Hiking Poles

[itself]

It's funny the comments I get when using my poles on the trail, "where's the snow?"

Well, I have been using my hiking poles for over two years and love them. They help with both uphill and downhills. I really like the positive angle cork handles, just my preference, as they don't get all sweaty. The poles definitely help on the downhills for anyone that might have knee issues.

I have to admit, I am mixing it up a bit more and not using them all the time now, as I found my strong upper body wasn't letting my legs get the workout! So look for a pair that you can shrink down and attach to your pack.

I like the Leki Super Makalu's as they have a spring in them like a little shock absorber. They run around $110 these days.

[maillotpois]

We are backpacking this summer and thus have been doing a lot of hiking on our mountain to break in our boots and train. I desperately wanted a set of those last hike as it was so technical coming down. I am going to borrow my MIL's for a while. Good to hear the positive review.

[Tri Girl]

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!!!

[MartianDestiny]

Hiking poles once saved my life, or at least they saved me a very expensive helicopter evac.

First backpacking tip ever, torqued my knee 3 times over 2 days and then slid down a hill on the 3rd. After that my knee said "no more, not moving, I'm done", but we still had to finish the 3rd day and hike out (over the pass) the next. One of the other people in our group gave me his poles which I then basically used as crutches and was able to walk out.

Came home and bought me a pair I don't tend to use them on day hikes (between them, the dog, and/or the camera it just doesn't work), but they always get strapped to my pack for longer or harder hikes and backpacking trips.

[Skierchickie]

We got some 10 years ago for backpacking in Alaska. I used both of mine, but felt "uncool", as DH followed the lead of the guides and just used one. I tell ya - a fully loaded pack for a 7-day trip is heavy and awkward, so I liked having 2! I haven't used them since, but we took my 'Rents to Alaska 2 summers ago for their 50th (not backpacking), and encouraged Mom to get some after our first day hike. She's pretty afraid of steeper stuff (even more so than I am), and takes rocky, steeper downhills quite gingerly. She loves them, and I think she uses them all the time on her walks on the ski trails.

Ours are collapsible, so you can strap them on your pack, as Itself said, plus it makes them easier to pack for flying.

[DebW]

It's funny the comments I get when using my poles on the trail, "where's the snow?"

I once passed a father and son on the trail. After I'd gone by, I heard the father explaining to the son "Old people use those so they don't hurt their knees." I wanted to turn around and say "People who want to keep hiking then they're old use these."

[Tri Girl]

"old people"- I would have swung around and poked him with one of those poles!

[AnnieBikes]

I live very close to the Appalachian Trail, less than 30 minutes, and have hiked over 1000 miles on it, in sections, over the past 10 years. (Haven't hiked long in several years as the long distance cycling bug bit me HARD!! ) My REI poles (yes two of them) are wonderful. Many, many hikers are using them and they have definitely saved my knees. Deb, I had to laugh at the comment made after you passed the man and the boy...they WILL allow me to hike into my, uh, golden years...which I am in right now, I think!! Our lightweight tent relies on two hiking poles to set it.

Once, before I had my own poles, I borrowed a pair to try them out, but took an easy hike with them and pronounced them useless to me. When I used them on a week long hike, I became a believer. Let the naysayers comment all they want. In my area of East TN, there are lots of hills and I would not be hiking them with a backpack over any distance if I didn't have them. As a sidelight, my husband has had a longstanding, though not major, knee issue, which totally went away when he got poles.

The other thing I have noticed is that if I go on a day hike without them, my hands tend to swell if they are "hanging down" by my sides. With the poles, I do not have this problem.

[Norse]

DP and I each have a set of Black Diamonds that are collapsible that we love. I use one (trying not to look too uncool) if the hike is 3+ miles and both poles (don't care how I look) if it's around 8+ miles. The past 10 years or so I noticed knee problems on descents during long hikes. A friend lent me her poles for a multi-day trek up Mount Kenya - don't think I could have made it without them. I've been sold ever since.

[Flybye]

I slipped and fell hiking in a large creek a couple of years back. The only way through the 2-3 mile stretch is though the creek. I caught myself with my left arm and fractured my bone. I would not have slipped if I would have had the poles to help me find the bottom of the creek. I hiked the rest of the day with a makeshift stick that I found by the creek. I had so much fun hiking that day that my arm didn't really hurt until we got to the truck - but then again I'm tough like that

[limewave]

I LOVE my trekking poles! They keep my hands from going numb and getting swollen on long hikes. And now that I carry DS on my back, it's nice to have the extra stability.

[Zen]

I don't give a crap what I look like. I couldn't walk without them. Do you think Georgena Terry worries whether she looks cool?

[Tri Girl]

Do you think Georgena Terry worries whether she looks cool?

Heck no!!!
It's all about comfort and purpose.

[eofelis]

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!!!

My trekking poles are sitting next to my packed Gregory Deva pack, ready for my 5 day trip in the Grand Canyon next week

I just found out last week that I was going! Some folks I know have a backcountry pass for 6 people and had one spot left. A close friend of mine is going, so we are sharing a tent. She is new to backpacking so I have been helping her get geared up.

We are doing the Boucher-Tonto-Hermit loop. I hear that Boucher is gnarly!

I had been riding a lot training for Bicycle Tour of Colorado so I had to switch gears at start hiking a bit with my pack to get ready.

[eofelis]

After my 5 day trip into the Grand Canyon I can give my hiking poles an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

27 hard rocky miles.

Boucher Trail was 10 very hard miles on the first day. Horizontal parts of the trail were on often on the edge of the yawning abyss on a rocky off-camber narrow trail. Vertical parts were straight down on loose rocky barely switchbacks. Oy. Had to get down there to water though. My top pack weight with 5L of water was ~38lbs. I only weigh 110.

Day 2, 6 miles mostly flat on the Tonto Trail. I had very stiff and sore legs and the hiking poles really helped. Day 3 and 4 were very short days, 2 miles to the river and back up again, still very sore legs. Day 5, 8 miles, Hermit Trail back up to the top. Legs better, but still a rocky trail.

I did this hike in trail running shoes. A pair of New Balance 804s, 1/2 size larger than I normally wear. A new pair of Smartwool socks. I was a bit footsore after Day 1, but NO blisters at all on the trip. I thought I was badazz in trail shoes, but two folks on the trip did the whole thing in sandals! One guy had homemade "jesus sandals," the other in Chacos. Hardcore!

Another cool thing that worked out for me was to use an Esbit tablet stove instead of an MSR liquid fuel stove. I only needed to heat a bit of water for Mountain House meals and tea. It worked out perfect. Tiny and easy to use.