I always thought that hiking poles were the height of folly. But Kay handed me hers, and told me to walk with them. Knowing me, she gently badgered me until I relented and tried hers. Thank you Kay
I was wrong. I love them. And I really think that they have made the difference between my being able to do these walks and just giving up.
And I have been asking people I see walking with them and asking their opinions and stories.
Nancy's Story:
I discovered the “sticks” in 2004 when I bought a set for my mother-in-law for her 85th birthday. She lived in Loleta and was still walking up and down the hill near her home on Copenhagen Road. I had done research on the internet and found these sold by Leki made in the Czech Republic. They were called Fittrek. They are adjustable and very lightweight. I bought a set for myself as well and I am still using the same pair I bought in 2004. I don’t recall the exact price but I think they were fairly expensive.
The sticks have grown old with me. I got them originally to add intensity to my walking workouts. Over the years they’ve taken a lot of pressure off my hips, knees and ankles. Now, I feel they help me stand up straighter, have given me muscles in my arms I would have never had without them and have saved me from many trips and falls. I feel much steadier when walking in slippery or wet areas. I feel naked when I walk without them. I am a huge fan and promote them to everyone who walks
Choosing your poles:
Telescoping, Folding, or Fixed: The “proper” height is for your arms to be at right angle. But you may want a bit more or less bent. And going up hill or down hill you will want to adjust your pole height. So I think Telescoping is optimum. One man I met on the trail makes his own with fiberglass rod. That would be a reason for a fixed pole.
Latches do make a difference: Make sure to get flip locks. My old hiking staff uses a twist/turn to adjust. And after a while they just stop working. In addition, my hands are not strong enough to tighten them well. And if someone else tightens them for me then I can’t untighten them.
Feet: There are several kinds of tips for the end of the pole. Most come with a rubber tip, like a cane end. Under this tip is often a more poky kind of end that can be useful on slipper terrain. But it can really freak out the TSA folk if you try to take it on an airplane. Nancy has recommended the “Nordic boot.” These give better grip when walking. I bought a pair, but haven’t tried them yet. There is also a basket tip, good for sand or snow. I don’t have much experience with these as I avoid hiking in sand or snow.
Material and cost: Don’t spend hundreds of dollars on your poles. Most outdoors stores carry ones in the under $50 range. Wood is lovely, but heavy. Fiberglass is lightest, but not as durable. I like the aluminum ones for best all round use.
Use them in pairs. It is a very different experience than using a hiking staff or a cane. The idea of the poles is that it aligns your posture upright rather than downward. I love using the two
Using Your Poles
Straps: Put your hands up thru the straps, bringing your hands back down to the grips with the strap under your thumb. (Shown in some of the videos linked below.) As you walk, rather than extending your arms to move the pole forward, try using your wrist to flick the pole forward. Much less tiring.
Opposites: As you walk, your right pole goes forward as your left foot moves forward. Use your hand opposite your foot.
Skiing style: There will be times when you plant both poles forward, then move both feet. “Plant, Plant, Step, Step” Set each pole, feel that it is in a stable situation. Then move your feet forward. Crossing streams or wobbly places. Up hill where you are needing a bit more strength. Down hill where you need more stability, especially with gravel or sand.
Be aware: As you use your poles more, you will be finding that you stand straighter and look forward rather than down. Always be aware of where your poles and your feet are going.
Breathing: When I get tired I find I can push myself a bit further, you know like to get back to the car, by focusing on my breathing to match the click click of the poles.
Holding stuff: Use a small cross body bag, belt bag, or a backpack. Carry as little as you can get away with. Having something that is secure to your body, not flopping about, is always a good idea, but with the poles, it prevents them from bashing into the poles.
Dog Leashes: I found it impossible to use the retractable leashes with the poles. Jax is a small dog and I use a regular leash, and loop it over my knuckles after I have my hand in the strap. That way I can change it from side to side easily, and let go in an emergency.
Camera Mount: I found a light weight camera mount that clamps on the pole. It makes a great monopod, and the extension ability of the pole can give me some extra height. I don’t like to leave the camera on while I walk as I am worried that the jostling will shake its electronic gizzards too much. NOTE: you can also use a bicycle camera mount.
Airlines: At this point it looks like poles of any sort are banned on the airlines. So you will need to check them in the baggage. If you are taking carry on only, you might want to look at what is available in your destination area. Maybe order ahead to be at your host or hotel.
Do poles destroy the environment? Everything must have a PC issue. The hiking world has people that are up in arms about pole use as they are destroying the environment. OK yes, if you are going to go off trail, in sensitive areas you will be adding a bit more to the environmental load. But don’t be a jerk, you should not be going off trail anyway, especially in sensitive areas.
Resources:
Most of the stuff out there is for the athletic mountain goat type, not much for mobility challenged folk. Here are a few.
This first one is an article that does mention people with mobility challenges. https://www.verywellfit.com/how-to-use-hiking-and-trekking-poles-for-stability-4145313
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwYBhYLLytI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp4ZvpP8Eq4
https://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-hiking-with-trekking-poles
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