ski vs trekking poles??

[Snowleopard]

If money is an issue use the ski poles cut to the right length like sof says.

The collapsible poles are handy when you're not hiking and just carrying them in your pack. Also, you can make adjust them to suit the terrain (shorter uphill, longer downhill), but that's not hugely important. It took me a while to get used to using two poles, but it's worth it. Your knees will eventually thank you. They help with balance on steep or rocky terrain.

There are collapsible poles available cheap at discount stores; some brands work OK at few $$

[DrRichardCranium]

I used to do a lot of cross country skiing as a teenager, so I found that when I started using trekking poles last year, the movement was instinctive. Left foot forward, right pole forward, etc. It's nice to be able to involve your whole body in hiking, so that your arms aren't just along for the ride.