A close look at two trekking poles buyers cross-shop. The LT5 leans on low weight while the Distance Carbon FLZ answers with packability, so the pick comes down to which you value.
| Gossamer Gear LT5 | Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 80✓ | 78 |
| Weight (pair) | 9.8 oz✓ | 12.0 oz |
| Packed length | 60 cm | 40 cm✓ |
| Max length | 130 cm✓ | 125 cm |
| Min length | 51 cm | 110 cm |
| Price | $195✓ | $240 |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Fold style | Telescoping | Folding |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: LT5 in blue, Distance Carbon FLZ in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Min length is shown for context and is not scored. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full trekking-pole comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Gossamer Gear LT5 next to the Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ and the trade-offs are clear. The LT5 wins on low weight and reach, and the Distance Carbon FLZ pushes back on packability.
The LT5 is 2.2 oz lighter per pair, a longer reach (130 vs 125 cm), and $45 cheaper. The Distance Carbon FLZ is 20 cm shorter packed. On the default GearScore the LT5 leads 80 to 78.
Pick the LT5 if you care most about low weight and reach, which makes it the better call for counting grams on long miles. Pick the Distance Carbon FLZ if packability matter more to you, or you are focused on saving space in your pack.
The Gossamer Gear LT5. It is 2.2 oz lighter per pair than the Distance Carbon FLZ.
The Black Diamond Distance Carbon FLZ. It is 20 cm shorter packed than the LT5.
The Gossamer Gear LT5, 80 to 78 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the LT5 for low weight, or the Distance Carbon FLZ for packability. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.