Triac Basket System trickles down the Swix race pole line

Wed, Nov  7, 2012 - By Mike Muha

For 2013, Swix's "screw on" Triac basket has trickled down from the top-of-the-line Triac cross country ski pole to three other poles in the Swix line: the Star TBS, Team TBS, and Carbon TBS poles.

No tools, No Glue

The Swix Triac® Basket System boast three main features:

1. A "No Glue Attachment System" with Interchangeable baskets for different snow conditions. No tools or glue are required to swap baskets.
2. This exchangeable basket system produces a 100% reliable connection between the basket and the shaft (according to Swix).
3. In order to have the best possible pendulum, the weight of the baskets is minimized by using carbon fiber reinforced polyamide instead of traditional injection molded plastics. I believe this is that case for three of the four baskets.

Before we look at the baskets, here's a breakdown of the four poles featuring the Triac baskets:

RC100 - Triac

The new super pole from Swix is based on the most advanced materials and technology available on the market. It's the first pole in the picture to the left.

•  Triangular Cross section given the stiffest and strongest shaft there is.
• Carbon composite shaft
• Deflection: 16mm
• Weight: 138g/160cm
• MSRP: $399

Lengths: 135 cm - 180 cm. 2.5 cm interval.
151 grams / 155cm pole

RC102-00 - Star TBS

A complete new pole with the patented Swix Triac® Basket System (TBS) which enables you to change baskets in the field within seconds. Second pole in the picture.

• Premium carbon pole with 16mm Handle and 10mm basket.
• Deflection: 20mm
• Weight: 150gm/160cm.
• Carbon leaf small basket
• PC handle with natural cork in grip zone
• New Pro Fit 2 strap in neoprene and nylon.
• MSRP: $360

Diameters: Handle 16 mm, basket 10 mm.
Lengths: 135 cm - 180 cm. 2.5 cm interval.

RC202-00 - Team TBS

Almost as stiff as Star, but at the same time stronger. Excellent for mass starts where poles are often subject to impact from other poles and skis. Third pole in the picture.

 

• Premium carbon pole with 16mm Handle and 10mm basket.
• Deflection: 25mm
• Weight: 160gm/160cm.
• Carbon leaf small basket
• PC handle with natural cork in grip zone
• New Pro Fit 2 strap in neoprene and nylon.
• MSRP: $290

Diameters: Handle 16 mm, basket 10 mm.
Lengths: 135 cm - 180 cm. 2.5 cm interval.

RC302-00 - Carbon TBS

This strong pole is equipped with the well proven 97 basket, but in an interchangeable version especially developed for Swix Carbon. Comes with PCU handle featuring cork-filled thermoplastic in the gripzone and the new Pro Fit 2. Fourth pole in the picture.

• 80% HS Carbon pole
• Comes with the Carbon Paw Large basket
• Deflection: 27mm
• Weight: 170gm/160cm
• Synthetic cork handles for comfort and warmth
• New Pro Fit 2 Straps made with neoprene and nylon.
• High level of stiffness
• MSRP: $160

Diameters: Handle 16 mm, basket 10 mm.
Lengths: 135 cm - 180 cm. 2.5 cm interval.

Swix Triac Baskets

It appears Swix makes four Traic baskets and a Triac roller ski ferrule. It's not clear what you can buy in the US currently, and the names can be very confusing (Claw, Leaf, Paw, and 97?). Sure would have been nice if they had called the baskets the Carbon S, Carbon M, Carbon L, and the 97.

The "Carbon" baskets use carbon fiber reinforced polyamide instead of traditional injection molded plastics.

In order of size:

Swix Triac Carbon Claw (extra small). You'll only want to use this baby in hard track conditions. In soft track, it will just bury under the snow and you will lose all your power:

Swix Triac Carbon Leaf (small). Still a bit on the small side. For most Michigan races, maybe a bit too small although Swix thinks this is the basket to use for "normal" conditions (whatever that means):

Swix Triac Carbon Paw (large). The big one. Good for soft track conditions. Of course it can be used in hard track conditions as well - it just weighs a bit more and is a little less aerodynamic:

Swix Triac 97 (large, used on the Carbon TBS pole). The other three baskets use carbon fiber reinforced polyamide instead of traditional injection molded plastics. My guess is the "97" uses traditional injection molded plastics since it does not have "Carbon" in its name:

 

(If you want to really know my views on ski basket size, read "The Effect of Ski Pole Basket Size on Forward Momentum").

Finally, Swix has a rollerski ferrule for the Traic poles:

 

As someone who has glued on lots of baskets and ferrules over the years, the Swix Triac® Basket System sure makes a lot of sense.