walking more with hips

[Anghiker]

I heard once that if you walk with your hips more it will take a lot of stress off your legs and therefore you can walk a lot farther. I really never understood this, and I can't remember who told me this. Is there someone out there that has heard of this way of walking/hiking? I was hoping there is a website with video so that I could understand it a lot better.

[Coosa]

Videos on hiking with poles:
and
and

I'll let you check You Tube for others.

[HooKooDooKu]

Don't know how well it works when hiking with a pack, but years ago I recall reading about something the author called an "Indian Walk". The basic idea
with this was that you get more distance with each step if you turn your hips with each step. Basically, its a simple way to increase the length of your gait without increasing the size of your step. You move your leg the same distance within the hip socket. But by also moving the hip socket forward, you travel farther (and therefore faster) with each step without expending a lot more energy. With a pack on your back, you would need to try to only pivoit your hips so that your back (and pack) remain perpendicular to your direction of travel.

[Feral Bill]

Like this???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rihqxapl-wg

[Old Hiker]

Feral Bill, that's the way. I hated running in the military (OK, Air Force), so I did the 3 mile walk every time. I usually competed in the yearly races and was able to win each time. You just have to swing the hips and arms.

[booney_1]

I never heard of this, but there is a well known technique hikers use when climbing up. It's called a "rest" step. Basically you completely straighten and lock the knee for a second on each step. This link explains it better.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_step

I first learned this at Philmont many years ago, and if I remember to do it, it helps some. It also makes sense.

[atraildreamer]

Like this???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rihqxapl-wg

No...more like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhlQfXUk7w

[flemdawg1]

Walk normally, why chance injuring yourself.

[daddytwosticks]

I walk left-right-left. There are others who walk right-left-right, but they are doing it all wrong.

[HeartFire]

I'd like to see that girl put on a 30 lb pack, and climb the Whites with that rolling hip movement. I suspect that 'race walk' burns a lot more calories and uses a lot more energy than regular old hiking- you couldn't sustain it for a 20 mile day up and down the mountains.

[Anghiker]

Thanks everyone for your input. I will work on some of this.Happy hiking everyone!

[Capt Nat]

If everyone came walking down the trail like that, I think I'd just sit down and laugh!

[peakbagger]

Using wrist straps in the whites and maine is also a bad idea. If the hiker slips, the pole will inevitably catch and cause their arms and wrist to rotate in angles that are prone to damage. Fine to use them on a road or fast section of trail.

[moytoy]

Like this???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rihqxapl-wg

Yes I like that........