Hiking pole poll....

[PilotB]

Do you prefer

1 pole

2 poles

or no poles?

[RodentWhisperer]

Two-- my tent makes use of them.

[The Old Boot]

Two, using only one means that I end up switching hands often to keep a hand from swelling in the heat.

Two because it allows a rhythmic walking speed and also allows me to brace well on steep downhills.

When I hiked with a dog on a leash I used only one because I needed the other hand for the leash. Otherwise, two works better than one.

[tf bear]

Two. Twice as much fun. Really though you can use both hands to propel you forward or stop you from falling left and right. Imagine your disappointment when you are falling left with only one pole in your right hand.

[Spirit Walker]

One pole. I like having one hand free. I mostly use the pole for clearing trail and for balance when crossing creeks or blowdowns.

[Astro]

Two poles.

[chiefiepoo]

Before age 40, no poles. After age 40, one pole. After age 55, two poles. "A man has got to know his limitations", Dirty Harry, circa 1973.

[T-Rx]

Two. Never leave home without them.

[Feral Bill]

One. I also like a free hand.

[LIhikers]

2, they hold up me and my tent.

[slbirdnerd]

I started with only 1 but recognized I needed to get used to 2. This felt weird, so I went to a fairly level local park to practice the rhythm of using them. I honestly think with one, you could do yourself more harm than good because you are not getting the full benefit out of preserving your knees/hips/ankles. Plus, they are just useful for a lot of other things, like hanging up a wet shirt or socks... :)

[garlic08]

Depends on the trail. All of the above. Be flexible.

[Old Hiker]

I started with only 1 but recognized I needed to get used to 2. This felt weird, so I went to a fairly level local park to practice the rhythm of using them. I honestly think with one, you could do yourself more harm than good because you are not getting the full benefit out of preserving your knees/hips/ankles. Plus, they are just useful for a lot of other things, like hanging up a wet shirt or socks... :)

This.

I don't use trekking poles, but a rake handle with a metal tipped end and a natural stick I found at the base of a steep uphill, RIGHT when I was trying to decide if I needed to use 2 poles. I can drop them in a heartbeat if needed, where the straps on trekking poles seem to get in the way. Of course, I don't want to count the times I've leaned them against something, only to have them slither downhill for a few dozen yards.

I just don't trust 210 pounds of elderly flab to thin tubes of aluminum. :o

[Starchild]

Used to use 1 now 2. I did like the free hand and would alternate them as I hiked. I now almost always go with 2 however as it is more stable and also does seem to help once you get used to it. On my thru it a sort of became too used to it and found it awkward to use no poles even in towns)



...Imagine your disappointment when you are falling left with only one pole in your right hand.

I have saved myself in this situation with one pole, so perhaps not as good it can still be done.

[bigcranky]

Two. I'm old and decrepit. Plus they hold up my tent.

[seminoles]

One, I also need a hand free.

[BradMT]

None.

I use a walking cane, no poles for me.

[bamboo bob]

Two. Definitely save the knees going down hill and hold up my lightheart. I think they do slow the hiking down so if i was under 40 I wouldn't (and didn't have them) Did they exist then? Maybe if I had them then I would still have cartilage in my knees.

[HooKooDooKu]

One

I too like to keep one hand free... for one thing it allows me to keep one hand in my pocket to warm it up on chilly days without having to take along a pair of gloves... just alternate hands to keep them both warm.

[July]

Two poles, multiple uses...

[theoilman]

One, I prefer a free hand. I use it primarily for balance. But I temporarily don't have any: I left it on a bus in Nazareth after hiking the Jesus Trail.

[Elder]

Two. No question. Learn to use the straps correctly, like a skier, and your hands are free. Poles dangle from wrists ready for action. Tired of the metal clanktrapshions? Try my solid stem bamboo at www.americantrekkingpoles.com (http://www.americantrekkingpoles.com). Even Otto has not been able to break them.

[Kerosene]

Two. Definitely save the knees going down hill and hold up my lightheart. I think they do slow the hiking down so if i was under 40 I wouldn't (and didn't have them) Did they exist then? Maybe if I had them then I would still have cartilage in my knees.I could've written this, except that I have a Lunar Solo and a zPacks Hexamid that need a pole.

[Odd Man Out]

Two - keeps hands from swelling and tent from falling and knees from hurting.

[Mags]

this hiking Pole is a now a saint. (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2005-04-02-pope-sportsman_x.htm)

:D

(yes..I cna't resist this awful joke. Gets me everytime!)

[FarmerChef]

2 Poles. Plus, I use them for my tarp so it's a win/win.

[RangerZ]

One. I also like a free hand.

I carry a bamboo staff, great for poking at things that need poked at. I'm ready to play Robin Hood and Little John at any log stream crossing that I come to.


If I had two I'd just lose twice as many arguments with them than I do now.

[RangerZ]

this hiking Pole is a now a saint. (http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/2005-04-02-pope-sportsman_x.htm)

:D

(yes..I cna't resist this awful joke. Gets me everytime!)

Thanks to my mother's father, I carry a little Pole with me everywhere.

[Nooga]

Two poles for me.

[Namtrag]

Best use not mentioned for two poles is that it keeps your fingers from swelling up to use them. When I walk without them, and have my hands down at my sides, my fingers get really full of fluid.

[rafe]

Two poles for me. I admit that there are times when they're unnecessary, and times when they're useless and in the way. For 95% of the AT, they're a net positive. I didn't use 'em when I was young. Wasn't a thing back then.

[Lone Wolf]

no poles......

[Franco]

"Best use not mentioned for two poles is that it keeps your fingers from swelling up to use them"
Except for post 2 and 24...

I would like to see a poll on Poles using trekking poles (without the saintly bits)

[rafe]

This appears to be a polarizing issue.

[kolokolo]

Two. Swore I would never hike with poles. Then I fell and hurt my knee during a hike, and wished I had poles so that I could at least stand up. Managed to stagger the last mile or so to the car, but I was convinced.

[dink]

2 saplings that had grape vines twisting around them...a bit heavier than most folks would use, but they have worked quite well for me for at least 15 years...I cut, stripped, dried, sanded, carved spirit faces, stained them and put a braided leather loop on each...love them!!

[SunnyWalker]

Two. I will never not use them again. Save the knees going downhill! Also going up they help. Use to put up tarp, etc. Even "cheapies" are better then nothing. Buying again, I'd probably give some cheapies a try. They work just as good in spite of everything hikers say (I have a set of them also and use them on pre hike hikes). Leki are my good ones.

[rustmd]

two poles--1 for each hand/foot, and 1 to hold up my tent.

.cm

[rustmd]

should've spelled my trail name correctly, it's .com

[Damn Yankee]

I use two and also use them for my tent

[moytoy]

Two It helps keep the pressure off of my knees going down hill. On long uphills I usually strap them to my pack. I let my much stronger leg muscles do my climbing.

[jeffmeh]

Two, or I would be finished given various athletic injuries in my past. I couldn't take the rugged downhills in the Whites without them.

[5th]

Two poles for me, thank you. I have wonky knees and the poles help. It was previously mentioned that they slowed people down. I disagree. I most definitely move faster with poles than without. My walking rhythm has a faster tempo when the poles start swinging.

[soulrebel]

None. I hope I never have to use them.

[illabelle]

None. I hope I never have to use them.

But you're only 40. :)
2 poles for me!!

[Offshore]

Two poles - helps the knees on the downhills. Sometimes I use a walking stick when I want to match the hiking guy icon on the trail signs...

[Namtrag]

They have saved my ass several times from falling and getting injured.

[Gambit McCrae]

two poles, two poles

[wpicotte]

Two. If I am in a place where only one is needed, I just tuck the unused pole in my pack. Doesn't happen often.