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Post by wondermonkey on Dec 19, 2015 21:04:29 GMT -8
On the flats for best speed I'll pause using them. I'll do that as well. Flat ground for the most part I'll carry them balanced about half way down the pole. Maybe I'll spin them around a bit like I'm thinking of someone sees me they will think "Ooohhhhh that guy knows martial arts!" when in fact I don't. It's part of the image I project from watching so many Bruce Lee movies. Hee-yah.
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RedDoug
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Trail active, stand back.....
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Post by RedDoug on Dec 19, 2015 22:37:25 GMT -8
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 I forgot all about those poles. Nice to see them again.
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Post by turley on Dec 20, 2015 4:36:48 GMT -8
"I never leave on a hike without mine."
Neither do I.....I'd feel naked hiking without them (not a good visual :-)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 20, 2015 7:17:47 GMT -8
Trekking poles. Started out using ski poles for snowshoeing. Moved on to a walking stick, then following my wife's example, I finally bought a psir of trekking poles. I like to adjust them as I hike. I adjust the uphill pole to be shorter, I lenghten them for down hills, shorten them for uphills, and use them for tent poles. I find they add stability when I stop and look around.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 20, 2015 7:58:48 GMT -8
I find they add stability when I stop and look around. Another use I can relate to.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Dec 20, 2015 8:23:53 GMT -8
I use them to stab small rodents and flick water into my mouth without having to bend down at the creek. Every once in a while, I use them to harpoon small fish and deer. Otherwise, I just use them like most people - to save my knees/shins on downhills, 4x4 traction going up hill, lengthen my pace on flats, and remove spider webs before I eat the...well most of them.
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mk
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North Texas
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Post by mk on Dec 20, 2015 12:21:18 GMT -8
Maybe I'll spin them around a bit like I'm thinking of someone sees me they will think "Ooohhhhh that guy knows martial arts!" Or they'll think, "Ooooohhhh that guy knows how to twirl a baton!" (maybe you'll want to avoid doing any high steps while spinning ...)
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franco
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Post by franco on Dec 21, 2015 12:23:21 GMT -8
For knees, I would think that a major advantage is that they help you not "slip sliding away".
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Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
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Post by Westy on Jan 6, 2016 11:12:54 GMT -8
Westy, I'd really like to hear more about this palming method you speak First of all, we approach the use of trekking poles very similar to cross-country skiing. We apply diagonal stride and double poling techniques when hiking to utilize untapped upper body muscles to compliment and conserve leg strength and enable speed spurts on demand. For downhill we use the trekking poles for balance, stability and reduction of abrupt weight transfer on knees and feet. This is what I call palming. For downhill, adjust the length of the trekking poles a bit longer. Hold the trekking poles on the top of the grip in the palm of your hand. Place the pole downhill at a 70 to 60 degree angle. Make sure the tip of the pole is placed in a stable and secure position. Put all or some of your body weight on the downhill pole. Take a step down with your foot and place on the trail with minimal weight. Once the foot is flat and secure on the ground apply full weight. Repeat with the other pole and foot. The result is your knees are taking less of a pounding, especially considering that your body weight is increased by the weight of your backpack. Back to the palming. Our empirical field research indicates less energy used by palming vs.both full thumb and four finger on the grip and using the wrist strap thus potentially pinching the muscles and skin between the thumb and fore finger. The palming con is that it does slow down your descent time, however over a full day of elevation gain and loss it's sixes on time. The palming pro is less pounding of the knee joint and hopefully less associated stress on the knees. Caution: The twist lock systems on some trekking poles can slip from time to time. The external locks are superior. Recommend relaxing the locks every night. Also when stream crossing, dip the pole in the stream for a minute or two. This can equalize temperature with the water and the pole. A decrease in temperature may cause minor dimensional contraction and a sudden lock slip when pressure is applied. This is particularly common with the internal twist locks that utilize plastic components. After the dip process, do a simulated weight transfer and adjust tightness as required.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Jan 6, 2016 11:57:45 GMT -8
flick water into my mouth without having to bend down at the creek. I hollowed mine out so I could use one as a great big straw just for this purpose.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Jan 6, 2016 13:26:04 GMT -8
I hollowed mine out so I could use one as a great big straw just for this purpose. You hollowed out your mouth? (tempted to put you in the OOC thread)
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Post by Coolkat on Jan 6, 2016 17:46:21 GMT -8
Thanks Westy for your explanation. Over the years I've heard many people say that their poles have saved their knees but I just couldn't see how.
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Jan 6, 2016 21:05:43 GMT -8
Caution: The twist lock systems on some trekking poles can slip from time to time. The external locks are superior. Recommend relaxing the locks every night. If only that were true. The flip locks failed me utterly last weekend. I will be going back to my twist lock Gossamer Gear poles for good, and never having a pole collapse when I'm falling again.... I failed to get my GG poles in the car for a long drive to a trailhead and they are my tent poles as well, so I got Lekis at an REI on the way. They are going back to REI this weekend for a refund. Twist locks are actually stronger than flip locks. The GG poles have a completely different twist lock than any other pole - I have had them not lock, and then in seconds, I can adjust them and they lock fine. And then they do not collapse and leave me sprawling in the mud....
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Post by Coolkat on Jan 7, 2016 6:05:25 GMT -8
so I got Lekis at an REI on the way. I've had a similar experience. I have Lekis and I've never had them fail on me. I went on a multiday trip last year and one of my friends had their BD flip locks fail on them. My Lekis are probably 8 years old or so and I've never had a problem with them collapsing on me. However, recently I've had issues with them not engaging after they've been loosened and collapsed. I've been told their is maintenance one can perform on these poles but I've never had them apart. Can they actually be taken apart? I'd really rather not spend money on another pair right now.
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Jan 7, 2016 7:57:24 GMT -8
However, recently I've had issues with them not engaging after they've been loosened and collapsed. I've been told their is maintenance one can perform on these poles but I've never had them apart. Can they actually be taken apart? I'd really rather not spend money on another pair right now. I've got Leki poles. Yes, they can be taken apart.
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