anybody break a bd ultra distance pole

I snapped a BD UD pole when I inadvertently kicked it just above the basket, while it was planted, as my leg swung forward on a sauntering gravel road descent. I can't think of another pole that would have failed catastrophically from such a mild infraction, but then that was probably not a stress the poles were engineered to withstand. I gather the new ones are slightly beefier. With some care, they should withstand normal use. I switched to the Alu model and they are doing fine, fingers crossed.

I used a pair for about 1500 mile long hike last year. The poles were very strong / sturdy. The wrist straps are incredibly comfortable but wear away extremely quickly, especially if you're in wet conditions.

I knew another girl on PCT who had one snap after about 2300 miles, but still had great things to say about the poles over all.

Be sure to switch to the carbide tips if you get them. I knew someone else who threw his out after a month because the plastic tips were worn out, but the carbide ones last forever!

apparently there was some kind of an issue because the 2013 and newer poles have been beefed up slightly where the poles connect. this added around 20g per pair.

so now you have a choice :

buy 2012 and older poles that are lighter but slightly weaker.

buy 2013 and newer poles that are stronger but slightly heavier.

I had a BD Distance pole that while collapsed in checked baggage had the handle jammed such that I couldn't move it and thus expand the pole for use.

When you pull the pole snap out there is a pushpin that holds it out.
One of mine was not finished well enough in the carbon area just below the snap and shards of carbon came off while taking the pole down.
The handle would hit the pole and a piece would peel off.
It made the snap settle about 1" into the carbon pole
I now have to wrap something around that area and now I cannot collapse the pole.

I will be asking the company if they will replace it as it happened not to long ago.

I had the exact same problem as Aaron but it was totally my fault.
at the end of a long Sierra day I tried to hammer my pole into the ground with a rock.
bad idea, it caused the splintering and shaft deforming issue Aaron mentioned.

when I got home I pulled the handle and pin all the up to their correct position. glued a metal plug into the pole just below the pin, cut off the splinters with a knife, epoxied the shaft to fill the gaps, and sanded it all smooth when dry.
it works perfectly now, but I won't use a rock again.

Mine survived the whole SHR = hard use. FWIW.

Thanks for the input guys. I found a good deal on the 2013 models, about $100 with coupons at sunny sports, so I went for it.

In comparison to the other ultralight poles I've used, ruta locura and GG, I've found this more durable thus far and way less fiddly, partly just by virtue of not being twist lock. Honestly, I can't think of any commonly used mechanism in the outdoors more prone to failure then a twist lock pole.

Well, I guess its back to a quiver of poles for me.