http://www.ukhillwalking.com/articles/page.php?id=3375
Sorry, couldn't resist. (One more broken promise!) I'm standing by my position. If you do your homework and still think poles are useless and are not connected to safety as you hike then well, insert venomous barb here. Talk about spouting "false crap" try this on for size: "...if you wear your hiking poles with the straps on you risk far greater injury than if you didn't use poles at all." (Cue laugh track.) Why do they all have straps then? Hmmm? How about you drop 7 kilos from overall pack weight, and take 6-7 % fewer steps, and add about 1/4 mi. an hour in range? Aside from not breaking your keister, an experienced hiker will understand the direct relationship between these aforementioned factors and overall safety: LIGHTER, FASTER, STRONGER, LONGER.
[QUOTE=ScareBear;2109077]The problem with Pilgrim's argument(besides spouting false crap and invoking the name of a missing PCT hiker) is that he is trying to sell the belief that hiking/trekking poles are an essential piece of safety gear. That to hike without them is reckless/careless/foolish. That to hike without them means your aren't prepared properly for a foray into the wilderness