HIKING POLES: GENIUS OR DORKY?
No matter the weather, everyone’s got their hiking poles handy.
A friend of mine recently went on her first hike with hiking poles. She’s always thought they were silly and vowed never to use them. And then I got a message from her telling me she wasn’t sure she’d ever walk without them again. A complete 180, and for good reason.
I was one of those people too. I used to think hiking poles were the dorkiest thing you could use, and that I would never be seen with them. And then, on a whim, I tried them. It changed my hiking game completely. Here are some reasons why we all need to get over ourselves and join the hiking pole movement.
Balance
If you’re anything like me, your balance isn’t great. If I’m being honest, if you’re actually anything like me, you fall. A lot, and often on flat ground. But even if your balance is only slightly wobbly, hiking poles will be your best friend. Having those two extra points of contact (you’ll hear this phrase a lot, prepare yourself) will help keep you upright, even on the most uneven terrain. So no need to wobble while you stop to take in the awe-inspiring views.
Stability
Once again, it’s all about the extra two points of contact. All of a sudden you have the stability and agility of a mountain goat. Just kidding, those animals are bonkers. But being way more connected to the ground will help you feel a whole lot more stable while you hike. And maybe, just maybe, you can stop watching your step so much, and start looking around. Though I can’t always promise that, my fellow fall-down-on-a-boardwalk people.
Hiking poles are the must-have accessories when heading to Mt. Doom.
Knees Knees Knees
Spreading the weight and impact from your pack over four points of contact versus just your two legs is going to have a noticeable effect. Those magical hiking poles will help soften the blow to your knees and ankles on each step, meaning you can walk further and longer before you pull out the ibuprofen. As someone with a lot of knee issues, I can attest to this outlandish claim. Hiking poles really do spare your knees from kneeache. (Get it? Like heartache? Man, I’m funny.)
Hills
I’ve yet to decide if uphill or downhill is harder. So far experimentation has taught me that uphill is harder on the lungs, downhill is harder on the knees. But either way, I now blatantly refuse to go either up or downhill without my trusty hiking poles. Remember to shorten or lengthen your poles if you can to keep your elbow at a 90-degree angle, and you’ll be in with a grin. Going uphill you can lean on your poles to help propel you up the inclines when your lungs decide to go on vacation. Downhill you can use your poles to protect your knees, but also to keep you from sliding and tumbling to the bottom of the pass.
Without the hiking poles, how would you know my shadow was on a trail?
Multi-purpose
In addition to all the good poles do whilst you’re actually on the move, they can also be doubled up as tent poles, camera monopods, laundry line anchors, or anything else your imagination can dream of. But seriously, there are plenty of tents that weigh next to nothing because they rely on your hiking poles instead of carrying tent poles in addition. Which is genius.
I’m so certain that I’ve converted your thinking from dorky to genius, that I will just say now: Welcome to the glory of hiking poles! Get yourself a pair, you won’t regret it. And if you are one of those rare people who don’t get along with your poles, I’m sure some less nimble-footed person on the trail who hadn’t heard the good word would happily buy them off you. So take your four points of contact and get hiking!
