| "Why would you need to carry along two poles | | | | require emergency help to get you off the trail. |
| on a hike. It seems like they would only get in the | | | | Ankle sprains and fractures as well as knee |
| way. How silly!" I said. | | | | strains are some of the most common injuries |
| Over time, I began seeing more and more hikers | | | | related to hiking and backpacking. More ankle and |
| and backpackers carrying those useless poles. On | | | | knee injuries occur during backpacking due to the |
| rocky hikes, I could hear them coming down the | | | | extra displaced weight being carried. Trekking |
| trail before I could even see them. Well, that was | | | | poles, when used properly, can almost completely |
| one piece of gear that I was sure I would never | | | | alleviate the menace of ankle and knee injuries. |
| purchase.That same winter, I was getting ready | | | | With a pole planted firmly on the ground, if you |
| for a snowshoeing trip and I purchased 2 sets of | | | | do happen to slip or roll on a rock, you can shift |
| telescoping poles made by MSR for my wife and | | | | the support of your weight to your arms to |
| I. I used them a few times for snowshoeing that | | | | prevent a potentially dangerous injury.Now that |
| winter and then put them away. When spring | | | | we've discussed the major reasons to use |
| came, my wife and I geared up for the first hike | | | | trekking poles, let's talk about some of the little |
| of the season. I had just purchased some ankle | | | | bonuses that you can also enjoy. Have you ever |
| gaiters to keep the dust and debris out of my | | | | crossed a creek, balancing on rocks or a log as |
| shoes and I was excited to test them out. As I | | | | you go? How easy is it to loose your balance and |
| was digging through the rest of my gear I saw | | | | slip in? With trekking poles, you are sure to keep |
| the poles and thought, "why not just take them | | | | your balance the whole way. Have you ever had |
| along and see what all the fuss is about." So I | | | | some sort of varmint come after you? Trekking |
| tossed them into the back of the car and off we | | | | Poles can become your first line of defense |
| went. At the trailhead, I handed my wife a pair of | | | | against these critters. I personally haven't |
| poles which she blatantly refused. Off we went. I | | | | experienced this bonus, but I feel a little more |
| must admit that I felt a little funny hiking along a | | | | secure having something in my hand to swat at |
| the flat part of the trail swinging those poles along. | | | | an unwanted guest rather than just my hand. |
| They weren't helping me at all. Things changed | | | | Now, I'm sure that with a little more thought, we |
| when we hit a sudden slope. The kind that make | | | | could come up with a larger list of additional uses |
| your legs swell with blood and burn by the time | | | | for trekking poles. But we'll pretty much end with |
| you reach the top. Now, I am in better shape | | | | one last area of use. In the last few years, there |
| than my wife, but I made it to the top without | | | | have been many advancements in hiking and |
| even slowing down. She had to stop for a | | | | backpacking products to make them lighter, thus |
| breather before reaching the top. Somewhat | | | | allowing hikers and backpackers to lighten their |
| convinced of their effectiveness, she took the | | | | overall load. A lighter load means less aches and |
| poles from me on the next hill to give them a try. | | | | pains when all is said and done. A lighter load on |
| I didn't get the poles back after that. Needless to | | | | your back can allow you to wear lighter shoes |
| say, after just one hike with trekking poles, we | | | | that do not have as much ankle support. I |
| were sold on trekking poles. I later bought some | | | | personally wear some low top nikes that weigh |
| Lekisport Absorbers that have a nice cork grip | | | | ounces instead of pounds. The use of trekking |
| and a built in shock absorber that both dampens | | | | poles pretty much assures me that I won't sprain |
| the blow of planting the pole and quiets some of | | | | an ankle. Wearing lightweight shoes to hike in is |
| the noise that most trekking poles make.So, let's | | | | like taking five or more pounds off your back. |
| look at all of the benefits of hiking with trekking | | | | Here again, you will be able to hike farther with |
| poles. First of all, as I mentioned earlier, you can | | | | less stress on your body. There are also several |
| hike up hills much easier. They help you do this by | | | | companies that make tents to utilize your |
| allowing you to use your arms as another set of | | | | trekking poles as tent poles. As a result, instead |
| legs to thrust you up the hill. Your posture also | | | | of carrying a 5-10lb tent, you can carry a sil-nylon |
| benefits from trekking poles as you are more | | | | tent that only weights a few ounces and your |
| inclined to hike standing up straighter rather than | | | | trekking poles double as your tent poles. This |
| bending forward. This ability to use your arms to | | | | lightens load significantly.Are you convinced now? |
| hike being able stand more upright puts less | | | | If not, just go to this hiking and backpacking |
| stress on the legs and, more notably, the knees | | | | forum on and type in trekking poles. You'll find |
| each time you hike uphill leaving your legs with | | | | countless testimonies from experienced hikers |
| more energy to hike greater distances without | | | | and backpackers on how much they love their |
| feeling fatigued. While this may seem like the | | | | trekking poles. So do your legs and ankles a favor |
| single greatest advantage from using trekking | | | | and get some trekking poles for your next hike |
| poles, the next benefit can be a real life | | | | or backpacking trip. If you are still unsure or just |
| saver.Have you ever been hiking along and | | | | don't want to invest a lot of money in some yet, |
| stepped on a rock, only to have the rock move | | | | visit a local thrift store. Many thrift stores like |
| causing you to sprain your ankle? Spraining your | | | | salvation army or goodwill carry old ski poles that |
| ankle is like getting a flat tire on your car and not | | | | you can buy for just a few bucks and use them |
| having a spare. You can't just "shake it off" and | | | | for a test run. Your knees and ankles really will |
| keep going. If the injury is bad enough, you may | | | | thank you. |