Ski pole length: alpine, classic and skate, with the measuring methods compared

A 5'11" (180 cm) skier takes a 125 cm pole for downhill, 150 cm for classic cross-country and 160 cm for skating on the Madshus and Fischer charts. The difference comes from how each sport uses a pole. This guide covers the formulas, the hands-on tests, and the places where respected brands give different numbers.

Alpine poles: about 70 percent of height

Fischer states the alpine rule plainly: height in cm × 0.7 gives pole length in cm. For a 178 cm skier that is 124.6, which rounds to 125 cm. evo's chart agrees: 5'10" to 6'0" takes a 125 cm (50 inch) pole. Fischer's own chart has the 176 to 182 cm band at 125 cm as well.

evo's alpine chart steps by about 5 cm for each 3 inches of height:

Swix publishes a separate table in millimetres, indexed to body length without boots: 170 cm maps to 1150 to 1200 mm, 175 cm to 1200 to 1250 mm, 180 cm to 1250 to 1300 mm. Where Swix gives a range, it says to take the shorter pole if you are between two lengths.

Three ways to measure for alpine

The upside-down test. Flip the pole and grip it just under the basket, handle on the floor. evo says your elbow should rest comfortably at your hip with your arm bent to roughly 90 degrees. Fischer adds that you should wear your ski boots with skis on your feet, and that the part above the basket plate is not counted. A level forearm means the right length.

The tape method. With no pole to hand, bend your elbow to 90 degrees and measure from the floor to your hand. evo says to add about two inches for the part of the pole that sinks into snow. Swix uses the same posture but takes the number as is, with no addition.

The height formula. Multiply by 0.7. It needs only a tape measure and a calculator, but Fischer is clear that it is a starting estimate: upper body length, leg length, style and preference all move the answer.

Take a skier who measures 120 cm from floor to hand with elbow at 90 degrees. Swix reads that as 1200 mm directly. evo adds two inches: 120 cm is about 47 inches, so 49 inches or roughly 125 cm. Those two brands are 5 cm apart for the same arm. This is why the upside-down test with a real pole usually settles it better than arithmetic. When in doubt, Swix says go shorter.

Adjusting alpine length for how you ski

Fischer says freeriders can subtract about 5 cm, that park skiers often choose very short poles with 1-metre poles standard for freestylers, and that longer poles suit fast skiers because they allow more arm push. It notes shorter poles are typical on mogul slopes. evo says park skiers pick shorter poles so they stay out of the way riding switch, and many skip poles entirely. For powder evo recommends bigger baskets, up to about 10 cm across against a standard 5 cm.

For backcountry, evo says adjustable poles are common: longer for climbing and traversing, shorter for descents.

Cross-country poles are much longer

Nordic poles are driven by the arm for propulsion, so they reach the shoulder or higher. The rules of thumb:

• Classic: armpit to shoulder. Madshus says some skiers like the armpit so they can get their weight over the poles, while skiers who double-pole a lot may go up to the top of the shoulder. Past the shoulder, Madshus warns, "you'll break that forward lean that generates the momentum and propulsion."
• Skate: nose or ears (Scheels), or chin to nose. Castanet's guide says skate poles should be "between your nose and ears." Fischer says skaters who use poles only to skate can go about 10 cm above shoulder height.

Cross-country formulas compared

Run a 175 cm skier through these. Fischer gives 147 cm classic and 155.75 cm skate. Swix gives 140 cm and 152.5 cm. The Madshus chart reads 145 and 155 at 175 cm, and Scheels lists 145 and 155 for 5'7" to 5'9". So classic ranges from 140 to 147, a 7 cm spread, and skate from 152.5 to 156.

Part of that gap is explained. Swix measures height in ski boots, so a skier whose bare-sole height is 175 cm is a few centimetres taller in boots and moves up the Swix table. The other part is that Swix's percentages differ: classic comes out near 80 percent of height at 175, Fischer's 84 percent.

The competition cap

Fischer notes that official competitions limit pole length to 83 percent of body height, measured with cross-country boots on, so the 0.84 formula can exceed it. Swix gives FIS maximum classic lengths: 1411 mm at 170 cm, 1494 mm at 180 cm, 1577 mm at 190 cm and 1701.5 mm at 205 cm. These caps cover classic poles only. Fischer says beginners should round down and competitors may round up.

Where to measure on the pole

Madshus makes a point most size charts skip. Measure to the point where the strap attaches to the handle, not the top of the grip, since attachment points differ between manufacturers. A pole listed at 150 cm from one brand can feel different from another listed at 150 cm. If you are buying online, check how the maker defines length.

Castanet's guide gives a simple on-snow check for classic: raise your arms comfortably, plant each pole angled back, and see whether it lands between your heel and the back of your boot. It also suggests buying slightly long, since grips can be removed and the shaft trimmed, but warns that overly long poles trip you.

Kids, adjustable poles and roller skis

Children outgrow poles quickly. Fischer says adjustable (vario) cross-country poles with a stable shaft can last a child several seasons, and evo makes the same point for alpine, where adjustable poles can keep pace with fast growth. Fischer adds that adult vario poles are generally used only off-track, since they are too heavy for groomed trails.

Roller skiing changes the measurement slightly. Madshus explains that roller skis sit higher off the ground, but the pole tip does not sink into pavement the way it sinks into snow, so the pole may need a small adjustment. Its advice is to measure with the snow baskets removed and roller-ski ferrules fitted. Use those ferrules on pavement, because snow baskets break easily there.

If you cannot test before buying, Fischer notes that many ski areas rent poles and will change the length for a small fee. That is a cheap way to try 5 cm shorter and 5 cm longer than the chart.

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