proper pole length

[cantdog]

Ok, now I have asked this question to others in the past, but I have gear updating on my mind again, so I am looking for the current school of thought.
I own 3 pairs of skis:

regular downhill 160s-nothing fancy

telemark 170s

XC 180s w/3 hole pin bindings, waxless

My XCs are 24 years old so I believe their poles are no longer the appropriate size due to either my own size or what is in vogue today.

The downhills and the telemarks are second hand so I have no original model to go by.

What I would like to know is the preferred size for all 3 pairs if I was to own 3 pairs of poles. Maybe I can recycle the existing XC poles(@140) into one of the other pairs or get away with the same pair for telemark and downhill.

Your thoughts?

Also, I would be perfectly happy to go with affordable used poles in good shape, so if anyone in the Nashua-Manchester metropolitan area would like to sell their old poles that meet the criteria, let me know.

 

[NYDrew]

Sounds like your just starting to ski again, congrats.

Alpine and Tele use the same size pole for the most part. Turn the pole upside down, place your elbow at a 90deg angle and if your hand grabs just below the basket, your good.

I personally prefere my Tele poles to be about 2 inches shorter then that, but thats a personal thing, not correct.

Cross country I don't know anything about, but I believe they are generally much much longer then the above two.

You can either go get the cheap $15-20 aluminum poles used in the shop (just get something cheap, its just a pole). or you can get those poles that adjust size. I think they start around $60 a pair. I break my poles a lot, so i get the aluminum ones.

 

[cantdog]

Thanks. Now I know for sure that my downhill poles are too small because my elbow is more of a 135' angle when I do that so I'll be shopping for those $15-20 poles.

XC length anyone?

 

[madman]

I dont think there are any new thoughts on length for XC poles. I have changed skis a few times but the poles are still the same. A lot longer than downhill. As I havent bought new XC poles in yrs I cant say for sure but I beleve the rule of thumb is standing flat foot, arm extended paralel to the floor,the pole should reach your pit.