hey everyone welcome back to the channel now i've been using these hiking poles or trekking poles
for a few years now there seems to be some debate on how useful they are do they help your knees
do you use one or two which type will work best for me these are all questions that
i'll address in this week's video so if that sounds interesting then keep watching
now trekking poles or hiking poles are generally just a ski pole that you use while hiking
i've been using these compardell carbon fiber z trekking poles for a couple years now i'm using
one pole for most hikes and occasionally i pull up the second one for a steeper hill or river
crossing there's so many different types of poles out there you really have to shop around for ones
that you like pay attention to four different criteria material grip style and weight material
types are usually aluminum or carbon fiber carbon fiber is much lighter than aluminum
but not as strong and usually more expensive so if you're rough on your poles choose aluminum
if you're carrying one in your backpack choose the carbon fiber trekking poles usually come
with one of three types of grips rubber foam or cork now rubber is great for cold weather
because it's a natural insulator but this makes it a poor grip for warmer weather and it doesn't
handle sweaty hands well now foam grips like these are soft comfortable and extremely lightweight
but these benefits usually come at a price and they're also the least durable mine has a few
bites out of it where some critter chewed it up so best keep these things put away and cap
now cork grips are great for warmer weather the grip will form to your hand over time and
it ages well so choose accordingly now there's three types of styles of trekking poles fixed
telescoping and folding now fixed styles literally like a ski pole they're they're
uncommon in the hiking world because they will not fit in a backpack they're also non-adjustable
now telescoping poles are the most common type they're durable easy to use and fully adjustable
so they make an excellent choice if you're using them to support an ultralight shelter
they're also usually heavier and don't collapse as small as a folding set now folding trekking poles
are often the most expensive but are usually the lightest and definitely the most portable
now in these times of ultralight backpacking who isn't counting grams and ounces
weight is always a factor when you're carrying something so whichever style you use compare
overall weights if you intend to carry these you might be surprised at what a difference a
few ounces in the hand can make on your level of fatigue now just remember that the lighter they
come the less durable they'll be so whichever pole you choose you'll have to determine whether you'll
carry two poles or just one i usually hike with a single pole as it gives me better balance than
no pull at all but still leaves me with an extra hand to eat drink or just about anything else now
whenever i'm carrying a heavy backpack i pull out the second pole to help keep me stable especially
on uneven or slippery ground now they're great for testing depth on mud water or snow too holes can
be used for pushing things out of the way like prickly bushes or low hanging branches they're
also useful in bear territory to wave around and make yourself seem even bigger in an encounter
now uphill they help you dig into the ground and pull yourself up and downhill they provide good
anchor points to avoid slipping using two poles also helps get me into a rhythm to keep a quick
pace on stone and root cover trails now one myth about trekking poles is that they help your knees
it's true that the poles will take some load off your joints and muscles however this is offset
by not developing the muscles in your legs and your core that help you strengthen the same areas
you're supporting what really helps your knees is shifting your weight from the heel striking the
ground to your mid or forefoot using poles allows you to shift your weight easier than without them
but you can also train yourself to shift weight naturally without pulls and save your knees in
short i use trekking poles to improve my balance lower the stress on my joints walk faster and with
less effort now if that costs me a little more energy by having to carry the poles i can live
with that so i hope you found this information useful if so please consider hitting that like
button and subscribing to the channel check me out on social media too i'm on facebook and instagram
till next week i'll see you guys on the trail it's papa steve on the move
you