Sizing cross country ski poles 

Ski poles are not just aesthetic enhancements to skiing gear. Ski poles can be unusually instrumental to a more progressed skier in making and demonstrating a proper turning rhythm and rendering good balance. It is essential that your skiing poles are the correct height for your stature. The thing is that ski poles that are overlong or too short can badly impact on the skier's performance, resulting in an inaccurate posture which may heighten the chance of tumbling.

However, ski poles that are not long enough for you could result in you leaning too far forwards and that can affect your balance, and skiing poles that are overlong may indicate you're leaning too far backwards which is liable to affect your control. Of course not all skiing is the same and there is a difference between cross-country skiing poles and downhill skiing poles, so be particular you buy poles that are designed for the type of sking you will be doing.

Even though possible to use one set of ski poles for either style of skiing, you should bear in mind that skiing poles are specifically fashioned to fit particular situations and to best assist the skier while enjoying various different kinds of skiing. You should also be aware that downhill ski poles have a tinier hoop, which is the disc about the end of the poles, whereas cross-country ski poles will have a bigger basket to help prevent the skier from settling into new snow.

Also, ski poles contrived for cross-country skiing are in addition slightly longer than those utilized for downhill skiing. The extra long length in cross-country ski poles is designed to get extra distance with each step as well as prevent going down into deep snow.

When trying out various skiing poles to find the correct ones for you, check that the pole handles fit comfortably in your hands while you're wearing your ski gloves.  There's no point in trying out poles without gloves as your grip may be quite different when you have them on. Make a point that the straps round your skiing poles fit properly around your wrist joints. The straps shouldn't be overly tight or uncomfortable and should still allow motion as you ski.

The simplest way to resolve if your skiing poles are the correct height for you is to turn your ski poles upside down with the hand hold on the floor in front of your feet. This means you'll be holding your skiing poles close to the hoop and locate your body into your individual skiing posture and observe the position of your arms.

If you have formed a comfy ninety degree angle your skiing poles are likely to be the right height for your body and your ski style. Nevertheless if your arms have formed a bigger or lesser angle, keep trying various ski poles until you locate the proper ones to fit you and your skiing needs.