Which
Trekking / Walking Poles
“A 2010 study by
UK-based Northumbria University shows that using trekking poles reduce muscle
damage and soreness in the days following a hike. The combined benefits of
using trekking poles in reducing load to the lower limbs, increasing stability
and reducing muscle damage also helps avoid injury on subsequent days of
trekking, according to Dr Glyn Howatson. Trekking poles can also reduce the
compressive force on the knees by up to 25%, according to The Journal of Sports
Medicine in a 1999 study.”
The trekking poles in this picture described from top to bottom:
i. Exped Quads. These collapse smaller than standard poles and have a longer hand grip. They are standard twist locking.
ii. Leki Makalu twist lock with standard hand grips.
iii. Leki Makalu with external locking making them a little longer when collapsed.
For me the advantages of using trekking poles
are:
1. Extra
stability on difficult or loose
terrain
If you walk off path
or in the mountains where there is scree and steep slopes to negotiate, poles
come into their own acting as a 2nd pair of legs.
2. Take
the weight off of knees and ankles
There is no doubt that
poles reduce the weight and forces placed onto the legs with every stride. The
lessening of the pounding on the knees is significant when poles are used
properly.
3. More
power, especially up hill
Making ascents of
hills or mountains becomes much easier if you are able add extra push with your
arms. I find that without poles I loose traction on steep slopes and often take
smaller strides. With poles you
tackle hills quicker and more efficiently, especially if carrying a heavy
rucksack.
Things
to consider when choosing poles:
Cheaper poles are
likely to be less well made and heavier than those from the “specialist”
manufacturers. I wouldn’t want to
favour one make over another but the better brands include: Black Diamond, Leki
and Exped. Cheaper poles will in general be heavier, need more care to keep the
locking systems working and may not be robust (i.e. tips falling off).
i. The
weight of the poles
Obviously the lighter
the poles, the less energy you’ll expend using them or carrying them on your
rucksack. Most poles are made from aluminium though some use lighter aluminium
or mixtures of carbon and titanium.
ii. Locking
Systems
There are 2
categories, twist lock internal locking or external clamp style locking. Both
have their good points, advantages and disadvantages. The twist locking style is more common. Black Diamond have
always made poles with external locking, Leki introduced this into their range
in 2010. Exponents of the external locking will cite that the twist locking
versions loosen through the day and collapse. I have also witnessed external locking poles collapsing too.
At the end of the day consider if you’ll be out in winter and want to be able
to adjust and secure your poles keeping your gloves on and find a pole you can
manage to adjust wearing gloves.
It is really personal choice and the other factors listed here may be
more important, coupled with cost. (External locking is usually more
expensive).
iii. Handle
Poles come with either
a standard handle or an elongated handle. If you are only like to walk on the
flat then a standard handle is probably the best (cheapest) option. Walking
through gullies or traversing hillsides often requires you to raise an arm or
adjust pole length. Having a
longer handle means you can hold the pole lower down so you don’t have to stop
and adjust pole length. Definitely a better option for hills and mountains.
iv. Normal
or Anti Shock
Poles can be bought as
a rigid unit or with an anti-shock system. His really is personal preference. A
good idea would be to borrow poles from friends and form your own opinion
before buying. Most anti-shock
systems can be turned off if you don’t get on with it, but remember that
anti-shock is an addition to the weight of the pole. I use my poles for testing the ground (river crossings, depth
of snow, etc) so prefer not to use anti-shock.
v. Fold
down size and length of poles
If you are very tall
or very short, you can buy poles especially to suit you. If you are short then
this will give a weight reduction to your advantage over standard poles
adjusted to a small person.
Most poles come with 3
segments, though it is possible to buy poles with 4 segments that fold down
smaller (Exped Quad 4 part trekking poles).
Sierra Nevada Guides
are always happy to advise you to plan your trip here and make the most of your
visit.
