Hikers: Walking Poles?

[andygates]

Quick question for the hikers 'n' climbers out there: what's the deal with walking poles?  I generally take my Excellent Stick - a twisty ash jobbie with a brass knob on the end - when going hiking.  It's profoundly non-optimal but I don't care.  Are these telescopickal sprung ergonomic efforts significantly better?

Comments

[despaer.livejournal.com]

From my memories of trekking in Nepal...

Turned up with no walking pole. Everyone else had one, along with snazzy walking boots from day one. Felt a bit under prepared until the group leader turned up dressed, like me, in old running shoes and without a pole.

If you want or need it for balance, especially downhill, then fair enough. My knees are good so I get away without it. But there is never a need for two. That's just silly and was mostly practised in Nepal by the Japanese when walking on the flat