Making sure you loop your hand up through the straps from underneath to the grip is another safety feature.

@pyronymph-868

12 күн бұрын

I was going to comment this very thing 😂

@johnphillips3526

12 күн бұрын

Possibly the most important part of the subject!

@rkatrails

12 күн бұрын

Yes, this is the proper way to use the strap.

@FlashGeiger

12 күн бұрын

yeah. Learned that 45 years ago cross country skiing. You don't need to keep a death grip on the pole to get all the benefit.

@rkatrails

12 күн бұрын

When I bought my first set of trekking poles about 12 years ago, I also watched a very good video on KZread that pointed out that using trekking poles isn't intuitive and they demonstrated the proper techniques and how and why to adjust the length, how to use them on different kinds of terrain... uphill, downhill, leaping over crevices, fording rivers etc. One of the first things they taught was to avoid the "death grip", which is a tendency, unless you're taught to avoid it. After inserting your hand through the strap from the underside (not the top), you should then wrap your thumb and forefinger around the handle and just hold it loosely, instead of holding it like a death grip which greatly fatigues your hands, then as you walk forward the cadence of your body will help the poles swing naturally back and forth with your stride as the tips strike the ground. And as Dixie mentioned, your arms should be at a 90° angle, with your lower arms parallel with the ground...your lower arms shouldn't be pointing up or down.

Jessica -- great tips for beginning users of trekking poles! I am an avid user of trekking poles, and while doing the Wildcats this past weekend (the steepest section of the AT), I thought it might be helpful to pass along a few advanced suggestions that apply to challenging White-Mountain-like terrain with steep ups-and downs, lots of rocks, roots, boulder fields, etc. 1) I always wear gloves with my poles. They soften the impact of each stride and come in very handy when you trip and fall. 2)You can adjust the effective height of the poles instantly by using them in four positions: a) gripping the top knob, b) normal grip c) sliding further down on the grip so the thumb and index encircle the jut-out at the bottom of the grip, and d) sliding further down so your ring finger rests just above the locking mechanism. This gives an on-the-fly range of more than 12 inches -- which is often needed in the Whites. That said, if the next 30 minutes are all steeply up or steeply down, it would be silly not to also take advantage of the adjustment mechanism. 3) I never use the loops because you can't get the full range described above, and even more importantly for safety. I have been in situations where the pole gets "stuck" between two rocks while your momentum is carrying you forward. The loop makes it so you can't let go of the pole...if you're lucky it breaks, less lucky you lose your balance, least lucky you dislocate your shoulder. 4) When clambering down steep sections, do not use the poles as a fully loadbearing device like you would a solid object like a tree or rock...unless you slow down and take time to make absolutely sure it is 100% solidly grounded. The consequences of "it seemed solid, but then it slipped" are not pretty when you are using the downhill pole to brace yourself. My motto now is that the poles are "outriggers" to help you stabilize and/or regain balance, not an anchor point. 5) On river crossings, the same principle applies. Do not use the poles as a weight-bearing anchor point--use them as a stabilizer. If your pole is planted in the water, it's difficult to tell whether it really is stable. Suggestions #1-#4 will rarely come into play on flatter, more benign terrain, #5 still does. It goes without saying that this is just one man's opinion and YMMV.

FWIW: I just survived a knee replacement and almost immediately switched from the hospital recommended walker to my trekking poles (with the rubber tips). I immediately felt more stable and in control. I have no where the hiking experience you or most of your followers do, BUT multiple hundred miles with the poles made them much preferred over the less than 3 miles with the walker!!

@paulrevere2379

11 күн бұрын

One of the best things a hiker can do to get a more full wilderness experience is to leave their ego at the trailhead. It isn't about miles, never was and never will be. Many fluffy tourist trail hikers have thousands of miles hiking "experience" while still knowing less about the wild than a pre-teen boyscout after his first long skills-based weekend campout. What does matter is to push beyond the misperceived boundaries of our individual comfort zones. It's not how we compare to others that matters, but how our efforts and aims compare with our fullest potential as a unique individual. This may or may not even include wilderness hikes (highly recommended nonetheless), but if it does, few things are more important to keep in mind than the following: - Cold Kills, - Nature is Neutral, and - Mountains Don't Care nothing about miles on that list.

@thomasmusso1147

8 күн бұрын

👍👍👍 .. my wrecked knees thank me every day that I use my poles 😁.

Jessica, thanks for continuing to include time stamps. So many people have discontinued them in their videos. One more reason why your channel is top-shelf! 🙂

Another good tip is to use fingerless bicycle gloves. They offer great padding and can help prevent blisters

Great tip on informing people about the salt on pole grips. On the High Sierra Trail at Upper Hamilton a buck carried my friend’s pole off. We got it back but he had to get in the lake drainage to get it. And in another camp nearby another deer was stealing bandanas. And once at Moose Lake out of Wolverton a marmot stole a sock that was airing out. The hiker chased it down, shoved his arm down the hole, got his sock back and a few other clothing items with it.

Hand swelling can be an electrolyte imbalance, too much, or too little. I experienced it in an ultra marathon. Never figured out too much or too little. Felt fine after a few hours. Keep trucking Dixie! Aloha from Oahu!

I handed my daughter an old pair of ski poles for her first hike. I gave her and her friend each one as a walking stick.

Here's another safety tip: When using them on treacherous ground, it's a good idea to take your hands out of the loops. This will lower the chances of damage or injury in case of a fall.

Getting impaled with a trekking pole. Part if the legendary lost footage. 😢Great advice as usual 🥰👍

Your advices has been of great help to me as a newbie in my experience of a week of hiking in the mountains of Tucuman, in Argentina. Greetings from this place at the end of the world!

Regarding straps. After hiking and backpacking and serious trail running, thousands of miles, I know far too many people who used pole straps in the recommended way, became tangled in their sticks/poles, fell and seriously sprained a wrist, or broke a wrist.

Regarding the rubber tip covers … if your poles don't come with any, I personally recommend getting a couple pairs of them (they're fairly inexpensive). I have found them handy enough to justify getting extras (they are removable, and one of the corollaries to Murphy's Law says that they'll remove themselves mid-hike if they can) and keeping a couple spare in my pack.

Another consideration for trekking pole height: if you are going on an extended downhill section, you might feel it is more comfortable to slightly lengthen your poles. Similarly, try shortening the length on long uphill sections to see how that feels. Also, I like to lengthen my poles when crossing streams where I’m reaching down while rock/tree trunk hopping…feels more stable to me.

Take one pole, adjust it to your height, now lean on it and put all your weight on it. If it collapses the length adjusters are too loose. That way if you're falling or in an awkward situation, you know that your pole can save you.

I once tripped and somehow managed to flick the trekking poles back. Impaling my thigh. The trekking pole went into my thigh 2 or 3 inches deep resulting in a hospital visit, a few stitches and the the end my my 600 mile thru-hikes on day 3.

@lauraelliott6909

12 күн бұрын

Ouch!

@kjsgarden

12 күн бұрын

Oh, wow! 😱😢

@TweetyPAK7

12 күн бұрын

Oh no! Sounds painful.

@missingremote4388

10 күн бұрын

How did you ever survive?

@georgemartin1498

8 күн бұрын

Okay, not so long ago I saw a video of a trail runner who very seriously impaled himself on his pole. Shit happens when you are not walking around on city streets. But just last week while coming down a trail in RMNP, doing the “spring snow mound roller coaster” I absolutely saved, somehow, myself from almost certain serious injury with my poles.

I recommend watching a video on proper use of the straps, which will really help with pole use.

I’ve been using the Walmart brand poles for years. No complaints and have held up well

Tip: Having left at least two pairs of polls at a trailhead over the years, I highly recommend putting a little label on your polls with your contact info on them. 😜

Lord child! That chipmunk was about to bust out some babies! 😳 I'm not any grand hiker but I had considered getting trekking poles so I watched a few videos. Someone mentioned it was "like having 4 legs." I had an epiphany!!! I have had a balance disorder for years and I thought this might help me. OMG they are awesome!! No more wobbling! It IS like having 4 legs! Especially down hill. I highly recommend trekking poles for anyone but if you are a bit wobbly...get yourself some extra "legs." I do have a bad habit of the death grip though. I do it unconsciously.

@thisbeem2714

11 күн бұрын

I’m right there with you!

@TweetyPAK7

10 күн бұрын

@@thisbeem2714 🤜🏻🤛🏻😃

Pro tip...lol. Don't drop ur guard on a 20 mile day and trip over ur poles....did it on the Priest 2 years ago. Total front flip, landed on my wrist....fracture.

Trekking poles prevented a few falls for me as well. Thanks for the video

Great content! Ive used my trekking poles for many years on every hike. They not only saved my knees but also prevented falls, and made it easier to ford creeks.

2:51 best reenactment, including facial expressions. Thanks for the pole suggestion. Going to REI for my first poles which I've been researching on for about 1 month.

@stephaniegaddis1716

12 күн бұрын

I bought my first poles from REI in December (Christmas presents that my husband and I bought ourselves). I scoffed at hiking poles as being a money grab, until I used them. My hands no longer swell, and my knees and back no longer hurt after a 3 mile hike. Now I'm a believer!

@pheona1164

11 күн бұрын

@@stephaniegaddis1716 Awesome! Thank you! I've hiked for years with just a stick. Nothing fancy. Really looking forward to picking some up this weekend.

When my rubber tip wears out, I switched to using old bike inner tubes, cut up and folded over the metal tip, then held in place with a hose clamp. I allow enough inner tube to reach up the shank a few inches allowing space for the clamp. When they wear out you can sometimes flip them over, or just cut a new piece. And any good bike shop will have used inner tubes lying around or in their trash can. I like using a rubber tip on slickrock and eventually I got used to always using them. And I had some Leki poles, the ones that had the handle lean forward at an angle for comfort, but eventually the cork wore out, so I took another piece of inner tube and pulled it over the handle, then used electrician's tape to hold it in place. But eventually all poles just wear out. So my new pair is the non-springy Leki ones, cheapest I could get from Amazon. I use one at a time on short walks. I stumbled last year and broke one pole down near the end, so "off to the trash you go!"

I first tried poles using incredibly cheap ones because I didn't think they would do anything. Hiked for an hour and thought they were useless... then noticed that my knees weren't sore! They've added a few years to my hiking life. I then went to z-poles for the light weight... then to flip lock carbon fibre.

You really know your stuff. That’s why I like this information

I have to agree with the Austrian pro. Hiking with poles is like having an extra pair of legs, which comes to the fore😂 when ascending and descending hills particularly.

Excellent video and great advice as always. I don’t like using 2 poles unless the terrain is brutal, one is usually better. I think it would have been helpful if you gave particular advice on using poles for water crossing, which I feel is where they really excel.

Yukon Charlies trekking poles have lasted me a long time and many miles, love em.

3:40 Porcupines are notorious for chewing handles. Axes, hammers, fishing rods, you name it if they taste salt, they'll chew it. It also gets them killed in areas where salt is applied to roads.

Thank you so much for the tip tucked under the arm. Never imagine it could be so dangerous.

I got lucky with some hiker boxes on the AT for replacement tips from canibalized trekking poles.

That's funny! Tonight, after work, I did my first city hike (all pavement or concrete)(6.45 miles) with poles, my first time using poles. I did another hike on Monday without poles and I can tell you the poles definitely helped with hand swelling. They also helped a bit with missteps, and uneven sidewalks. Something else to mention is to keep your poles out of the way of your own fat feet, I nearly tripped over my left pole twice with a 40# pack on my back and had to pay a little closer attention to what it was I was doing with them.

I kinda prefer rubber tips, rather than the metal, in all cases. Actually, not rubber, as they wear out too quickly. I make my own from epoxy. I also prefer wooden poles (actually pole...because I only use ONE). I only use ONE pole because I don't like having both hands occupied while I hike. My shelter setup (a tarp) only requires one pole, anyway. A Chestnut sapling, if you can find one (almost impossible in the US)... makes for a fantastic trekking pole. I have one from Scotland. LOVE that thing. I have an old Leki carbon fibre pole with a cork grip, but I don't really use it much.

I got the cascade mountain tech poles originally I snapped one in snow without a cup at the end.... I replaced them with spendy leki ones while the cork and straps seem better and feel better the cascade mountain tech ones fit my hand better if I had to get another pair I may go back It's not a big enough issue to switch until the current ones break

The Cascade Mountain Tech tips cannot be replaced, but replacement lower sections are available on their website for $12-$15 depending on the type of pole you are using.

@paulrevere2379

11 күн бұрын

I found a pair of MSR treking poles for cheap cheap at my local Goodwill. As a not at all essential item imo I am unlikely to pay the high cost (imo) for such things. Anyway these poles did not have tips, but I knew I could buy some. Well I went to the one local outdoor shop and sure enough they had them. Two replacement tips that would have cost 5 times more than poles I might only occasionally use...no thanks. Anyway, I did replace the tips without the high cost. A treking pole tip is basically just hardened steel with a kind of edge designed to bite rather than slip. The item I purchased to meet these specifications is a concrete/masonry screw (hex hed) These come in variable sizes and a common brand paints them blue. Problem solved. So, anyone finding themselves unable to find replacement tips for their poles might wish to go this route if they have some basic shop/mechanical skills. Just understand that these are not customized fits, meaning that even the closest to correct size may still be too tight. Minor modifications to the pole may be necessesary, but this is very doable since the ends tend to be tapered. Not really recommended for the usual tourist hiker who solves everything with a well-worn credit card and a trip to REI, but this might be a useful tip for some other fellow hikers.

Love my Leki poles with cork handles.

Those cascade poles are great. They feel very similar to my 12 year old Black Diamond poles. The nice thing is that they're very easy to maintain and if something loosens up, it's easy to adjust. They also sell replacement parts of for everything but tips, but the tips are absolutely replaceable. The big challenge has just been that they can tight to remove and sometimes require minor heating with steam or boiling water. I've had similar issues with hydration hose connections, so that doesn't bother me. Worst case, for $10, you can buy a replacement lower pole section as an option. So, theoretically, you could years and years of use for a total that's still cheaper than a high end brand. Obviously not the same sets of features, but it's a damn good budget option. I got them a year ago for my 7 year old daughter and they've been perfect because of the variety of height adjustments and she's done a couple dozen miles on them just fine with weekend hiking. I'd absolutely get them for myself in a pinch after we've tried them out.

Amazingly similar to my trekking pole progress through the years. Started with trusty Wal-Mart poles. A little heavier, but I could literally replace them every 2-3 years for $20. I still have a pair or two I use for loaners. I've had "bougie" poles, but I ended up babying them (or damaging them), and while they were well warranted, I didn't like the dance of getting a replacement. Cascade Mountain Tech really seems to have found the sweet spot, and for the price, I can literally buy a second emergency pair to keep in the car for long section hikes. The only time I make my poles longer or shorter is for LONG descents or ascents. On weekend trips, sometimes a day will be predominantly up or down and I'll just start the day with a slight bias in length. Frankly, most of the time, it's just easier moving your hands rather than adjusting the poles, especially on steep downhills where you can just put the palms of your hands on top of the poles. I have a running argument with a friend, who advises everyone not to use the straps because it is *possible* to get a rotator cuff injury if you fall just right while the strap is entangled with your hand. I've never seen or met someone who had that happen, so it must be rare. I think the benefits of using the straps properly far outweigh the risks.

I bought those cascade poles for my first real hiking five years ago just by chance. They are still serving me well as a novice back packer. Bees like the cork too.

i once camped in the Catskills with a hatchet (not a long hike).. kept it close and handy as i slept in a trail shelter. Woke up with a porcupine a foot from my face, gnawing on the hatchet handle's wood for that salt residue. I got pretty vocal, from a safe distance. Mr poky-spines was slow to depart. Porcupines don't scare easy.

I actually buy and wear out rubber tips (like the ones on chair legs) to put on my poles and used most of the time. Keeps the poles from picking up a stack of leaves at times.

I have been using a pair of REI Traverse AS poles for many years, they are made in Austria and are very strong. They are a different design than the current ones but a similar price. They were very helpful after my knee injury.

Smart. Im into Bushcraft and im learning from you guys. I got my trekking poles.

I really need to get some cushy tips for my trekking poles, (which are black 🔷's, with the cork handles) for walking on concrete. Yes, they do get caught in cement cracks, ergh! It is mind blowing how big of a difference they make on walks and hikes. A friend of my dads would always find a stick when they took me along on their hikes. Stick = trekking pole.

I use the rubber boots when walking also on road and sidewalk. The boots will eventually wear out, but cheap replacement can be found for just a couple of dollars on Amazon and other sites.

I use an ash hiking staff, and I'd say a staff is better than poles overall -- except the respect that staff is harder to learn than poles.

You look amazing!! Also, great hiking tips! ❤ I had to start my son with one trek pole until he gets used to it.

Proper use of the hand grip and cord. Most people slide their hand thru the cord from top down instead of from bottom up and then rap their thumb around the cord. This bottom up helps to get a secure grip and if you have to take your hand out and let go of your pole in an emergency, using the grip properly helps a lot. Last thing you want is to get your hand hung up in the grip cord and you break your hand or wrist during a fall. Trail Buddy Trekking poles are a great set of trekking poles and cost about $40. on Amazon. I have been using the same pair of Trail Buddy Trekking poles for over 3 years now with no issues. I bought them when they cost about $30.

@pyronymph-868

12 күн бұрын

I'm using Trail Buddy myself. They were the cheapest lightweight trekking poles I could find.

To replace the CMT tips, just buy replacement bottom sections from their website. They sell replacements for all 3 sections so no matter what wears out, you can replace just that part.

Thank you for this video. As a new hiker this was handy

Love my cork handles. After a while, they’ll get a bit slick from dirt and oil. But a good rubbing with sand paper gets them as good as new.

Love Trekking Poles, the Hikers great accessory, good for any outdoor event. But, literally walked hundreds of miles with "walking sticks" found on the side of the trail and used for the day.

Extended grips are handy. No pun intended. Quick upward rock scrambles take your wrist out of the strap and hold it lower down rather than adjust the pole length and then again maybe a few strides further.

I used a cheap aluminium pole (

Thanks Dixie!!! Safe travels!!!

Thank you for another informative video!

Great tips! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

I used $20 AliExpress poles while starting, they worked great and were pretty light! Upgraded to a Fizan PCT compact edition pair recently and they are about half the weight and get the job done great. I was skeptical of the twist lock, but I actually love it now that I'm used to it.

Good info…bought my first pair at W mart 6 years ago and they are still going strong!

👍👍👍 .. good tips. Cost .. I have a set of budget poles bought at Decathlon. Aluminium, adjustable with a lever lock mechanism. Have had them for years and have never felt the need to 'upgrade' to Carbon Fibre aka more expensive ones. I use them on average, 5 days a week as I also Nordic Walk. The Straps .. I keep the Pole Hand Grips lightly in place in the wedge between my thumb and forefinger .. no 'gripping' of the Hand Grips at all, 'death' or otherwise 😏. My Wrists and upper Palm, pushing down onto the Straps, do all of the work. Going up or down in rough terrain, especially downhill .. uncouple the hands / wrists from the Straps (then, it is permissible to use a 'death grip' 😁). In event of a tumble, less chance then, of 'becoming one' with one's Poles. The 90° Arm Position is a good base to work from. Experience will determine which is the most comfortable / effective pole length. My ideal is 1.05 metres. A good share .. thanks. Take care .l

The 90 degree works well, I do t typically adjust for down hill other than to grip them in the palm of my hand for downhill and use the soft grip under the normal grip if they have one for uphill. Trekking poles are also useful for digging cat holes and keeping them between you and angry critters.

I used trekking poles as a mobility aid when I was on chemotherapy for breast cancer. Between fatigue and just feeling "wobbly", they helped a lot. I walked around a big museum with my dad and used my rubber tips. And at festivals I used the normal pointy tips.

I did the pole under my arm at the wrong time thing. Slipped on wet leaves and ended up rolling off the trail. Broke a z-pole that I really liked. I was fine though.

1. Using the straps correctly Hand up thru the loops Then grip the straps and pole This means not having to hold the pole and much more flexible in the hand Not a hammer grip 2. Use fingerless sun gloves to protect the tops of your hands from the sun, otherwise they can get sunburned easily 3. 90’ degrees is not always the most comfortable Shorter sticks so your arms are 22’ degrees lower than the 90’ will give you much more push off 4. Know where to lengthen your sticks for downhill or shorten for up hill. Mark them with a marker. Very easy with the clip adjusters 5. Sticks takes an amazing strain off your knees especially if you are using the straps correctly

Always great content, and always shared in a pleasant and enjoyable manner. Thank you! 😊

Thanks

I met someone using ski poles in 1978 and have used poles ever since. The rubber tips really cut down on the noise when hiking on hard surfaces. I did have a deer gnaw my grips one time, never left them unattended after that. Last year I tried a pair of mid-priced trifold poles - they broke in only seven miles on a easy trail.

Excellent video! Thanks Dixie! - Shybee

Good to see you

Much love till next time

I was a late adopter of trekking poles; somewhat aghast on first sighting. But I did convert especially on trail use. Boondocking or cross country travel on grasslands or sagebrush country I just use one or revert to a staff.

Great video! One thought about rubber tips- if you are serious about Leave No Trace (LNT), think about the long scratches you see on the surface of rocks along the trail. When a hiker does not have rubber tips on their poles, it is easy for the tip to slide along rocks leaving a permanent trace of that hiker’s passage. If the ground is soft and you need the solid traction, take off those tips, but if you are walking on rock, keep those metal tips covered and leave the lovely rocks alone. ❤

@sk-wx1cf

12 күн бұрын

Rubber tips also provide better traction on rocks.

@suzannecartwright6504

11 күн бұрын

And the metal tips loosen the soil on the outer edges of the trail. Then, after many hikers pass “digging” into the soil and a good rain comes…. Poof! Trail erosion. And yes, metal does scratch the rocks up. Not pretty.

@machineman6498

11 күн бұрын

Same. And the noise.

@paulrevere2379

11 күн бұрын

Wow, I have my own dislike for treking poles, but that mostly just applies to personal choice. I have never thought to beat up treking pole users for the causes above in this thread. While there are plenty of LNT issues in need of further emphasis, I doubt if treking pole tips will ever move high up enough on that list to matter more than the issues that comprise 99% of the problem imo. These issues include defecation way too close to trails, campsites and water features. There's also a problem with dog owners leaving doggy poop bags right on trail. Another problem is rampant where tourist hiker types wrongfully think it's ok to camp right next to trails where it is not ok, not by their long-distance permits and (in Washington anyway) not ok by the clearly written signs on the trail. These hikers seem to think that it is ok to be blatant violators because "everyone does it" (classic herd mentality) and the spot was on this or that app. Hint: those apps are there to take your $, not there to help you abide by LNT principles. Similarly there is the violation of camping too close to natural waterways and using them like sewage drains for dirty dishes and the like. Those are enough examples I think, examples that I wish would go away enough, and others as well, sufficiently that treking pole scratches might actually be worth my attention, but I'm not that idealistically optimistic. I'll just admit that I never thought I would be defending the treking pole users since my favorite kinds of hikers are not die-hard enthusiasts of that trend (which it is), so unexpected developments can happen.

@marcohanig176

7 күн бұрын

@@paulrevere2379 The ultimate LNT would be to have no trail at all! 😉

Always enjoy the videos! It's just about too hot to go to the woods here in South Georgia! The videos will have to suffice!

If you fish that will tell what handles you will like better,cork for me 😊

I run mine higher than most recommend, around chest height. Helps me on multi-terrain where it's up and down. After breaking my neck and mid-spine, I got back on to trails as the trekking poles allowed me to take weight off my spine and shift it onto my arms, pecs, lats and shoulders instead. Game changer!

Good video. Thx for info

Can you give us an update on Perk in one of your videos?

EXCELLENT!!!

It has been awhile since I last watch your channel and this vlog is great with lot of great information. ❤😊

One idea that I've used effectively for walking with trekking poles: use the same technique that you would if you were cross-country skiing: not the skate ski version, but using the old-fashioned diagonal stride. Sometimes on a hill (up or down) I will also do a double-pole maneuver (reach ahead, but not too far, and pull back with both shoulders & hands) that helps going up a tough hill or big step. I see someone else beat me to it, but another tip from cross-country skiing: handle the poles by putting your hands in *under* the strap, then gripping the pole. This allows you to lightly grip the pole, and it almost automagically swings forward for your next pole plant.

Leki fan here, on my second pair (bent one in a fall, bought new ones without a second thought). I always use the rubber tips, even on looser terrain. Properly using the straps is very important: insert your hands from bottom to top. If your hand is in the loop properly, you only need one finger to keep the pole under control.

@5:15 that poor guy gets called out a lot lol

I use 1 pole to keep a hand available for my dog’s leash. One pole is good to help go up and down big steps.

I used $20 dollar trekking poles on the AT until the White Mountains. I would have kept the same poles but I lost one pole on the decent of Mt. Moosilauke. With losing one pole, I decided to upgrade with some Lekis. I love my Lekis, but if I didn't need to, I would have kept with my $20 dollar poles. True story.

Look for grip tops that are big enough not to fit into the socket of your eye. Most ski poles have a big knob on top for that reason.

Since trekking poles evolved from cross country ski poles, I just used that gait and the transition was pretty smooth for me. They sure do prevent hip pain on my old frame.

thanks

Trekking pole Spears in case you need it 😀🙂

I went out on the trail with no trekking poles (trying to save money since most are expensive!) Then I found a stick and carried that for a month or more until I bought a single pole for my tent and tried using that but honestly I preferred to hike hands free it was so much better and I could eat clif bars while I hiked. It felt amazing not having to constantly grip something the entire time. The stick was mainly for my knees cuz the left would hurt, then the right etc. once I dropped more weight (new tent) I didn’t need it anymore. Also the knee pain went away. I highly recommend people that have never went hands free to give it a try. It’s such a life changing experience ❤

Actually looked for and added the rubber feet. Not big on the scraping noise or jacking up the rocks unless absolutely necessary. They also help a little bit to not sink in every step.

No kidding about trekking poles and animals! I had marmots run off with mine overnight in Sequoia NP, and when I found them yards away in the morning, the wrist straps were absolutely shredded, with a small bunch of marmots still gnawing on them. They were reclaimed but never quite the same!

for downhills i like to have one pole slightly longer, to use in front and descend a bit sideways, esp on gravel or sketchy terrain

Another way to avoid impaling: When you tuck them under your arm, put the tips in front of you. This is also courteous if you're hiking with other folks who might be behind you. Keeps the tips where you can see them.

I use Pacer Poles designed by English physical therapist Heather Rhodes and marketed by her company in England. The grip is ergonomic and doesn’t require straps. They have cords to prevent dropping them down a snow bank. There are several different models in aluminum and carbon fiber and they are expensive but I love them, much more comfortable than normal poles. I prefer carbon fiber because it doesn’t vibrate as much as aluminum. The Section Hiker blog has a review of them.

Was at Costco this am. Buford Ga. Has set of poles for 32.00 with cork grips. Brand name was Mountain something.

My wife and I have been using cascade mountain carbon fiber trekking poles for years no complaints. 35 dollars at Costco

Hence the name . . . Guthook!😂

Hi sweetie Dixie i use a wood staff 2 M made from hazelive had it over 20 years sometimes while walking i put it accross my shoulders with both arms outstretched the use it uphill or down the pole is polished to protect it with a brassring at the bottom...