When you grab the grip, the strap should have just enough tension to allow you to slide your palm over the strap while holding the hiking pole with just your thumb and index finger. You may want to be sure the manufacturer has replacement tips readily available before purchasing poles, as the tips are brand specific. Single piece, unfolding poles exist but we will not address them here as they are inconvenient for air travel. I dont know anyone that has given it a try, but it sounds promising with no real downside other than adding an ounce to the weight of each pole. Baskets are typically round or snow-flake shaped tough plastic pieces located just above the flexible tip joint. As long as you give the pole section locking mechanism some care, aluminum poles can last several decades. If the poles collapse with the lever closed, the tension is too loose. Aluminum is very durable and reliable, but the search for lighter weight materials continued. Once the reliability was there, carbon fiber poles became widely accepted and are used in premium models from all the major manufacturers (as is aluminum). As your well-being during a trip can be affected by functional poles, youll want to get something reliable. Weight and collapsed length (for travel) are considerations. Check the warranty before purchasing. They use a mechanism for locking the three pole sections together. If youre still unsure about trekking poles, borrow a good pair and give them a try, or buy them from a place that will let you return them (whether 30 days or 365 days) if youre not satisfied. Contactus today if you have questions or fill out thecustomer service request form. Pay particular attention to the pole locking mechanism, whether twist lock or lever lock. I love to bushwhack off-trail to discover those rare gems hidden in the wilderness. These days, premium hiking poles have an ergonomically angled grip (lower price poles typically have a straight grip). My aluminum poles are super-handy for whacking thorny blackberry stalks out of the way, pushing prickly vines aside, and knocking down tall weeds so I wont step on a snake. Tips do wear out over the miles, especially if you hike on a lot of rock. Quality carbon poles from a quality manufacturer are not cheap. In high-use areas with such soil, thousands of little pole holes can penetrate the dirt, loosening the soil so it is easily carried away by rain runoff. In addition to being a hiking aid, poles have a number of other uses. Fiber reinforced plastic has proven to be quite durable on mid-level poles. Read the directions before using on the trail. The use of hiking poles has exploded since the 1990s when they were seen by most American hikers as a novelty. Day hikes or multi-day backpacking trips? Compression fittings tend to be used on less expensive poles yet they weigh less than lever locks. While this technique may help you keep your balance, it adds no power to your walk and is hardly a smooth, efficient motion that uses little energy. REI Co-op Trekking Pole Baskets for Mud or Sand. A raccoon will probably just laugh at you. Be aware to notice such places often there will be a sign noting the fragile area. Would you benefit from anti-shock poles? There are times when use of the very top of the pole with your palm may be required, such as negotiating a steep step down off a boulder. Consider adding sand and mud baskets to your hiking poles! Trekking poles have saved me from ankle sprains dozens of times. The resulting joint is stronger than either pole on its own. There are packs made by Osprey that have Stow-on-the-Go trekking pole attachment loops so you can stow a pole on the fly. The more efficient your hiking pole technique, the less energy you will use. River crossing with hiking poles helps you stabilize and balance against the current. As folding hiking poles only take seconds to deploy and fold back up, they have strong appeal for certain types of hikers. Properly designed and adjusted straps offer support for your weight (versus having the grip of your hand take all the weight), make the pole easier to swing with your walking cadence, and keep the poles from slipping away from you (like sliding downhill into a place that cant be reached). Since that time, hikers without poles have become the minority. However, it didnt take long for me to realize poles had a few disadvantages, too. I have a pair of poles from Komperdell that had a twist lock fitting failure when I forced it to collapse while it was stuck in the extended position. Ground cork is molded with a polymer to make a durable grip that absorbs very little moisture, has good grip even when sweaty, and is fairly cool in the hand. Leki Folding GUIDE EXTREME V Carbon pole showing the kevlar cord. Oops! He chose an aluminum pair to replace the broken carbon ones. Aluminum poles have been proven in every type of terrain and weather on every continent. Quality poles focus on doing the job efficiently and dont need gimmicks for marketing. The ultralight hiker movement makes use of tarps and tents designed to be supported by hiking poles (why carry tent poles when you have one in your hand?). My friend, who is a professional outdoor educator, said that would be his first and only pair of carbon poles. Up until that point, I thought only old people and hikers with bad knees used hiking poles (and now Im old and have bad knees!). WOMENS CRESSIDA THERMO AS Trekking Poles Speed Lock 2. At least he wasnt like the guy who bought a headlamp moments before we hit the trail, only to realize that night that it did not come with batteries! Typically it becomes noisy, rattling at every strike. Adjust the other hiking pole and hold it the same way. Note that temperature changes can affect the tension, more so on aluminum poles, so be sure to check before use, especially on cold mornings. The lower sections of the pole are held in place by a super strong Kevlar cord, typically in a plastic tube sheath. Hold both poles with the tip just a couple of inches off the ground. Hiking poles tend to get caught up in brush and laurel. Despite being half the price of the better known brands, Cascade Mountain has a very good reputation and are recommended by a number of reputable long distance hikers: I would be remiss not to mention an observation Ive noticed with Fit For Trips readers: They are purchasing the two brands below, which have an impressive number of ratings at almost 5 stars. So for the most part, hiking poles cause no harm and in certain soils may even help Mother Nature. However, it wasnt exactly intuitive, either. Though my friend didnt buy the poles from LL Bean, the manager happily replaced them saying that Leki has great customer warranty support and it wouldnt be a problem. Great for general exercise, but not necessarily desirable for hiking. What is key is allowing the pole to swing forward naturally and then pushing off. The angle allows your wrist to rest at a more natural angle when the poles are pushing behind you on the ground. Snap! Three-section poles were carried by ski shops and outdoor specialty stores, but poles really took off when they got the stamp of approval from outdoor magazines like Backpacker and Outside. Good quality poles use three different grip materials or a combination of them: foam, rubber and cork. I only use them where I wont be banging around boulders. They have never failed or seized up. Snow baskets are much larger, about four inches/10 cm in diameter. To expand the appeal of hiking poles, anti-shock mechanisms were developed. It is wise to check the pole connections before and during the hike so you wont be surprised by a collapsing pole. There are also delicate and rare alpine plants that dont take to being poked by a hiking pole. Clean the pole sections inside and out with nothing more than a big bowl of warm, fresh water with a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. We will notify you when this product becomes available. Grips come in different shapes, widths, and materials. While hiking in the Presidential Range of New Hampshire during a recent summer trip, one of my friends got his Leki carbon pole stuck in some super glue-like mud in a narrow space between boulders. While hiking with a naturalist one day, he pointed out how the pole holes helped aerate the soil, hard-packed from heavy hiker use. Several highly recognized studies (including the Journal of Sports Medicine) have shown that hiking poles can reduce stress on the knees by at least 25 percent and up to 40 percent. Move forward with a natural arm motion, and the pole will lift off the ground and swing forward again. There are those that believe hiking poles can cause ecological damage. A twist lock is an internal fitting on a screw which expands when you twist adjacent pole sections in opposite directions. Quality straps include some type of soft material that contacts your skin, such as airbrushed nylon, microfiber, or neoprene. As I regularly hike on some of the most heavily used trails in the USA (Georgia section of the AT), I had the same perception when poles started to become common in the late 1990s as I saw holes all along the trails and scratch marks on rocks. Mountaineers and outdoor guides quickly adopted the adjustable poles and got them for client use. This is from a major pole manufacturer: The strength of carbon fiber is compromised if the poles surface is dented, frayed, gouged, scratched, fractured, chipped, or otherwise damaged which could result in catastrophic failure. Not all carbon poles are made the same. Friction locks the poles at the length desired. The best poles attach the tip to the pole with a strong yet flexible material making the pole more durable and specially designed to flex up to 30 degrees without bending the pole shaft. There are clamp-on pole mounts for action video cameras (like the GoPro) and the ubiquitous Gorilla Pod for selfies. Then take a few short hikes on varied terrain until it starts to feel like second nature. Most often the problem results from dirt buildup caused by dust inside the poles, which reduces the friction necessary to lock the pole in place. LEKI Micro Vario Carbon Pole displaying Adjustable Strap. Initially called trekking poles (the more common term in Europe), cross country skiers and snowshoe hikers found the added benefit of using poles year-round, especially in the Nordic countries where such activities are a way of life for many. The lower section of the pole wasnt all the way inside the rear hatch of my car. Yes, my friend should have read the instructions before using the poles on a trip, but like you and me, he is human. They appealed to hikers who didnt want any feedback to their hands (i.e., vibration). Im sure you can come up with other clever uses. My pair of carbon fiber poles (from the UK) were acquired when the second generation of carbon poles first came out and weigh 14.6 ounces. The mechanism adds weight and complexity. They do absorb a bit more shock than aluminum but shock has never been an issue for me with any pole. Admittedly, most people just grab the pole by the grip, palm first, and start walking while planting the pole ahead and picking it up as they reach the pole. Leki claims it can reduce shock by 40%. Poles in the cheaper spectrum, caveat emptor. Rubber tip covers come with most poles for traction and quietness on pavement. However, many hikers, snowshoers, and cross country skiers prefer rubber in the winter as the rubber doesnt absorb water and offers good grip while wearing gloves. Leki MICRO VARIO COR-TEC TA Trekking pole with rounded grip top for palm comfort. Grip shape and fit is important, too. With the strap now over your wrist, lightly wrap your hand around the grip. Carbon fiber hiking poles began to appear as materials in science progressed. As most of my hiking tends to be in the mountains, the flats are fairly short so I just hold my poles until the next vertical change. If you feel a hot spot developing on your hand or fingers while using poles, stop and put some first aid tape or duct tape on the spot before it develops into a blister. REI Co-op Traverse Telescoping Trekking Poles. And I want poles that will last years, not a season. It can help stabilize your camera for a long shot, but is no substitute for a serious photographer. Indeed, most guided trips either require hiking poles or offer them optionally. Take some time to consider how you will be using the poles most of the time. Nylon straps positioned at the top of the grips are adjustable. Quality aluminum poles use aerospace grade aluminum alloy and are anodized to prevent corrosion (galvanic, such as salt air coastal regions). Still, folding poles are a revelation on those types of hikes where youre repeatedly stowing and deploying hiking poles. Fingerless gloves made for paddling, working out, sailing, or rappelling will fit snugly and have no paddling. Kudos to their warranty and customer service. You may want to mark that point on your poles with a Sharpie. Different companies use different methods for adjusting strap length so refer to the directions for your poles. Consider the investment over time in years of use and it comes out to just a few dollars a year or a few cents per mile. Notice how the pole swings forward with your arms of its own accord. Of course, hiking sticks have been around since ancient times. These rubber feet were developed for the exercise called Nordic walking, so your arms do almost as much work as your legs, enhancing the aerobic effect. As you walk forward, place some pressure on the strap and push the pole tip behind you. Carbon fiber is stiffer than steel for its weight, which is why NASA uses carbon in the space shuttle (not to mention high performance cars, motorcycles, and bicycles). The tension cord can develop a bit of stretch with use; it needs to be re-tensioned from time to time, which is no big deal and can be done in the field. The rubber grips get a bit sweaty in summer, but the cork top has been ideal on steep drops when palming the top. Some companies, such as Black Diamond, do have rubber tips intended for trail use. I can see the appeal to hikers with nerve ending issues, arthritis, or some other health-related challenge. Where will you be hiking? It is wise to check the connections once in a while. Trekking pole baskets help provide support and flotation so your poles dont sink into soft terrain and slow you down. An adjustment wheel on a threaded piece (a fancy screw) allows tension adjustment. I want highly reliable poles for a variety of terrain and weather conditions around the world. Ive read there are people that think a hiking pole can be used for defense against an animal attack. Lever locks, being outside of the poles, dont have the same issue, but dirt buildup can make the lever stiff and inhibit the friction adjustment screw. Womens REI Co-op Flash Carbon Trekking Poles with Powerlock Adjustment. If you hike on flats most of the time, you can adjust your pole use to your hiking style and benefit forward propulsion. Fingerless gloves weigh next to nothing and take up no more space than a pair of thin socks, so carrying a bit of insurance could be worth it. Some adjusters can be finger turned, some require a tool. Grips that dont have any angle to them may put pressure on your wrist and forearm tendons by forcing them into an unnatural position, but much of that factor can be mitigated with efficient technique (More on technique later in the article). Originally marketed for their light weight, they proved to be unreliable, splitting apart from compression or snapping in half at the slightest nick from a rock. They also use a twist lock fitting. Of course the poles helped ease the load going downhill, but I was amazed at how much they helped going uphill, like being in 4-wheel drive! When you love to explore and you like to stay out for as long as possible, pole baskets are a must have. Aluminum tubing is very durable and can take an amazing amount of bend before giving in (refer to tent poles). Whether you intend to buy or rent hiking poles, it is good to know a few things first to use them effectively, comfortably, and keep frustration to a minimum.
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