Trekking Poles....Great or Hype?

“Only you know what you're worth.


Say....a buck fifty?”

“Hey, wait a minute, I was SS's hiking partner on his last trip. I don't think I bent or twisted.”

“LOL
I'm going to get zac, some day. ;-)


I know I was bent and twisted a few times when slipping and sliding in the stream bed.
last edited: 3/07/07 2:42:30 PM”

“Aren't we all a little bent or twisted?”

“at least a little, lol.”

“Oh no, not me. I'm straight as an arrow.


Well...when viewed in a circus fun house mirror anyway.”

“BowlderSon and I have the same brand (REI) and model (whatever cost about 60 bucks) poles. We use them both for hiking in summer and for backcountry skiing in winter. We love them.

One thing I think no one mentioned is how great they are for stability crossing streams with a pack on.

Also, B-Son bent one of his poles last year. I just bent it back and it works fine.

Finally, learn how the locks work on your poles for setting the length. I think this is a weak point on any pole that could come apart somehow - if you know how to fix it before you go out, you won't get stuck with a useless pole out in the middle of nowhere.”

“one item to note wrt Leki poles at least (may apply to others) - store the poles separated into pieces - if you don't any moisture inside the pole will tend to cause a little corrosion and then one pole section may end up stuck in the outer pole section - this happened to Baume on one trip up to Wolf Gap - he was able to finally get the pieces apart but it took quite a bit of doing.

btw the only downside to pole use that I notice is that it tends to agrivate my shoulder bursitis - I generally only use one pole these days and trade off which side it is on based on which shoulder is hurting.

Another know item of little importance to most people but of some concern for LD hikers is that you burn more calories using poles to hike than if you don't use poles to hike.
last edited: 3/07/07 3:32:38 PM”

“The old ski poles I use were made by Goode composites.
They absorb shock by flexing.
I drove away one time forgetting they were leaning up against my pickup.
Ran over them.
They're just fine.”

“I do not believe anyone has mentioned this yet, but you can use your poles for setup with newer tarps and tarp tents. I have a tarp tent that uses one pole as the center support pole, then the rest of the tent stakes out.

Saving the weight of additional poles that come with most tents, I have had my pack weight as low as 13 pounds for weekend trips.”

“I hike and backpack with my poles all the time. Poles are great as an aid to rig up a canopy.”

“I thank you all for your input. Did some searching online today and got some facts and actually found some new Leki AirErgo Long AS poles for 60 bucks. Not a bad deal based on everything i looked at.

Thanks again!”

“I had some problems that went away when I switched to trekking poles. I love my Leki's...worth every penny.”

“Word of advice....after hiking in sand or using the poles as shelter support in sand, take them apart and clean 'em up. Otherwise the sand will eat them up from the inside out.”

“I'm ALOT bigger than 250 and my poles do bend, but they straighten out most of the time. This year I am getting Lekis. The last ones I had were cheap shock absorbing poles and they did a good job but three years of hard hiking took their toll. Last year in CO I blew one out and that was the end of them. Like many people I laughed at people who had poles but my knees told me I they needed assistance. I will always have them in the future, they just make you more stable. I tend to bushwhack alot and boulderfields are my fav so they come in quite handy.”

“Im sold. Got my LEki Classic Air Ergo AS Trekking poles in on saturday (paid $60 new, retail for $119...thanks ebay!)

Im impressed. Hiked 7 miles yesterday with them and they help you FLY uphill, and made downhill a cinch with little to no strain on my ankles and knees. Im far less sore today than normal.
last edited: 3/12/07 9:27:43 AM”

“what do you do when the trail get real narrow? i've had pathways where i'm on the side of a mtn and rocks and brush would make it difficult if not impossible to use trekking poles. was it easy to get use to? does your backpack get in the way? my knees are bad and everyone keeps telling me i should be using these things, but i have a hard time seeing myself doing so.”

“I have used them to help cut through brush. If it gets real bad, I usually hold both in one hand until I clear.

No experience with use on the side of a mountain.”

“stick them on your pack or in your hipbelt like a sword.
I kicked mine quite a bit at first but by lunchtime I was fine.
If you have bad knees or a bad back then you really need to consider them.

I felt the same way until I used poles. I'd see if someone would loan you a set for a hike.
last edited: 3/12/07 11:59:40 AM”

“Good question, Pamela. There were times in the White mountains when the poles were in the way on the uphills. On these occasions I usually collapsed the poles and put them on the back of my pack. Sometimes it was often true on a downhill and generally I'd just throw them ahead. It really depends on the steepness of the ascent or descent; almost always they were useful.”

“Mine have foam grips partway down the shaft (I said shaft). This makes it extremely easy to drop a hand lower on the pole for uneven slope and steep uphills. I like this feature so much I won't get another pair w/out it. As for brush, I hold my poles in front of me and let them do the pushing of the branches.”

“Crazy Mike let me borrow his on my second hike. Two days after the hike I ordered a pair.”

“They are also most excellent for breaking spider webs if you're the first one on the trail in the morning.”

“OOOOOOOO! Sass said SHAFT!”

“I'll ask my high adventure friend if I can borrow his. I carried a lot of water this weekend, my pack ended up being 37lbs I think. My knees felt just fine because I kept it to 9 or 10 miles the first day and I think about 6 or 7 the second day. I didn't do too bad, by my calculations about 3 miles per hour up and downhill, all I have is blisters and a little general soreness. I took a lot of breaks just to look around. The views are spectacular.”

“its OK for Sass to say SHAFT ... so long as she doesn't describe the hand motions involved shifting from upper to lower and back”

“2 4 2 4 2 4”

“"Can you dig it." God, I just dated myself big time. I forgot about the aspect of whorling the poles around to catch all of the spider webs and inch worms. Also good for warding off evil trail spirits.”

“heehehe, Jerbear taught me how to use trekking poles. I just marched along sticking the ends in the dirt until I stopped focusing on his butt bouncing up the trail in front of me and started watching how he used his poles. Technique is everything.”

“there's a technique?”

“hey dayhiker - its your turn - sassafras did it again”

“Jerbears got back
and Sassafras can not lie
you other hikers can't deny
when a hiker walks in with an
itty bitty waist and big pack in your face
you get sprung...”

“It's those purple silk shorts! oulala!! =D
last edited: 3/12/07 12:41:11 PM”

“oh my, that's hot!”

“Pamela - like I said last week, you gotta learn to use them right. Here is a good article on hiking poles in general. Very light on proper use on various types of terrain, and no pics, but a good start. I used to have a link to a great site on technique, but like many good things on the net, its gone.

http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2005/trekkingpoles.cfm”

“Even if you use them wrong, it's a helluva lot better than nothing.”

“i would say that most hikers that i see with trekking poles are hiking WHILE CARRYING trekking poles rather than hiking WITH trekking poles. used properly they are a huge benefit for sure.”

“I was an unbeliever for a long, long time (I'm old), but a buddy (Johnnywalker) lent me a pair and I became a beliver. Personally, I find them useful only with a large and heavy pack; otherwise I leave them in the car.”

“I hurt myself more times hiking with Johnny Walker than hiking without.

Another time I didn't use them was if I was on a long stretch of boringly flat terrain. At that time I'd just strap them to my pack. There were numerous times when they saved me from falling. I would save myself by flailing out with them and being fortunate enough for one or both to stick in something solid.”

“would trekking poles have saved me from shin splints? i am finding that i have that right now. oh the pain!”

“they would have helped a bit - they absorb a good bit of the shock that your body takes - which is a major contributor to shin splints.”

“Great for my bad knees.”

“most shin splints come from overuse of poorly conditions muscles in the front of your legs. gradual increases in mileage/effort ("ramping up" over time) as well as stretching are key to avoiding them. i don't think trekking poles are going to help much here, pamela. there are a few other reasons you can get shin splints (compartment syndrome is one) but i would be shocked if you suffered from them. with most people it's just an overuse injury.”

“Yes, I too have snickered as the stick carriers passed by. I thought it was required to laugh at the people with the poles. I am seeing the benefits these pole carriers have over me now. But they will pass me with or without the poles. I think I will try the AT without at first, but its a good option when my knees start to give out, I will think about this post.”

“i think i must have been landing on the balls of my feet because of my blisters to avoid the pain, that's the only thing i can think of. i had moleskin on as soon as i had hotspots, but it was still painful. next time, ductape!”

“Nurse Goodbody just scored some Leki Maliku hiking poles from REI for under $70.”

“Interesting article in the Sac Bee yesterday on Trekking poles...

Trekking poles enhance balance, help distribute weight -- and are becoming a trail essential

Sales of metal trekking poles are steadily growing as hikers, backpackers and people with ambulatory issues discover that the poles offer increased stability wherever they're used. Prices range from $50 to $150 a pair, depending on the materials used in their manufacture. /Robert F. Bukaty

Each spring, summer and fall, my hiking partners and I see a few people on Sierra trails who motor along on what look like short ski poles. Of course, it's not wise to go into the woods without a staff of some kind, but ski poles? In our ignorance, we long wondered if those hikers had ambulatory issues or other limitations that required more assistance than a solo hiking stick could offer.

If so, what were they doing at 10,000 feet? Did they know something we didn't? Curious, we asked around and discovered a whole new side of walking through nature.

"Trekking poles are the best-kept secret in hiking and backpacking," said Bruce Ferris. "I've used them for 12 years." Ferris is a veteran backpacker and sales specialist at the REI store in Roseville.

"I don't know anybody climbing Mount Everest who doesn't use trekking poles," said Jayah Faye Paley. "Look at the top hikers in the world -- they all use them."
Through her company, Adventure Buddies (www.adventurebuddies.net), Paley holds seminars that "teach people how to use poles optimally for hiking, walking, mobility and balance." Her award-winning DVD -- "Poles for Hiking, Trekking & Walking" -- should be required viewing for those about to embark on a trek with poles for the first time.

So, what are trekking poles, and what advantages do they offer over a solo wood hiking stick or a metal walking staff?
Essentially, they're collapsible ski pole-type shafts with handles, straps, tips and baskets designed for hiking and snowshoeing. Each pole is composed of three telescoping segments that can be twist-locked to be made shorter (for uphill) or longer (for downhill). They collapse enough to fit into small storage areas such as a backpack.

Like all products made for outdoor recreation, the price goes up as amenities are added and as the materials to make the gear get lighter and more exotic.

Generally, trekking poles range from around $50 to $150 a pair. Some outdoors stores rent them.

They have rubber, foam or cork pistol-grip handles, adjustable wrist straps and rubber baskets to prevent "postholing," where the pole sinks into mud or snow. Some of the handles are canted to varying degrees to be more ergonomically friendly to the wrists. Many trekkers wear fingerless gloves during their hikes for better grip and to prevent chafing.

A good percentage of poles feature internal on-off shock- absorbing mechanisms, which can reduce vibrations to the wrist and arm when the pole tips strike stone. Poles are made of aluminum, titanium-aluminum alloy or carbon fiber. The pole tips are sharpened carbide steel, a super-hard metal that bites into rock and earth to assure a non-slip grip. Rubber tips are sold to fit over the carbide tips for walking on sidewalks or asphalt paths.

Popular brands include Black Diamond, Leki, Komperdell, REI, Gossamer, Northern Lights and Masters.

Sales of trekking poles have steadily risen as word-of-mouth has spread among recreationists and those in need of assisted walking, and as the sport of Nordic walking has immigrated from Europe to the United States.

In particular, the Salt Lake City-based Black Diamond is making inroads with the patented technology it continues to bring to trekking poles. For example, instead of the industry standard twist-lock length- adjustment system, its poles feature the binary "Flicklock" system.

"It's a non-slip mechanical lever you flick open and closed, like an on-off switch," said Thomas Laasko, the company's ski line category manager. "There's no arbitrary in-between (regarding length). Our trekking-pole sales have grown 600 percent in four years."

While it's easy to wield a hiking stick or walking staff on the trail, there's some technique to master before taking off on trekking poles.

"People think that if they can walk, they can use poles," noted Paley of Adventure Buddies. "Well, they weren't born knowing how to walk.

"You never want to start any new skill doing it wrong and ending up with a problem you didn't have before. Optimal technique is so incredibly important to getting all the benefits of (using poles).

" The rule is: Get good gear and learn how to use it."

"The single most important thing is using the straps and the grips correctly," said Ferris of REI. "That's what so many people don't understand. With a solo pole, you have to hold it in what we call a 'death grip' to propel yourself uphill. With trekking poles, you can put your weight on the straps."

OK, what else justifies trekking poles' expense and learning curve?

"Suddenly it's not embarrassing to have trekking poles in your hands, because they'll help save your knees, especially if you're carrying a heavy backpack," said Laasko. "They're also performance appendages. Hikers know they can cover more terrain faster and with more stability by using poles."

"No matter what hikers are capable of doing, they can do it better with trekking poles. They offer tremendous stability," said Paley. "The goal is to use the core muscles in your upper body to preserve your joints. Let's say you go on a hike and you don't know what the terrain is. Rather than get in over your head, you've got two extra legs to help you."

In addition to teaching hikers how to use trekking poles, Paley presents seminars at retirement communities and senior centers. She offers free lessons for mobility-challenged groups, such as those with Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.

"When people lose their balance and mobility and you put poles in their hands, they give a sigh of relief that they now have bilateral stability," she said.

"We have a percentage of clientele (for poles) who are elderly people with joint problems and age-related illnesses," said Erin Harrington, an outreach specialist for REI, who was making plans for her next trek around the Tahoe Rim Trail.

"That being said, I use trekking poles when I'm backpacking because they help my knees, and my feet don't hurt as much after a pounding going downhill. They've enhanced my backpacking experience, no doubt."
Ferris, who has an engineering background, said he got tuned in to trekking poles after reading the results of a study conducted in Germany in 1985. In it, a man wearing a heavy backpack and using poles was outfitted with devices that monitored how much weight he put on the poles as he walked uphill and downhill.

"At the end of the day," Ferris said, "20 percent of the force that pushed him uphill came off his upper body muscles, with his legs doing 80 percent of the work. Coming downhill, 17 to 20 pounds of weight were put on the poles every time they touched the ground. The result was that tons of weight per hour were being put on the poles instead of his knees. I said, 'I'm going to try these poles' and I've never looked back."

"Trekking poles take stress off the legs and get your cardiovascular system going," said Manny Bernal, the department head of Sport Chalet's Mountain Shop. He conducts fishing and other outdoors clinics for the sporting-goods chain. "You actually increase your stamina so you can walk faster and for longer distances."
Bernal added that the conditioning sport of Nordic walking has swept Europe in recent years and has spread to the United States. It's a form of rhythmic speed-walking using trekking poles. Its roots are in Finland, where cross-country skiers developed it for summer training.

"It's catching on here," he said.
Amid all this joint-saving, muscle-working, speed-walking technology, let's not forget that trekking poles are the descendants of the good ol' wooden hiking stick.
One of the largest manufacturers and distributors of hiking sticks is Brazos Oaks in Waco, Texas, with a presence in "at least 1,500 retail stores in the U.S.," said Jim Aisenstein, national sales manager. Brazos' handcrafted sticks are made from such woods as sassafras, oak, sweet gum, iron bamboo, ironwood, cedar and hickory, and cost from $19 to $130.

"We have a much broader appeal in some ways than trekking poles," he said. "We're in resort areas, gift shops, car washes, shoe stores, hardware stores -- places that don't sell trekking poles. We cater mostly to casual hikers, but also have tremendous appeal to older people who just want to walk in their neighborhoods. They want something for balance and protection, and the walking sticks work better than canes."
One outlet for Brazos sticks is the Lighthouse garden and gift store on Main Street in Placerville, co-owned by Steve Pace.

"They're a quality product," he said. "Some of the sticks have compasses or thermometers inset into the handles. We probably sell $3,000 to $4,000 worth of them a year."
last edited: 6/22/07 5:56:27 PM”

“"I don't know anybody climbing Mount Everest who doesn't use trekking poles," said Jayah Faye Paley. "Look at the top hikers in the world -- they all use them."

I don't know anyone climbing Mount Everest period.”

“Pssshhhh!
All this discussion about poles....
What's wrong with you people?! LOL!

Thanks Wanderer. Quite informative.”

“Interestingly enough, I'm just about to purchase poles for myself and my wife for a hike in Colorado in late December. I've never considered them for summer hiking, I have my favorite walking stick. However, for deep snow, I think they will be a must. Thanks for the article, Wanderer”