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Post by Coolkat on Dec 18, 2015 5:57:16 GMT -8
On my very first backpack trip when I arrived at RedDoug's place early in the morning he asked me if I had trekking poles. I said no. He looked at me for a second then went to the back of his garage came back with two old ski poles cut off the white plastic rings and handed them to me said, "here, you'll want these." and off we went.(one side note, he also had to lend me a pack cover) You can see them here....  Those got used on our next trip later that fall. However, that winter I took some Christmas money and purchased my first trekking poles and have never looked back. They have saved me from so many falls, steadied me on stream crossings etc. However, now I even use them on longer day hikes because I've found if I don't my hands get tight and stiff and I have to hold, wave, & and shake them in the air like a pentecostal to return my hands to normal. I'm wondering does this happen to other people also? I've really said all of this to ask this question. I've heard many hikers on the trail how trekking poles help with their knee problems. However, I fail to see how using trekking poles can help with knee issues. Sure they help steady you in steep places but how can one use them to help with knee issues. I ask because my left knee has a tendency to develop patella femoral syndrome if there are lots of down hill in the hike. So I'm curious if trekking poles has helped relieve your knees issue and if so how do you use them that helps? |
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Dec 18, 2015 6:14:19 GMT -8
I don't have the time to look up a cite-able source right now, but [if I recall correctly] some suggest trekking poles can take up to 15% of the weight off your knees. Especially on slopes (especially-especially on down slopes) where your leg joints experience extra stress. You transfer more weight to them via your arms than you might think.
I personally don't hike with them and my chum had to give them up because they made him nauseous. But when I think about rough glacial stream crossings and steep scree, I am tempted to invest in a pair.
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T4
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Post by T4 on Dec 18, 2015 8:33:23 GMT -8
I usually take a hiking stick, not for stability necessarily but mostly to clear out the spider webs.
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Post by ashepabst on Dec 18, 2015 8:40:14 GMT -8
I know what you mean about the hand thing... pre-trekking poles, I often found myself clutching the sternum strap as I hiked.
you gotta assume the added stability that poles provide are a huge benefit to the knees. I'm definitely a stronger hiker with them.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 18, 2015 9:28:17 GMT -8
but mostly to clear out the spider webs. Here, here! one of my favorite uses for trekking poles. They come in handy for many things but that ranks near the top for me. pre-trekking poles, I often found myself clutching the sternum strap as I hiked. Good know that I'm not the only one. |
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Dec 18, 2015 9:39:44 GMT -8
Are you using the wrist straps, and if so how? You should wear them by placing your hand up through the strap so that the strap lays across the back of your wrist. This way you can push down on the poles without even having to grip them, that relieves some of the weight that your knees would have borne.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Dec 18, 2015 10:08:40 GMT -8
I know what you mean about the hand thing... pre-trekking poles, I often found myself clutching the sternum strap as I hiked. you gotta assume the added stability that poles provide are a huge benefit to the knees. I'm definitely a stronger hiker with them. I almost entirely let my hands hang free to sway with my body, but I do cross them over my chest to grab opposite shoulder straps if the hours, kilometers, and vertical meters start taking their toll. |
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Dec 18, 2015 16:11:10 GMT -8
I use mine to take weight when I step downhill. As I tire towards the top of a long climb, I use them both planted at once, and pull myself up as if they were a handrail. I use much less Ibuprofen since I started using poles.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Dec 18, 2015 22:13:51 GMT -8
Agree with what others have said. I can't say that the poles prevent the patella femoral syndrome issues that I, too, have. But they make it possible to keep hiking anyway. I've also not done any serious ankle twists when using them (was going to say "since I started using them" but that's not true--I've done it, just not when using the poles).
I know that my arms are taking some of the burden off my legs, because when I finish a long day, my arms are tired.
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RedDoug
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 19, 2015 5:58:03 GMT -8
You can also joust with a trekking pole. Say you see another backpacker coming towards you, it has been a long day. You just tuck the handle up under your armpit with the business end pointing out and yell, "CHARGE!" and see if you can "dismount" him. If that oncoming backpacker understands the finer points of jousting, then it's a matter of who has the longer pole. The longer trekking pole usually wins at jousting.
Same technique works on clearing bear from the trail.
Trekking poles- how could one live without them. 
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mk
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Post by mk on Dec 19, 2015 6:46:56 GMT -8
Same technique works on clearing bear from the trail. Yeah - I can picture that. Ha! |
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 19, 2015 9:56:11 GMT -8
Using trekking poles keeps me more upright and allows the stress of the pack + myself to travel in a better supported path through my body. Without the poles I tend to lean forward placing "different" stress on my hips, knees and feet. Going uphill I have several techniques I use depending on how steep and how fast I'm going. These techniques I got off the magic internet and I feel they work. Going downhill they help with footing by catching minor slips and also almost give what a handrail would when stepping down. On level ground they have helped skirt mud holes.
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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 19, 2015 10:15:02 GMT -8
You can also joist with a trekking pole. I've also used them instead of like shaking hands and such. The first time was when I was hiking and just happened to chat with someone at a spot we were admiring and after the chat we were moving on and he said "Hey good to meet you!" and extended his pole. It was obvious he wanted to "low five" with the poles so I did and we moved on. That has happened a handful of times and seems to be generally understood. |
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Post by hikerjer on Dec 19, 2015 14:21:32 GMT -8
I never leave on a hike without mine.
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 19, 2015 17:23:30 GMT -8
I recently saw an end of season group photo of the Grand Canyon SAR people. Every one was holding trekking pokes. In places like that which contain a lot of up and down I've found them useful.
On the flats for best speed I'll pause using them.
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