| Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What | | | | If you decide to use them, consider the incredible |
| about hiking staffs and hiking sticks? Whatever you | | | | Bozeman Mountain Works Stix Xls Trekking Poles. |
| call them, and whatever their differences, they are | | | | They're made of a high-strength carbon fiber and |
| supposed to help your knees more than anything. | | | | weigh 2.7 ounces each! That's is half the weight of |
| This they do very well, at least when you're going | | | | the nearest competition. |
| downhill. | | | | Walking Sticks and Other Options |
| What else are they good for? They help you keep | | | | I often cut dead sticks and use them until I lose |
| your balance. You can use them as defense against | | | | them. I always lose my walking stick - a good reason |
| wild animals as well. I use a walking stick to rest my | | | | not to buy the expensive ones. If I do still have it at |
| head on from time to time, and I also use it as a | | | | the end of the trail, I leave it for the next hiker. |
| monopod for steadying the camera. | | | | Hand-cut walking sticks are heavier than high-tech |
| Do You Need Trekking Poles? | | | | trekking poles, but you can just leave them behind |
| What if you don't have knee problems, and you are | | | | when you get tired of them. |
| hiking on level ground? Then maybe there is no point | | | | You can use bamboo to make good light hiking |
| to using trekking poles. They can be just more things | | | | staffs. It's stronger than it looks, so use a piece |
| to carry. | | | | that's only about 3/4" thick. I bought cheap |
| Do they save energy? They take weight off your | | | | decorative bamboo at Pier One Imports, and cut it to |
| joints, but logic says you'll expend more energy by | | | | size. You can glue some soft scrap leather on for a |
| carrying them. I use a walking stick at times, when | | | | comfortable handgrip. |
| my knees insist, and it's fun to poke at things, but it's | | | | Finally, ski poles work as trekking poles. It's best if |
| not a necessity. For what it's worth, Ray Jardine, the | | | | you remove the baskets, especially if you're hiking in |
| "father" of ultralight backpacking, doesn't recommend | | | | wooded areas where they may catch on something. |
| trekking poles. | | | | |