Cross-Country Ski Pole Length Calculator

Classic technique uses a diagonal stride with the pole planted close to the body, so a shorter pole (83% of height, reaching the armpit) keeps the poling motion efficient. Skate technique relies on a more upright stance and a stronger double-pole push for propulsion, which calls for a longer pole (89% of height, reaching chin to mouth) to generate power through a fuller arm extension. The calculator computes both simultaneously so you can compare regardless of which one you select as your primary technique.

If arm length is greater than zero, the calculator first estimates an average arm length for your height (44% of height), then finds how far your actual arm length differs from that average. It applies 40% of that difference as a centimeter adjustment to both the classic and skate pole lengths — so someone with proportionally long arms gets slightly longer recommended poles, and someone with short arms gets slightly shorter ones, on top of the height-based baseline.

The sizing note compares your entered arm length against the height-predicted average (44% of height). If your arm length exceeds that average by more than 5 cm, the note flags 'consider sizing up'; if it falls short by more than 5 cm, it flags 'consider sizing down.' Inside that 10 cm band, your proportions are considered close enough to average that the note reports a standard fit.

The formula rounds to the nearest centimeter, but retail poles are typically sold in 5 cm increments (e.g. 145, 150, 155 cm). Treat the calculator's output as a target and round to whichever stocked size is closest — going a size down is usually preferred over sizing up if you're exactly between two options, since a slightly short pole is easier to adapt to than an overly long one.