"Trekking Poles" Why?

[sasha]

Trekking poles are standard EQ for the swiss mountain division. Its not just that you have two sticks in your hand when walking. There realy is a proper way to walk with two sticks. If you are just walking and swinging the poles with your hand then all you do is get more tired. I dont know how to explain it better but use them to actualy walk with your hands, legs and hands togher. When you walk your hands swing with your body. Now put poles in your hand and keep that same hand movement except the poles are helping you walk. For many years i used skiing poles for backpacking. You can find them at a yard sale at $5 a pair. The only reason i got the folding ones is for when i ride my motorcycle to trail head for a hike.

Sasha

 

[dextersp1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4BZ2NlvP5s

The thing I disagree with in the video is the "grip" - it might confuse the novice.
When I'm using my trekking poles; I usually only have the web of my hand and pinky and/possibly next finger on the pole grip to guide the pole, the index finger and middle finger are pointing forward - not even touching the pole grip. My weight is on the strap.

 

[DPris]

Thanks all, with bad ankles & feet most of my outdooring is now done on an ATV, so actually buyin' & tryin' two poles would be a wasted effort for me, even if I did have the coordination to learn 'em right.

I do appreciate the efforts to explain & the link.

Ramm,
You may easily be right.
(There was a reason I wore slip-on shoes till I got drafted!)

In my younger days I did spend a fair amount of time on foot in the wilds, but I've never been a "throughhiker", never backpacked, and after trying out the single staff in those three versions I mentioned for a while I finally just gave up on a walking stick. It never showed me enough advantage in my outdoorsing to bother with.

Again- just me.

Trekking poles would be double the "not enough advantage in my outdoorsing to bother with", especially nowdays.

Last "extended" expedition on foot I did was with a 10-year old niece up the hill for an afternoon last Fall. Mostly old trail, slow speed, occasional deadfall step-overs & overgrown stoop-unders, varying grades of steep & level.
Just had an Indy bag along, don't see a stick would have been of much value.

Different ballgame for those who put more effort into longer & more involved outings where learning to use the poles could make a difference, I suppose.
Guess it all depends on your level & type of hiking.

Denis

 

[Ramm9]

When I'm using my trekking poles; I usually only have the web of my hand and pinky and/possibly next finger on the pole grip to guide the pole, the index finger and middle finger are pointing forward - not even touching the pole grip. My weight is on the strap.

Agreed. Mine rest between my thumb and forefinger with my hand/palm essentially open. I kind of kick the pole forward with a wrist flip and the heal of my hand below the pinkie. There is definitely no pressure or squeezing on the pole handle itself.

 

[DPris]

Dexter,
Just watched the Youtube clip, remember seeing it run on Channel 2 when it first came out & thinking (sorry) "How goofy!" most of those people looked.
Don't think I could ever adapt my gait to that style of motivatin'.

It may be the greatest getalong ever invented, but not for me.
Again, I mean no offense to those who can do it & derive benefit therefrom.
Pretty much like swimming. I understand intellectually that it's fun & excellent exercise, for OTHER people. I myself don't breathe well with my head under water & that's how it always seemed to end up whenever I tried it, so I can't embrace the joy, personally.

Denis

 

[Ramm9]

Thanks all, with bad ankles & feet most of my outdooring is now done on an ATV, so actually buyin' & tryin' two poles would be a wasted effort for me, even if I did have the coordination to learn 'em right.

Man, those ATV's are great for us older hunters!

If you wanted to walk a trail or a sidewalk for a mile just for exercise I would lay odds you could do two with poles.

 

[DPris]

Ramm,
Neuropathy doesn't let me go for much distance on foot anymore, and two trekking poles strapped onto the Rhino would get me laughed at by birds, bears, cattle & cougar alike....

Most of my explorin's motorised nowdays. Little bit of limited poking around on the ground at interesting sites, but no more lengthy walking or hiking.

But, I'm hijacking the thread.
Sorry.

Denis

 

[BOOMSTICK]

Boomstick if you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I need hip replacement and I've been to doctors all over the country that told me they wouldn't operate til I am much, much older. And you don't look very old at all.

I'm 31. I shattered my hip, that is why I have a new hip and titanium rod and pins in it.

 

[SkinnyJoe]

Maybe I'm misreading but don't confuse walking sticks (2) with the use of a single stick, pole, or staff. The use of the two sticks is very different

Don't they do the same, by involving the upper body and helping with balance?

This makes sense out in the country, but in the suburbs it kinda reminds me of those obnoxious power walkers..

[youtube]ZKTufkzpo8E[/youtube]

 

[DWK2]

One of my friends signed up for one of those classes and it turned out that it was being run by a Nordic Walking Guru (and former women's track star) who shot me down at a singles event. So at least they have good taste!

DancesWithKnives