| I get it all the time. It's snow-free weather and here | | | | poles, which allows you to lightly hold on to the |
| I am carrying a pair of hiking sticks (or trekking | | | | sticks. You won't realize most of the benefits of |
| poles) on my way to a trail when someone smartly | | | | trekking poles by holding onto the handles in a |
| jokes, "Hey, are you going skiing or something?" But | | | | vice-like death grip without using the straps. To |
| on the flip side, when I'm on the trail with hiking | | | | properly grip the poles and thus taking advantage of |
| sticks, I would always pass by people hiking who | | | | the straps, place your hand through the looping strap |
| would point at my sticks and say, "That's a good | | | | with your palm facing forward and your fingers |
| idea!" | | | | upright (kind of like you're about to push through the |
| I guess this is indicative of the difference of opinion | | | | loop of the strap). Your wrist should be resting on |
| about hiking sticks. Despite the derision and extra | | | | the strap while your fingers are free to grip the stick. |
| burden of carrying around these poles, I believe that | | | | If you're familiar with cross country skiing, it's the |
| they're worth it. I have arthritic knees from years of | | | | same way your grip the ski poles. Once you've |
| playing basketball and using these sticks on hiking | | | | properly gripped the sticks, you should try to |
| trips have allowed me to better enjoy the scenery | | | | establish a rhythm with both your arms and legs as |
| while allowing me to take my mind off my knee | | | | you hike to ensure that one stick and one leg strike |
| problems. | | | | the ground at roughly the same time (preferably in |
| Hiking sticks are beneficial in many ways. One of the | | | | such a way that opposite arm and leg are in use). |
| most important benefits is that they give you two | | | | Trekking poles do have their drawbacks. For |
| extra legs (if you're carring two sticks), which | | | | example, you'll have to carry extra weight while not |
| increases your stability. The stability is nice for | | | | having free hands and you'll be exerting more energy |
| balance when you're crossing streams on boulders, | | | | as your arms now play a greater role in each stride |
| logs, or stones. Often it's a hassle to change shoes in | | | | you take while hiking. The lack of free hands can be |
| the middle of hike (you wouldn't want to waterlog | | | | especially cumbersome when you're scrambling and |
| and ruin your expensive gore-tex hiking boots, | | | | need to hold onto trees or rocks. Hiking sticks can |
| wouldn't you?) so the balance gained by the extra | | | | also fail by slipping or changing length without |
| pair of legs will keep you dry while maintaining your | | | | warning, which can be hazardous when you're |
| momentum as you're boulder hopping. The extra legs | | | | exposed to drop-offs or when the trails are narrow. |
| also help distribute the force and shock of each step | | | | They might also get caught in dense vegetation or in |
| you take, which mostly goes to the knees. The | | | | grooves on bridges or fallen trees on narrow trails as |
| added stability can also decrease the likelihood you'll | | | | well. If you're hiking closely with your partner, you |
| be twisting an ankle or knee (since not all of your | | | | might poke that person inadvertently. Furthermore, |
| weight is on your feet), and keep you upright (which | | | | the tips of the sticks may make loud noises when |
| is especially important if you're carrying lots of weight | | | | striking hard surfaces such as granite, pavement, or |
| on an overnight backpack trip). When you're going | | | | lava. Finally, it's possible to disturb or even destroy |
| downhill on a steep decline, the extra legs can help | | | | vegetation just off the trail (if it's narrow) as hiking |
| you "spider" your way down confidently. Hiking sticks | | | | sticks typically require you to use more room. |
| can also benefit you in unexpected ways. For | | | | Given the pros and cons of hiking sticks, it's ultimately |
| example, you can use the sticks to probe for depth | | | | up to what your comfort levels are and how you |
| in a stream crossing or marshy area, you can | | | | perceive what your hiking situations will be. There are |
| creatively use them as a makeshift tripod for | | | | still many backpackers and hikers who are adamant |
| photography, you can lean on them for rest, you can | | | | about not using trekking poles and view them as |
| push off the sticks while ascending a hill, and you | | | | nuisances, while there are those like me who look at |
| may make yourself appear bigger in wildlife | | | | them as tools to enhance the outdoor experience. |
| encounters by raising the sticks or at least defend | | | | Regardless of your choice, the ultimate point of going |
| yourself when all else fails. | | | | outdoors is to escape to nature and enjoy the |
| In order to realize the benefits of hiking sticks, you | | | | beauty around us. Trekking poles are merely one |
| must hold them properly. This means that you must | | | | way to help you achieve those goals. |
| utilize the straps attached to the handles of trekking | | | | |