We *LOVE* our hiking poles. I've been Grand Canyon training for the last few months, and I've done lots of hiking on our trails, and on the streets, too. I'm sure I look funny, but I don't care. They really do help with the climb and the descent. We bought ours after hiking a 14er and finding fallen tree branches to help us with the descent. We just bought cheapies from Target- but they are the BEST!!!