An improved ski pole having an adjustable length is provided with two telescopically movable tube sections. The tube sections are inserted into each other and are movable relative to each other and are provided with a latch and a plurality of catches. When shortening the length of the ski pole, a spring is tensioned. The increasing of the length of the ski pole is caused by the tensioned spring. The switch is arranged at the reverse side of the grip of the ski pole. The latch is arranged fixedly at the inner tube section and the catches are arranged at a pivotable cylinder which can be elevated and lowered as well as rotated. The catches are defined by horizontally extending sections of at least one Z-shaped groove. The pivoting cylinder is connected at a off-center pivot point to the switching or operating, respectively, member. The entire mechanism for the longitudinal adjustment of the ski pole is arranged in the gripping section of the ski pole. This gripping section is easily mounted onto normal ski poles. The ski pole is specifically intended for cross-country skiers, who can adjust the ski pole to have three varying lengths depending upon the prevailing country shape whereby a chosen length is arrested by an interlocking of the tube sections which can be moved in each other. The pivoting cylinder may additionally comprise an axially extending additional coulisse. If the pivoting cylinder is rotated by the operating member such that the additional groove is aligned with the latch, the ski pole is in a condition in which it elastically yields in its longitudinal direction.