MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles Review
An in-depth review of the MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Poles for winter backcountry activities.
The author at the peak of Katahdin’s Baxter Peak in winter, with MSR poles leaning against the summit sign. Photo by Eric Hansen.
Home > Gear Reviews > Ski & Snow
January 21st, 2025
Our verdict
The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles performed flawlessly in harsh winter conditions where gear failure could be dangerous. They’re a combination pole, with both a tri-fold and a telescoping portion in the handle to allow for quick and easy length adjustment (up to 20cm).
In testing, the poles were comfortable, even over multiple, back-to-back 12+ hour days. They provided effective support while breaking trail through heavy deep snow, postholing between rocks in boulderfields, and fording partially frozen creeks. Testing included using the poles to ascend and descend slippery high-angle snowpack and wet boulder fields, with the poles sometimes holding the author’s full body weight.
The poles did their job very well, and aside from scratches on the paint, they’ve shown no signs of wear or instability over 100 tough winter miles. They fold away to about 16 inches long, making them incredibly easy to stow when they’re not needed or might get in the way. Despite their robust design, these poles weigh less than most ski poles and are average weight for trekking poles.
For winter backcountry adventures on foot like snowshoeing, mountaineering, skiing or splitboarding, these are an excellent choice with no comparable competition.
Check out our Best Trekking Poles and Best Running Poles guides for more of our favorites!
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Specs
Price: $190
Material: Kevlar-reinforced carbon-fiber
Baskets: Powder and trekking options
Weight per pair: 482 grams
Length: 100-120cm (small), 120-140cm (large)
Collapsed Length: 36cm for small, 45cm for large
Comparison table
| RUNNING POLES | MATERIAL | LENGTHS AVAILABLE | COLLAPSIBLE* | ADJUSTABLE | WEIGHT** | MSRP*** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry | Carbon | 100-120 cm | Yes | Yes | 470 g | $190 |
| Black Diamond Traverse | Aluminum | 95-145, 105-155 cm | Yes | Yes | 592 g | $115 |
| Black Diamond Pursuit | Aluminum | 100-125cm, 100-140 cm | Yes | Yes | 464 g | $150 (single) |
| Blcak Diamond Razor Carbon Pro | Aluminum upper, carbon lower | 100-125cm, 115-140cm | Yes | Yes | 524 g, 542 g | $115 |
| Black Diamond Whippet | Aluminum | 140 cm | Yes | Yes | 452 g | $150 (single) |
Who is it for
These poles are advertised for snowshoeing, mountaineering, splitboarding, and backcountry travel, and we found this to be true through our testing of the product. These poles are specifically designed for winter snow travel, with thoughtful features designed to increase user comfort and reduce exhaustion on long, cold days.
Near whiteout conditions near the summit of Katahdin using the MSR Dynalock Ascent poles. Photo by Eric Hansen.
The ideal user for these poles is someone who spends time in the backcountry during the winter season and is looking for a set of poles that welcome deep snow and tough conditions. These poles shine where other poles break, bend, or barely tolerate the terrain. They don’t need to be handled delicately — they can take on winter conditions with panache. And after use in the backcountry, they pack down small for the ride out.
How we tested
We tested these poles in a variety of conditions throughout the Northeast, in summer, shoulder, and winter seasons. Activities included 3-season hiking, scrambling, winter hiking, snowshoeing, and winter camping. Testing environments included moderate terrain on Mt. Greylock (Massachusetts’ high point) and the New England Trail, and challenging, technical terrain in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Baxter State Park of Maine, including a winter summit of Katahdin (northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail).
Author using MSR Dynalock Ascent poles while heading towards Katahdin’s Hamlin peak, with Katahdin’s Baxter peak in the background. Photo by Eric Hansen.
These poles were tested in conjunction with traction devices, snowshoes, and a pulk sled. Waist-deep snow, boulder fields, water-covered ice sheets, rotted snow, moving water, 50 mph wind, and whiteout were all encountered during testing. Temperatures varied from 50 degrees down to -10 degrees, with conditions that included rain, snow, and freeze-thaw.
Descending Baxter peak using MSR Dynalock Ascent poles, with Hamlin peak and the Brothers in the background.Photo by Eric Hansen.
What we liked
Comfortable EVA foam grips
Quick adjustable, wide neoprene wrist straps
Extra foam covering below the handle for sidehilling without adjusting pole length
Good flotation with snow baskets
Replaceable carbide tips
Handles have an indented “beak” to pull up snowshoe heel lifts
The poles are held together with a durable plastic-sheathed wire
Aluminum DynaLock lever gives an instant 20cm tool-free adjustable length
Author using MSR Dynalock Ascent poles, halfway to the summit of Katahdin. Photo by Eric Hansen.
What could be better
Webbed snow baskets allowed the poles to hook on tree branches, blowdowns, and roots
Button release to collapse poles could become frozen or a point of failure, though this did not occur during our testing
Wrist straps loosened on their own over time
Not intended for downhill travel
Key features
Zoom in on the extra foam covering below the handle of the MSR Dynalock Ascent poles. The foam is for sidehilling. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Comfort
These poles are designed with winter travel in mind and are very comfortable. The EVA foam hand grips are larger in circumference than standard trekking poles, which kept my hands less tight and tense in cold conditions, allowing for better blood flow and warmer hands. I also found the larger circumference easier to grip, decreasing strain on my wrists and hands over long days.
The wrist straps are longer, easily allowing insulated, gloved hands in and out of the straps. The straps are also wider than standard and lined with neoprene, for greater comfort and better wrist support when putting more pressure on the poles, like when breaking through deep snow, falling, or climbing over ledges. They were a breeze to adjust on the move, letting me pick the best wrist strap length at any given time.
I was especially grateful for these wrist straps when I switched into bulkier mittens on descents after wearing light gloves on the ascents. It also meant that the wrist straps would open to their full length if yanked very hard, like when the pole caught between roots or I fell and the pole became wedged. I don’t know if it was an intentional safety decision, but I appreciated it. This did mean the wrist straps tended to loosen over time, but I found the occasional adjustment a small price to pay for the easy convenience of quick adjustability.
Weight
These poles only weigh 1 pound (482g). Their weight is average for carbon and aluminum trekking poles and lighter than most ski poles. I never noticed the weight of the poles as a burden during snow travel, even using them over long days. Used during the summer, I did notice their weight because I had lighter running poles as a direct comparison.
Locking feature
These poles each have a quick tension adjustment requiring no tools that worked well even when wearing mittens and gloves. I was able to easily adjust the pole length in less than five seconds while walking, after I’d done it a few times with more focus.
Close-up of the DynaLock lever. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Length and Adjustability
These are adjustable length, from 100-120cm (small) or 120-140cm (large), with only a single place to adjust the length (rather than two like most trekking poles). Each handle has an indented “beak” to easily pull up snowshoe heel lifts without leaning over.
Zoom in on the 20cm adjustable length of the MSR Dynalock Ascent pole. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Packed size
Since these fold up into three overlapping pieces, they pack down nicely, only 36 cm for small and 45 cm for large.
MSR poles at the iconic summit of Bondcliff in the White Mountains. Photo by Aubri Drake.
Special features
Kevlar-Reinforced Carbon Fiber Construction
The poles are made of Kevlar-reinforced carbon-fiber, offering strength and durability in a lightweight package. These poles never showed signs of instability or weakening despite rough treatment, which was a direct contrast with other 3-piece folding poles that tended to show instability after exposure to technical terrain and higher weight load.
DynaLock Adjustability
These are quick and easy to adjust, even using gloved hands. It took me a few tries to figure out how to use my gloves’ grippy pads to dial the tensioners tight, but once I did, these dials kept the poles at my desired length without requiring any tools. I was delighted to only need to adjust each pole in one place, rather than two.
Compact Folding Design
These poles fold up tightly, with indents in the snow baskets to allow the handles to fold up even tighter, taking up only 16 inches of horizontal space. I was able to clip them perpendicularly to my backpack and still fit through tight squeezes between boulders.
Multi-Season Functionality
The snow baskets are removable for use while trekking, and these poles would do admirably in summer. But in warmer, glove-free conditions, the larger foam grip could be irritating. And given the cost of these poles, most users will want to use a cheaper option during the snow-free season — like a 3-piece trekking pole or lighter folding trekking poles.
The MSR Dynalock Ascent poles really shine during winter foot travel. Photo by Eric Hansen.
Durability and Performance in the Field
I was very impressed with the poles’ durability under brutal conditions where I’ve bent aluminum trekking poles before. Testing in the Northeast, I have to be careful to test gear in moderate conditions before taking them on technical trails like the New Hampshire White Mountains. The rocky, rough terrain devours gear. The back of my truck is full of Frankenstein's Monster poles — combinations of a dozen pole pieces from past versions that snapped or bent in the mountains.
I was worried about these poles, but after moderate testing, I wanted to see if they were up for the task. I took them on a 25-mile White Mountains traverse, which ended up being a 15-hour sufferfest with three friends, breaking trail through waist-deep snow and ascending ledges in -15 windchill/5 degree cold. I did not treat these poles gently. I planted the poles in the snow and used them as an anchor to ascend steep slab. I caught my snowshoes and fell, catching my entire body weight with the poles.
Poles are a useful tool for snowshoe adventures. Photo by Eric Hansen.
Given their excellent performance, I then took them on a 4-day backcountry trip into the Maine North Woods and even the summit of Katahdin. They performed admirably, giving me exactly what I needed in a winter pole.
Ease of use
Over numerous hours, many in heinous conditions, I found these poles to be instinctive and easy to use. The wrist straps and the DynaLock system for pole length both adjusted effortlessly, and could be done while continuing forward, often without even looking at what I was doing. The poles folded rapidly for stowing, even offering indents in the snow baskets to fold in the tips for a compressed bundle.
The foam grip was larger, keeping my hands more relaxed and thus warmer. I found myself using the extended grip aids while climbing steep terrain, navigating snowy side-hills, and when climbing up boulders. It was a great feature I didn’t know I’d been missing in my other winter poles.
Sunset on Mt Guyot, partway through a long day of trail breaking. Photo by Eric Hansen.
Sustainability and ethics of the brand
MSR offers a 3-year limited warranty on all of their products, excluding standard wear and tear. Assuming items are treated as intended (they give examples like, “snowshoes as snow flotation devices, and not as water skis”), MSR covers any defects in materials and workmanship for three years.
Additionally, they offer gear maintenance videos and a repair shop that offers many services, including water filter, stove, and snowshoe overhauls. MSR and their parent brand Cascade Designs are committed to long-term use of their products and reducing waste.
MSR is also a founding member of the Outdoor Industry Association Sustainability Working Group, a coalition of more than 300 outdoor brands, suppliers, and manufacturers dedicated to addressing sustainability challenges.
Should I buy MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon poles?
Based on my experiences testing these poles, I would happily purchase these for myself or give them to a winter hiking buddy. They’re not cheap, but I trust that these poles will likely survive multiple winter seasons, which I cannot say the same for my trusty 3-season Black Diamond Pursuits. I’d love to reduce the number of Frankenstein’s Monster poles in the back of my truck, and I’m hopeful that these MSR poles will do just that!
These poles are great for backcountry winter enthusiasts who enjoy snowy foot travel, like hiking, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and splitboarding. They’re not intended for downhill travel, so a different pole would be recommended for activities like backcountry skiing. They thrive in cold, snowy conditions and stalwartly handle 3-season conditions. For the features and durability, these poles are incredibly light and built to outlast any tough conditions you might want to explore.
MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon poles are perfect for winter backpacking. Photo by Aubri Drake.
MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon vs. similar poles
The MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon poles offer a unique experience for winter foot travelers. MSR built this pole specifically for these activities, offering a piece of gear dialed in for the task required. This pole is a decent 3-season folding pole, but it truly outshines everything else in the niche of winter foot travel. If you’re looking for a winter pole for uphill splitboard travel, snowshoeing, and mountaineering objectives, these are a perfect choice.
However, these are not designed for downhill travel, so if you’re looking to ski or board downhill, one of these below products may be a better fit for you.
Similar products
Black Diamond Traverse Ski Poles
Length: 95-145cm, 105-155cm
Weight: 520g (pair)
Collapsed Length: 90cm
Materials: Aluminum
MSRP: $115
These 2-piece aluminum ski poles are intended for backcountry touring. They don’t fold down, with the smallest length possible being 90cm. For folks looking for a more standard aluminum ski pole these could be a good option.
Length: 100-125cm, 100-140cm
Weight: 464g, 500g
Collapsed Length: 62cm, 68cm
Materials: Aluminum
MSRP: $150
These 3-piece aluminum trekking poles are meant for hiking adventures. Their collapsed size is fairly long, making them difficult to stow away safely. These could be a good option for people who snowshoe or do other foot-based snow sports, just know that they can’t be stowed easily and may bend in deep snow.
Length: 100-125 cm, 115-140 cm
Weight: 524 g (for 100-125 cm), 542 g (for 115-140 cm)
Collapsed Length: 92 cm, 105 cm
Materials: Aluminum upper, carbon lower
MSRP: $180
These 2-piece aluminum-carbon ski poles are intended for backcountry touring. Like the Black Diamond Traverse poles, these collapse to a large size making stowing them difficult. This could be a good option for those seeking a standard carbon ski pole.
About the author / Why you should trust us
The author breaking trail towards the summit of Bondcliff in the New Hampshire White Mountains using these MSR poles. Photo by Eric Hansen.
Aubri ('Data') Drake is a queer and transgender hiker, ultrarunner, writer, and researcher. Aubri discovered long-distance backpacking in 2013 and has been running away to the woods ever since. They’ve thru-hiked many trails, including the Appalachian Trail, Nüümü Poyo (also known as the John Muir Trail), Pacific Crest Trail, Arizona Trail, and Colorado Trail.
Most relevant for this story, Aubri has completed numerous Northeast peakbagging lists in both winter and summer seasons including the Northeast 111 4,000 Footers (which includes the New England 67 4,000 Footers, the Adirondack 46 High Peaks, and 2 peaks in the Catskills) and the New England Hundred Highest (which includes 15 bushwhacks through dense forest). They’re 95% done with a New Hampshire 48 4000 Footers grid (each of the 48 peaks summited every month of the year for 576 peaks).
They’ve run ultramarathon distances up to 100 miles, completed the Northeast Ultra 8, and set more than 20 Fastest Known Times. Aubri has logged more than 9,000 miles on their feet (often in snowy conditions) in the last three years, and their writing has been featured in Trail Runner Magazine and Long Trail News magazine.
Website: https://transcendingmountains.blog/ Instagram: @genderqueer_hiker
You can read Aubri’s Treeline Review stories on their author page.
