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

[sciolist.livejournal.com]

L likes hers, especially when walking down slightly trepidatious inclines since it gives a 3rd point of contact.

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

I understand it's something daft like 25% more efficient and better for your knees to have two properly sized walking poles.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

That's huge. Especially if you're, say, descending something and tired. Hmm...

[justoneway.livejournal.com]

Never bothered myself, probably out of some form of misplaced pride.
Those I know that use tham say it saves their knees a load of trouble.
Your ash stick should be fine for that. Resist the temptation to succumb to your techno-gadget-lust and take pride in your traditional solution.

[jonnycowbells.livejournal.com]

I've heard some people claim 30%, but frankly anything above 10 has got to be good. I was wandering around an Alp the other day and I'd say two thirds of the people we passed had them. A wise old mountain guide said he figured it added 10 years to his career.

I'm sure your stick will do a similar job, but you might consider a second stick to balance you up, otherwise you might find yourself at the physios. At the very least you'll find yourself in the walking boot shop more often.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

Think I'll stick with the stick. Mr Stick has been a good friend for $crikey years now after all.

So I went and bought a Snow Peak ultralight stove instead. Well, a chap needs a nice fresh brew after all that strenuous effort, doesn't he?

[flitljm.livejournal.com]

i. It folds up and fits in my rucksack
ii. It has a very pointy tip that sticks into the ground a bit for added not-falling-off-hills.

[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