Hiking pole poll....

[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. 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.



(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.



(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