent. No pure skyrace pole can take that.
Comfort, support and ergonomics
The EVA foam grip is one of the most comfortable on the trail market. It absorbs sweat without turning slippery, dries quickly after a downpour and keeps a secure hold even when you wear thin gloves. On a humid summer trail race, that is a real advantage over cork grips, which can soften with sweat.
The recycled nylon strap is adjustable but sticks to a classic design. It holds the wrist without squeezing it. Compared with Leki's Shark Frame Strap Mesh, it is slower to clip in and out (you have to fiddle with the plastic buckle) but wraps the wrist better on long climbs. It comes down to preference: speed or support.
The soft extension below the grip is short (about 8-10 cm). Handy for choking down on the pole on flat traverses, less so on long descents where you want a very low hold. If that matters to you, look instead at Leki poles with the Aircore grip, which offers a more generous extension.
Folding and adjustment system
The Black Diamond Z-fold is one of the fastest on the market. The three sections are linked by an internal Kevlar cord. To deploy, pull the pole out of your pack, tug on the bottom section, the three sections snap into line and the Speed Cone push-button at the top locks everything in place. Two seconds flat once you have the hang of it.
To fold, press the button at the top, the sections pop apart and you fold the pole into a Z. The supplied elastic band holds the three sections together. Packed size: 33 to 40 cm depending on extended length. It fits all recent trail packs (Compressport Ultrun Evo 10, Raidlight Ultralight 12L, etc.).
Like the Leki FX.One Superlite, the Distance Carbon Z is fixed-length. You choose your length when you buy. If you want a telescopic pole with centimeter-level adjustment, look at the Distance Carbon FLZ in the same Black Diamond range: more versatile, but 30 to 40 g heavier per pair.
On the trail
On steep climbs, the Distance Carbon Z behaves in a very neutral way. No explosive rebound like the Leki FX.One Superlite (the Black Diamond carbon is less torsionally stiff), but a solid, linear push. You push, the pole transmits, nothing more. For runners who value consistency over peak performance, that is reassuring. On a long climb with 800 m of elevation gain, shoulder fatigue is slightly higher than with the Leki but stays well under control.
On technical descents, the Distance Carbon Z takes back the lead. The joints, reinforced by 30% for 2026, soak up side impacts and rock strikes without flinching. This is the pole we recommend to runners who aren't afraid to plant aggressively on a rocky descent at 12 km/h. The carbon shaft withstands angled impacts better than ultra-thin models like the FX.One Superlite.
The interchangeable Tech Tips are a genuine asset in real-world use. Heading out on a half-road, half-trail route? Fit the rubber tips at the start for the asphalt, then switch to carbide at the foot of the mountain. Thirty seconds per pole, a simple screw-on swap. Leki has no direct equivalent to this versatility in its Ultratrail range.
How it stacks up against the competition
Against the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite, the Distance Carbon Z loses on weight (280-298 g versus 274 g) and on the strap (the Shark Frame Strap Mesh is quicker to clip in at aid stations). It wins on the interchangeable Tech Tips, trail/fastpacking versatility and price (180 versus 190 euros). If you do 80% trail and 20% trekking, go with Black Diamond. If you do 100% skyrace racing, go with Leki.
Against aluminum Z-fold poles (Decathlon Evadict, Naturehike) at 50-80 euros, the Distance Carbon Z saves 80 to 120 g per pair and delivers joint stiffness you feel in every condition. At 100 outings a year, the price gap pays for itself in less than two seasons.
Against the Distance Carbon FLZ (Black Diamond's telescopic range), the Z gives up centimeter-level adjustment but saves 30 to 40 g per pair and gains stiffness (fewer junctions = less mechanical play). The choice comes down to your main use: fixed length and performance for the Z, adjustable versatility for the FLZ.
How to fit them into your RunMorph training plan
The Distance Carbon Z fits naturally into most RunMorph training plans built around long trail races and ultras. Its versatility lets you use it on your long mountain runs (where you mix running and fast hiking) as well as on dedicated hill sessions. Schedule one weekly session with poles for 6 to 8 weeks before your goal race, then bring the poles out on your long run.
Coordination tip: practice going from stowed to deployed poles in under 5 seconds. In a race with 1,500 m of elevation gain, you will unfold and fold them 4 to 6 times depending on the course profile. Save 30 seconds per transition and you gain 2 to 3 minutes on race day. The Black Diamond Speed Cone is fast. Drilling the movement is up to you.
On the shoe side, the Distance Carbon Z pairs well with a versatile shoe such as the Hoka Speedgoat 7 or the NNormal Tomir 2 for technical terrain. On more runnable terrain, the Hoka Tecton X 3 or the Salomon S/Lab Genesis round out the setup nicely.
RunMorph verdict
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z is the most versatile trail pole in the premium carbon segment. It lacks the featherweight build of the Leki Ultratrail FX.One Superlite and the ultra-fast Shark Frame Strap Mesh. In return, it offers interchangeable Tech Tips, a joint that is 30% stiffer in 2026, an EVA grip that stays comfortable even over 20 hours of racing, and a price of around 180 euros that puts it within reach of serious amateur runners.
For a mixed trail + fastpacking + winter mountain profile, it is our default recommendation. For the pure skyrace competitor, the Leki FX.One Superlite remains sharper. The Distance Carbon Z doesn't dazzle anywhere, but it doesn't disappoint anywhere either. That is its strength: consistency.
Final score: 8.5/10. A safe bet that has earned its status as the Z-fold benchmark.
Key takeaways for your training
- 280 to 298 g per pair depending on size: a modest weight for a 100% carbon pole that can go from trail racing to fastpacking without flinching.
- Joints reinforced by 30% in 2026: they handle side impacts on technical descents better than ultra-thin pure racing poles.
- Interchangeable Tech Tips (carbide + rubber): a unique on-trail asset for switching from asphalt to rock in 30 seconds per pole.
- Breathable EVA foam grip: copes with sweat better than cork grips on long summer races.
- Speed Cone push-button: deploys in 2 seconds, provided you drill the movement during your training runs.