Do walking poles actually aid you on a hike, if so, how?
In: Technology
Yes, they do. People wouldn’t bother carrying them if they didn’t. They take weight off of your legs while walking which reduces fatigue. They also provide two additional points of contact which helps when traversing uneven terrain. They can also be used to feel out in front of you when doing a river crossing.
I find they work great and help me the most in unstable situations. They allow me to feel the surface before I put my weight on it, and if the surface is loose, like on rocky Arizona hikes, they give much needed stability, especially when going down a hill.
They aid in balance and proprioception… Feeback from the surface. On downgrades they transfer load and impact to your arms reducing muscle fatigue and improving endurance. On inclines they aid in stability. You can walk longer and farther with poles.
The main use for me, is extra balance points on a steep incline or decline
They’re mostly useless on flat ground, it’s the up/downs when you’re over balanced from a heavyish backpack
Everyone else is talking mostly about using the poles to take some of the weight off your legs. This is helpful, but where they really shine is when you’re wearing 50 pounds on your back. If you’re walking on a grade, or a slippery area, it can be easy to lose your balance and fall. The hiking poles can be used to stabilize yourself, and keep you upright.
Everyone already answered correctly, so here is my modified response:
YUUUUPPPPP. (Especially uphill)
Latest Answers