Do I really need trekking poles?

[seattleboatguy]

During the last week in February, I did some day hikes in the Rockfish Gap area, between Meadow Mountain south of Reeds Gap (milepost 832.6) to the Wildcat Ridge parking area (milepost 865.8). I have never tried trekking poles, and on these day hikes, I never felt I needed them. Are there other sections of the AT where the need for trekking poles is more obvious?

[Lone Wolf]

i've never used them but i've only done 5 thru hikes. never thought about them while walkin'

[rafe]

BTW, I finally found those $30 CF trekking poles at my local Costco and nabbed a pair. Someone here at WB posted about them ages ago, but my local Costco didn't have 'em and knew nothing about them. So finally they showed up, out of the blue.

[Secondmouse]

BTW, I finally found those $30 CF trekking poles at my local Costco and nabbed a pair. Someone here at WB posted about them ages ago, but my local Costco didn't have 'em and knew nothing about them. So finally they showed up, out of the blue.

recently? they were never in my store and they're not on the website..

[rafe]

recently? they were never in my store and they're not on the website..

Yes, maybe three weeks ago. They never were a catalog item, or I'd have ordered them.

[scrabbler]

Yes, maybe three weeks ago. They never were a catalog item, or I'd have ordered them.

You can get them on Amazon for a few $ more, or on Ebay for a few $ less. Just search on carbon trekking poles.

[soumodeler]

It's one of those things where some people love them and others could care less.

Go pick up a $20-$40 pair at Walmart or a sporting goods store and try them out. See if you like them. Most people I have talked to that tried them have never gone back to not using them.

Personally, I love mine. Not only for the support they offer while hiking, but also for the dual purpose of being my tent poles.

[rafe]

Most hikers, particularly as they get older, appreciate the benefits of hiking poles. SNP is one of the most mellow sections of the AT, so yes, I'd consider them less important there than elsewhere. Not quite a necessity*, but generally quite useful.

(*Clearly not necessary, as there have been hundreds if not thousands of AT completions without them.)

[Don H]

Hiking poles are necessary. How else am I gonna hold up my tent?

Seriously, they are not required but I always hike with them. I can't count how many times they've saved me from falling.

Studies have shown poles reduce lower body injuries. http://www.cooperinstitute.org/2011/...-a-difference/

[Busky2]

You may not, but I sure do now, I was young once a long time ago, not so much now. They have saved me from a face plant or two and my sore knees like them too.

[Rex Clifton]

Sometimes I get sick of using them so, my suggestion, is to get a lightweight pair. This way you can carry them without adding too much weight to your pack.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Sarcasm the elf]

During the last week in February, I did some day hikes in the Rockfish Gap area, between Meadow Mountain south of Reeds Gap (milepost 832.6) to the Wildcat Ridge parking area (milepost 865.8). I have never tried trekking poles, and on these day hikes, I never felt I needed them. Are there other sections of the AT where the need for trekking poles is more obvious?

It's worth mentioning that I rarely use trekking poles when I day hike, when I'm just walking without a pack I do quite well without them. On the other hand when I go backpacking I am suddenly strapping an extra 20-40lbs onto my back and throwing off my center of gravity, then I find them to be extremely valuable for keeping pressure off of my knees and helping with my balance.

[Ender]

You certainly don't need them unless otherwise instructed by a doctor. I love using them on downhills, uphills they can help a little bit, though on flat ground I feel the actually get in the way and I usually collapse them and carry them on level stretches. That's just me though, YMMV.

[Old Hillwalker]

I use them at times to help with balance when carrying big loads. However, I find that I cover distance much more slowly when using hiking poles, and they are impossible if having a dog on leash. Many times here in the Whites I end up throwing them either up down places where as the "Brits" say you are putting hands to rock. Definitely in the way when it becomes "scrambly".

[cmoulder]

I use them at times to help with balance when carrying big loads. However, I find that I cover distance much more slowly when using hiking poles, and they are impossible if having a dog on leash. Many times here in the Whites I end up throwing them either up down places where as the "Brits" say you are putting hands to rock. Definitely in the way when it becomes "scrambly".

That's a good point... gotta know when to put them away. I've seen people trying to use their poles on really steep stuff where the poles actually made for a dangerous situation.

[cmoulder]

Buy some cheap ones and try them.

There's no shortage of advice (and all-out wars of words) on the "proper" way to use them, and most people's preferences change over time. I've used them a fair bit and have come to prefer my very light (3.6 oz) MYOG poles, no straps, and like Ender I don't use them on flats, but I use them on downhills for big steps (hops, really) and use them a lot on uphills. I also use them to support my shelters... ZP Duplex and MLD Duomid.

[ScareBear]

Costco puts them on display every spring, along with other seasonal merchandise...

If you can't find them, they are these....

https://www.cascademountaintech.com/...les-p/1006.htm

And, yes, you absolutely must use hiking poles on the AT or you will be cited by the Pole Police. They are also a requirement for summiting Whitney. And, you absolutely must wear the pole loops in case of a fall....

[Secondmouse]

Costco puts them on display every spring, along with other seasonal merchandise...

If you can't find them, they are these....

https://www.cascademountaintech.com/...les-p/1006.htm

And, yes, you absolutely must use hiking poles on the AT or you will be cited by the Pole Police. They are also a requirement for summiting Whitney. And, you absolutely must wear the pole loops in case of a fall....

thanks. they have a flip lock version also. I found them on Amazon for $48, which is not so much for carbon fiber/cork handle flip lock poles but I was hoping to find them cheaper yet, at Costco...

[Sarcasm the elf]

BTW, I finally found those $30 CF trekking poles at my local Costco and nabbed a pair. Someone here at WB posted about them ages ago, but my local Costco didn't have 'em and knew nothing about them. So finally they showed up, out of the blue.

Costco puts them on display every spring, along with other seasonal merchandise...

If you can't find them, they are these....

https://www.cascademountaintech.com/...les-p/1006.htm

And, yes, you absolutely must use hiking poles on the AT or you will be cited by the Pole Police. They are also a requirement for summiting Whitney. And, you absolutely must wear the pole loops in case of a fall....

I was at my local Costco today and saw them as well. I don't need a pair since I'm happy with my BD poles, but they looked decent.

image.jpg

[cmoulder]

I was at my local Costco today and saw them as well. I don't need a pair since I'm happy with my BD poles, but they looked decent.

image.jpg

I have for some time felt a bit guilty for parroting the recommendation for folks to buy these without actually having used them myself. Skurka's a great guy and uber knowledgeable, but it never hurts to see for yourself.

Wife and I aren't members of Costco so I got some on Amazon prime for $44 and change... still pretty cheap for carbon poles.

I used them on a quick overnighter with a newbie friend of mine (who was also using them) and on a short dayhike with my dog... grand total of 17.6 miles, lol... and they seem pretty darn decent although they do rattle a bit. And Skurka's recommendations to change out the plastic cam nuts (sooner) and tips (later) are spot-on, although it's far too early to tell if the ones I bought have the non-durable tips or the durable ones that some have reported.

The pole sections operated smoothly and the flicklocks worked well. We used them to pitch our shelters (Duomid and LHG Solo) and they worked fine.