Bamboo Is the Secret Sauce Behind Ski Poles That Won’t Break
Custom-made Grass Sticks are light, but durable enough to survive serious wipeouts.
Baskets on the Grass Sticks bamboo ski poles are available in eight colors and three sizes and are interchangeable to adapt to snow conditions.
Photographer: Yudi Ela for Bloomberg Businessweek
Poles are usually an afterthought when it comes to ski equipment. Sure, they help with balance and mobility, but go on enough runs and they’ll eventually warp or break—no matter the price point. Grass Sticks, out of Steamboat Springs, Colo., has designed retro-looking ski poles ($98) that are built to last. Made with a sustainable bamboo shaft, recycled polyester straps, and no-slip carbide on the tips, they’re also customizable: Choose from 100 color combinations and multiple basket options as well as any length.
THE COMPETITION