When youre backcountry skiing, it never hurts to keep some extra tools on hand. That was a hard truth my partner and I were grappling with as we tried to hand-tighten screws on his splitboard bindings. The pucks were loose, and we couldnt adequately retighten the screws with just our fingers. It was cold, blowing snow, and before us, our descent waited patiently while we fiddled with the Phillips heads.

　　Then, in an ephiphany that felt like a light bulb, I remembered: My ski poles were screwdrivers. I opened the clasp on the telescoping pole and pulled the top section out of the bottom. I handed my friend the tool, who smiled broadly, grabbed it, and put it to work. The issue was resolved in minutes. Then we both clipped in and, one at a time, dropped down the backcountry slope on Meadow Mountain, whooping and hollering.

　　That was the first time I used the Atomic Backland FR Ski Poles screwdriver function, but it wouldnt be the last. Its one of the reasons why these poles accompanied me on so many of my ski tours this past season. Theyre extremely functional tools for backcountry travel — in more ways than one.

　　In short: The Atomic Backland FR Ski Poles ($130) are Chris Benchetlers adjustable aluminum backcountry freeride ski poles. Theyre lightweight, the grip is ergonomic, and the locking mechanism holds well without slipping. Uniquely, these poles also have Phillips and flathead screwdrivers built into the top half. Backcountry skiers and snowboarders, and anyone who demos skis often, will appreciate the versatility of these poles.

　　Compare the Atomic Backland Ski Poles to those on GearJunkies guide to the Best Ski Poles.

　　(Photo/Cam McLeod) Atomic Backland Poles Check Price at Backcountry

　　(Photo/Atomic) 8.6 How we rate products Specifications Weight per pole: 10.2 oz. Shaft material: Aluminum Baskets: Powder Sizes (cm): Adjustable, 110cm to 130cm Tip material: Carbide Pros Poles double as both flathead and Phillips screwdriver Lightweight SQS safety release system Cons Grips leave black residue on bare hands Will Brendza

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Atomic Backland FR Ski Pole Review I first encountered the Atomic Backland Ski Poles on a media trip with Atomic at Powder Mountain in Utah. It was dumping on us, and we were demoing three different skis of numerous widths. So naturally, there was a lot of swapping out, trading, and switching skis going on.

　　Everyone with Atomic was wielding Backland screwdrivers, making helter-skelter adjustments to fit bindings to boots in the snow, on work benches, anywhere they could find a flat surface. It was chaos — beautiful ski demo chaos.

　　I didnt get a pair of my own Backland Ski poles to test until the following season. I forgot about the built-in screwdrivers until about a month into testing, so my first impressions using these poles had nothing to do with their hidden tools.

　　(Photo/Cam McLeod) Locking Mechanism The Atomic Backland Ski Poles have a plastic PowerLock that can be adjusted with a small dial on its side. If the lock is too loose, simply twist the dial to tighten and try again. You have to find the sweet spot between too-tight-to-close and too-loose-to-hold-its-position.

　　Once youve zeroed in on that, though, the lock holds its place well without slipping. I tend to pole plant aggressively, and the Atomic Backlands lock didnt falter on me once after I had the lock dialed.

　　(Photo/Sean McCoy) Weight The Backland Poles weigh in at 10.2 ounces. Thats pretty light, but compared to ski poles on GearJunkies guide to the Best Ski Poles, these are on the heavier end of the spectrum. On that list, the Backlands would be the fourth heaviest.

　　However, they would also be the only poles on that list that include a Phillips and flathead screwdrivers. That feature requires extra materials, so its really no surprise it weighs more.

　　Honestly, I never found myself wishing that the Backland Poles were lighter. The weight is scant enough that it didnt factor into the poles performance. If I were a gram-counting skimo racer, I might feel different. But for standard backcountry excursions, these poles were plenty light.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Grips Straps Atomic used round freeride grips on the Backland Poles. They were grippy, and the foam was firm. Theyre more ergonomic than round pole grips, so they fit nicely in a gloved hand. I never found myself fumbling with these poles because I couldnt get a grip on them. However, I did notice that if I used them without gloves on, they left a black residue on my palms. Its not a deal breaker, but certainly something to note.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) The quick-release system straps are beefy and left and right-specific. I much prefer this style of strap to skinnier (cheaper), flat straps you see on most poles. These are more comfortable for long-distance, all-day use. I also feel like they help generate more power when Im pushing off during uphill travel, but I have no way of verifying that hunch.

　　Screwdrivers

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) Im not going to spend too much time discussing this feature since Ive already mentioned it. But its really useful. Its an efficient use of untapped ski pole real estate. The end of a telescoping pole section is usually left unused. But Atomic saw potential and took advantage of that unclaimed space.

　　The screwdrivers are too big for the smallest screws you might encounter. They will not work for everything. It would be awesome if, in future iterations, Atomic could design a way to swap out the screwdriver bit for different-sized ones. It would require people to carry a bit set with them, but it would vastly increase the versatility of this feature.

　　(Photo/Will Brendza) When I pulled the two screwdrivers out of the poles in summer, I noticed some discoloration and rust from storage. It isnt affecting the poles performance — yet — but Im going to keep an eye on it.

　　Baskets The Backland Poles come with big 97mm powder baskets. I never felt the need to swap them out for something smaller. They look cool, and they make for a stable pole-planting base.

　　(Photo/Sean McCoy) Atomic Backland FR Ski Poles: Who Are They For? Backcountry skiers and snowboarders will recognize how useful these poles are for on-the-go maintenance or adjustments. Yes, theyre rad ski poles on their own. All else excluded, theyre lightweight, grippy, have comfortable straps, and come equipped with big powder baskets. Theyre great poles.

　　But theyre also extremely handy tools for binding maintenance, something not most poles cant boast of.

　　I used these poles for most of my backcountry adventures this season, and they continued to grow on me the more I used them. Theyve developed some character — scratches, scrapes, and nicks along the aluminum shafts — but theyre holding up well. Theyve also saved me more than once when I needed a screwdriver in the field and happened to have one literallyon hand.

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