Do you use Trekking Poles?

“I'm curious to know if many of you use Trekking Poles? They are still not very popular here in Oz. At most I've seen people using one. Being converted a couple of years ago I wont go on any walk over a couple days without one.”

“I picked up a set of Komperdell trekking poles at a one day REI outlet sale for $29.95
I wasn't sure I was going to like using Trekking poles...but after using them on my 2001 hikes...I can't imagine going without them.”

“A good, stout staff carved from Osage Orange is my support of choice. I prefer walking with staff, sometimes two.”

“I started using them after my first ECT hike. I like 'em.”

“In the East...a good Carolina wild cherry tree staff. In the West(bacause I can't carry my stick on an airplane) I use my Leki Matukalas (sp?), the ones with the shock absorbers in them. I like them.”

“Yes, Most of the time. I generally always bring them because they're the support poles for our tarp. I wish someone would manufacture poles that extended at the push of a button. Would be great for hikes with various terains.”

“I started using old ski poles and got tires of people asking me how the skiing was. Then when I switched to Leki's I still got asked the same dumb question!!!”

“Nope--I'm too busy dancing down the trail!!”

“Love 'em.”

“I use a wooden walking stick. I'll probably eventually get some high-tech alloy set of poles eventually, but I 'll stick with the pole for now.”

“No! But if you have a spare pair lying around that you don't use, please mail them to me. I need them for my Walrus Tarp.”

“Hickory stick with a rubber tip!”

“yep”

“I use ski poles,and yes I take them all the time.”

“I'm with Gear Slut, use Leki's and people always ask if they are ski poles.”

“i use a wooden staff.”

“I hiking buddy of mine made this cool walking stick for me out of a dead yucca stick (about as lightweight as bamboo) and gave it to me for Christmas last year (the trick is to pound a nail in the bottom of it for gripping the ground). He even glued some leather around the handle--nice touch, and decorative too. I used it a couple of times, hiking.. Then I got paranoid, there's some nut running around my neighborhood breaking into people's houses.. cut it off and now it's the security device in the runner of my arcadia door (you can't open the door cause there's a stick stuck in it).”

“I'm pritty sure I want a pair, but I don't know where to start looking for them. I know I want telliscoping, and anti shock. other than that I'm clueless”

“cost not a bigg issue on those polls”

“Yep.

First time I was in Glacier my knee got really sore. Had to grab a wooden staff at the tourist trap to do the trip. Now there are two poles in my crib.”

“I bought some used ones from Spam last year. I've since bought new REI poles and given the others to my brother cause he's got bad knees.”

“T-where else E-Bay!”

“Hey ice - I would say, pass on the anti-shock. A young, healthy body with good knees is not going to see any noticable benefit with anti-shock. Just addds bulk and weight to your poles.

Get a compact, lightweight pole. You'll use em more often and won't notice when they are on your back. I use the Leki Ultra-Lite Ti.”

“Worth the $20 I paid for 'em.”

“I've got Leki's, and I only use 'em backpacking sometimes, and never day hiking. And then I only use one if any, but like to have both when crossing certain streams.”

“I have always used a homemade staff. I just got into a new hobby of collecting Medallions from places that I have been to and putting them on my staff.The Europeans have been doing it for years and I would say that many of you could fill a staff up with the places that you have been.

WWW.HIKEAMERICA.COM

Someone make a link for me I am an idiot!”

“thanx”

“Yep! I got some before going down Grandview ('steep sucker') with a week's worth of food and never regretted it. They came in handy scrambling around on the rocks at Acadia NP, too.

Hmmm... maybe if I started using them a few years ago, my knees would be in better condition today.”

“Yup, Leki Makalu's. They're anti-shock with cork grips. Cork seems to be a better option than vinyl or rubber grips for me. Cooler in warmer weather and warmer in cooler weather.

I like the anti-shock feature. They tend to keep my wrists from getting sore like they do when skiing. When skiing with regular ski poles, my wrists tend to get sore after a few days of skiing.

I use carbon fiber fixed length Leki's for skiing. They have a break-away strap that attaches over your glove and then clicks into the pole. They're very handy for getting on the chairlift. One press on a button and the strap releases from the pole and stays on your glove. At the top of the hill, they click into place very easily. They will also release in a nasty ski fall.”

“NO

Guess I will when the knees give out completely”

“YES! I started using them this year, and what a difference they make. I hike much quicker and can slip or twist an ankle without falling down. Plus, it makes creek crossings a snap.”

“Leki Super Makalu's.

Hurt my knee on Mt Whitney. Ever try to find a walking stick up there? I finally found one, and it took forever to get down. Used a single Leki (T-handle) for about a year.

Went snowshoeing last year, and fell to the other side (Arte Johnson style). Thats when I decided I needed two poles.

I can be a klutz on the trail when I try to go to fast, and the poles help me catch my fall. I use them all the time now.”

“Make sure they are cranked tight when you adjust them. Mine collasped this weekend when I needed it most and I went down with a full pack like a ton a bricks. Smashed my hand up pretty good.

However. For night Hiking on icy roots they are KEY!”

“i used to use them all of the time. i find that i hike faster without them, tho. i only use them about 10% of the time now.”

“I've said it before and I'll say it again:

I use two for snowshoeing but not for hiking.”

“I use them. With my cranky old knees and the rocky, root covered trails of NC I can't imagine not using them now. They make stream crossing easier too. Just make sure you take off the wrist straps first! Lesson learned the hard, wet, muddy way.

I do however wish I had opened my wallet a wee bit more and bought the ones with the cork grips.”

“I use a staff I made myself. It has more character but I think the poles would help more going uphill. Especially with a heavy load.”

“Go to the lumber yard and ask for Wm233 full round-get doug fir if available/ cut to size and move on.Great stick-and looks good too. They take stain and a point is no big deal. I mounted a threaded "screw" & a little decorative knob so the pole functions like a monpod too- got about $8 in it...”

“I have rugby knees, been operated twice on each and there's damned little cartilage left. I use Gabels, but no anti shock. The 3-section poles I have are the shortes available when packed. I use them for backcountry ski-ing and snowshoeing as well, but not for days hikes with only a waist pack. Just MHO.”

“They are valuable for use on slopes, especially going uphill, and going over/around objects. On relatively flat ground they don't seem necessary, so I just carry them, and I seem to walk faster that way.”

“I don't use them. I tried using sticks a couple of times and I felt like I could hike fster without them.”

“I started using trekking poles (leki makawhatevers ? shock-absorbing) three years ago after having arthroscopic surgery on my knee and have used them ever since. I did go on one hike this past summer without poles to see if I really needed them, but wished I had them with. As an added benefit . . . at least for me personally . . . the arm movement created when using the poles seems to greatly reduce shoulder strap aches and pain.

This spring I got on this ?lightning the load? kick and decided to purchase the leki ultralite ti model poles. I?ve put about 300 trail miles on the ti poles this year and greatly prefer them to the shock-absorbing model. The only advantage the shock-absorbing model had for me was when used on hard rock trail.

This fall I used the rubber tips Leki has available for the ti model poles in RMNP, and they really reduce the shock when traveling over hard rock. They just slip on over the carbide tips.”

“I don't know, do ya really need them for light weight hiking? I'm not convinced.”

“Yep, I use them and they are great.”

“Use two poles for backpacking, wouldn't go without them. Use a sasafrass hiking stick for day hikes.”

“I will stick with the hand me down 50 year old walking stick my grandfather got in Europe during WWII.”

“Yes, can't imagine not using them. They're like two extra feet.

I probably won't buy komperdells again though, tip fell out on one and the locking mechanisms slip ocasionally.”