Z-fold vs. telescoping
Z-fold poles (also called three-section fold) collapse like tent poles by folding in thirds. They deploy fast — one shake and a flip of the FlickLock. Telescoping poles screw or lever-lock at two sections and pack down to roughly 24–27 inches. The Z-fold at 13 inches is dramatically more packable than a telescoping pole.
The tradeoff is rigidity. Three-section fold poles flex slightly more than a single fixed-length carbon shaft, especially under heavy load. In practice, the difference is minor for normal trail use. For hard-terrain technical hiking with poles under significant load, fixed-length carbon is stiffer.
"Thirteen-inch collapsed length. They go in a pack pocket and come out when the descent starts. That's the use case they nail."