Rain Man
08-08-2010, 20:41
Hiking poles are GREAT ... much of the time. But other times, they are a nuisance when you need to do other things with your hands as you hike along. What to do with them? Here's one answer I saw on a new pack at REI recently, which I came home and copied onto my REI UL60 Cruise pack. Worked so well, I intend to do the same to my other packs, even if I have to sew on loops.
After modifying my Cruise, I took it on a hike. Used the hiking poles on the uphills and downhills, but on the level areas, I put my poles away and walked along with my hands free to operate my camera, wipe sweat off my head, drink some water, ... whatever!
1. The first photo shows the loop I added to the bottom left of my pack. I used white shock cord from REI and some clear vinyl tubing from the hardware store. Just looped the shock cord around the existing webbing loop for the horizontal stabilizer belt strap, ran both ends through the tubing, and tied them off on another existing fabric loop on the back of the pack.
2. The second photo shows the black shock cord loop (with spring-loaded thumb tensioner) which I add to my shoulder strap.
3. The third photo shows me sliding the poles into the lower strap, with my hand inside the loop to hold the loop open and to more easily guide the tips through the loop, sight unseen.
4. The fourth photo shows the black shock cord around the pole handles, at my shoulder strap.
5. The fifth photo shows the poles in place through the bottom loop.
6. The sixth photo shows the poles in place, with my arms down. I was pleasantly surprised that the poles were not in the way and did not force my arms/elbows out from my sides at all.
As I like to take lots of photos, I often had to operate the camera with one hand and hold the poles in the other hand. No longer.
Rain:sunMan
.
After modifying my Cruise, I took it on a hike. Used the hiking poles on the uphills and downhills, but on the level areas, I put my poles away and walked along with my hands free to operate my camera, wipe sweat off my head, drink some water, ... whatever!
1. The first photo shows the loop I added to the bottom left of my pack. I used white shock cord from REI and some clear vinyl tubing from the hardware store. Just looped the shock cord around the existing webbing loop for the horizontal stabilizer belt strap, ran both ends through the tubing, and tied them off on another existing fabric loop on the back of the pack.
2. The second photo shows the black shock cord loop (with spring-loaded thumb tensioner) which I add to my shoulder strap.
3. The third photo shows me sliding the poles into the lower strap, with my hand inside the loop to hold the loop open and to more easily guide the tips through the loop, sight unseen.
4. The fourth photo shows the black shock cord around the pole handles, at my shoulder strap.
5. The fifth photo shows the poles in place through the bottom loop.
6. The sixth photo shows the poles in place, with my arms down. I was pleasantly surprised that the poles were not in the way and did not force my arms/elbows out from my sides at all.
As I like to take lots of photos, I often had to operate the camera with one hand and hold the poles in the other hand. No longer.
Rain:sunMan
.