Why I Don't Use Trekking Poles - But You Should!
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- čas přidán 30. 06. 2024
- More than 90% of thru hikers use trekking poles, but I don't. They are incredibly beneficial in so many different ways, and I think everyone ever should use them. They help to prevent injury, they allow you to hike faster, a lot of ultralight tents require them, and they make hiking feel easier! So why don't I use them?
Studies Mentioned:
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17218...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11194...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31020...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22276...
The Best Trekking Poles:
Budget - amzn.to/4921nEL
Lightest - amzn.to/43mCx1n
Favorite - tinyurl.com/yc2xbnpr
The studies above are very clear, trekking poles help hikers to avoid injury. When injury is such a common thing on thru hikes like the Appalachian Trail or Pacific Crest Trail, this is exactly what you need! They take 4% of the impact off of every step, they reduce pressure in your feet by upwards of 40%, they reduce the risk of injury and tendonitis in your knees, hips, calves, and thighs. They really are incredible, and that is probably the biggest reason why everyone should use them.
My Favorite Thru Hiking Gear:
Tent - tinyurl.com/bdxm9229
Quilt - tinyurl.com/4fm96rt4
Backpack - tinyurl.com/ykhnu4fh
Pack Liner - tinyurl.com/2p8uvn7w
Rain Jacket - tinyurl.com/bdadk452
Fleece - tinyurl.com/ucd7ypdr
Puffy - tinyurl.com/29966jbw
Socks - amzn.to/3tUDH6U
Bug Head Net - tinyurl.com/2vrwsd26
Smart Watch - amzn.to/3mz7ePp
Stove - tinyurl.com/58r2rys8
Pot - tinyurl.com/hn32nxxp
Battery Bank - tinyurl.com/47x276b3
Flashlight - tinyurl.com/5n6jkrmd
Camera - amzn.to/4axYKgb
Lens - amzn.to/41Xjlqg
Beyond injury prevention however, a lot of ultralight tents require trekking poles to set them up. This is a good thing, as you don't have to carry dedicated tent poles! You can just use these things that are already helping you in so many other ways! This allows you to carry less weight, and have an extremely easy to use shelter.
Trekking poles also allow you to hike faster, easier. So maybe you want to make more miles in a day, or maybe you just want hiking to be easier as a whole, trekking poles will help you to do that! Maybe you want to keep up with friends, or maybe you are trying to outrace a storm to find a good camping spot. Trekking poles are working for you.
It is also shown in another study that trekking poles delay fatigue on uphill climbs, or in other words... they make climbing mountains feel easier! I think we all have agonized over that next big climb coming up, so maybe it's good to know that it's made a lot better by just using some nordic walking poles!
One reason I will personally carry them, is when doing hikes that have much more difficult terrain. Trekking poles add stability, and in many ways can be life saving! When hiking across snow fields, when crossing big rivers, when walking on loose rock, or very steep trails poles will make your life a whole lot better. They will allow you to avoid slips and falls, and add safety.
There are so many more benefits in thru hiking and backpacking than just what is mentioned here even! So again, everybody should use poles :)
So then why don't I? In a big way it's because I enjoy the minimalism and in backpacking so much, I don't want to add more things into my gear list than is completely necessary. I like having my entire life on my back, and hiking totally unencumbered. I like my hands free to film with my camera, and to eat a snack. I like the freedom of backpacking, and adding more gear to that would just serve to remove that in a small way.
The lesson here is that you don't have to be perfect. You don't have to have the perfect gear, or do all the same things everybody else is doing. The beauty in backpacking and thru hiking is that there are so many different ways to go about it, and express yourself. Do what makes you happy!
00:00 - Benefits of Trekking Poles
00:52 - Injury Prevention
02:15 - Ultralight Tents
03:00 - Added Stability
03:57 - They're Fun!
04:07 - Hike Faster
04:42 - Climbs Made Easy
05:13 - Quick Summary
05:53 - Why I Don't Use Them
07:43 - Thanks for Watching :)
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Thank you for watching!! I hope you (and your poles) are planning some great hikes for this year!
PCT starting 4/6 - with poles!
Tour du Mont Blanc! Need to fix my meniscus injury first though. Will def be using poles!
I use trekking poles for all the reasons you list, but there is one more for me, and that is my hands swell when I hike, but when I use poles, I have no swelling.
Agree, my hands swell, too, if I don't use trekking poles.
I have noticed that too(good to know i am not the only one). If my arms are just loosely swinging by my sides, the blood seems to rush to the ends, and my hands get puffy. I never get that way with trekking poles.
Some people use extra straps with a loop at their end, connected to the shoulder straps on the pack, to put their hands in these loops, to keep the arms elevated and avoid such swelling. Instead of poles.
The hand swelling is a cause of dehydration. Use electrolytes and drink appropriate amounts of water and it will likely go away
Me too
I am 80 years old and have been hiking seriously since I was eight years old. I always preferred to have both hands free while hiking. I don't dispute the statistical benefits of trekking poles, but they are not for me. However, in my work as a forester I often carried a "Jake" staff for mounting my compass or marking plot centers when surveying boundary lines or cruising timber. I used the "Jake" staff as a walking staff in between compass settings or sample plots, just because I had it with me. Now in old age I hike with one of my many hand-carved homemade wooden staffs.
So, they are for you. A staff is identical to one trekking pole.
@@csn583 Sort of similar, not quite identical, and only for me now at almost 81 years old. My homemade staffs are around five feet long, for good reasons. They are most useful for breaking cobwebs spanning the trails in early morning. A long staff is nice for, but not needed for, hiking downhill, as I learned how to walk down mountains without a staff in the 1950s (probably from Horace Kephart's Camping & Woodcraft book of 1916-17, or perhaps from my 1918 edition of the Boy Scout Handbook. Years ago, when fording swift streams, if I didn't have my "Jake Staff" with me for professional purposes, I would cut a long pole on site to use for stability and to probe for holes & hidden rocks while crossing. Also, when crossing lakes on thin ice, I used to cut a pole about 10 to 12 feet long, which I carried horizontally in case the ice gave way under me (which, luckily, it never did). Now I sometimes carry a collapsed $10 trekking pole on my walks around town to fend off mad dogs; it is very useful for that. Such are the fond rambling memories of an old woodsman.
"Do things your way, and have fun." "..but for now, I'm going to do what makes me happy..". In a society wrought with "I'm right and you're wrong.", Jupiter, your attitude is such a relief and joy to hear. Thanks.
I love how you are always encouraging to find what works best for each individual.
It's a big and strange world of gear out there! Might as well find the most fun option. For me that is that minimalism and taking some small risks here or there, for others it's the camp chair and fancy stove. It's really awesome how different two backpacking kits can be, and it's only getting better every year with all these new cottage companies cropping up
Once I went trekking pole I never went back. Another bonus is my hands don't get swollen anymore from hanging down below heart level and swinging. Great video Jupiter! 🌻
They are a hassle to deal with sometimes, but I really like them for water crossing. Both when going in the water, and when using a fallen tree or log. The tips dig right into the slippery, mossy wood, and make it so much easier and safer.
😊 Thx for the great video! 👍 I have a love/hate relationship with poles … so I compromise and take just one. It’s perfect! Helps with all those things you mentioned AND leaves one hand free at all times for everything else (food, camera, toothbrush, etc.). It’s a win-win ❤
I really appreciate your scientific and nonjudgmental approach to the trekking pole "debate." After hiking several trails with and without poles, the more I use them, the more I like them. The first time I used poles, I didn't have great technique, and they felt mildly helpful and perpetually cumbersome. After I dialed in my technique (thanks Chase Mountains/Nordic Walking) and used them for several thousand miles, they've become immeasurably more helpful
This year I'm planning on walking a few Camino (Frances, del Norte, Ingles, possibly Portugues?), the PCT, and maybe some sections of the CDT, and I'm bringing poles every time!
I also love using poles to "test" the ground in front of me. Especially helpful in deeper snow or while crossing rivers.
Here’s a huge reason, maybe reason number 2 on my current hike. Dogs (and other animals). On roadwalk heavy trails like the Florida Trail, having trekking poles can feel very assuring against aggressive dogs
Trekking poles can be used as rolling pins to work out the leg muscle knots after a long day of walking.
One of the benefits I've found with poles, as someone who doesn't hike nearly as much as some other people, is that I can engage more of my upper body muscles on climbs. Setting the poles shorter, it almost feels like climbing a ladder, since you can do a lot of work with your arms. Helps a lot if you're not in the best of hiking shape 😂
Helps to keep arms(somewhat) in shape on long hikes too, because I'm definitely not going to be working out my upper body otherwise!
I just started using trekking poles a few years ago & really like them! In addition to the stability they provide & the weight they take off my knees, they also give my arms a great workout.
I get it. My first hikes were in the '60s so trekking poles weren't really an option. And I'm 100% with you on the freedom/unencumbered thing. But as an old guy with a beat up body and a couple of strokes behind me, the poles are a must. My joints like the poles on downhills and my quads like them on uphills. But the biggest thing for me is balance. I hike alone and the no-falling part of trekking poles is what finally sold me. They've saved my tottering, old butt from getting muddy/wet/damaged more times than I can tell you. Fellow old folks; think American Express and don't leave home without them.
trekking poles are not only crazy versatile but also cheaper than knee replacement. walking with poles just take more time to get adjusted to than most folks give em.
Hi I had a knee replacement about 1 1/2 years ago. Working well ATB
I’m doubtful about those studies. There is so much variation in every step taken here in the Scottish Highlands, I can’t even begin to imagine how anyone would design an experiment to evaluate the benefits of walking with or without trekking poles. As an example of what I’m thinking about, lab experiments have “proved” that you can’t lose weight by exercising and yet my friends and I have all lost some weight while exercising in the real world. Trying to make an investigation replicable runs the risk of divorcing it from reality.
Having said that, I was stunned to find how much poles with small baskets help spread the weight while hiking across soggy, wet, peaty ground. I sank in much less. Also, poles help when the ground is so tussocky that you can’t see where you are putting your feet.
A thought-provoking video. Thank you for posting it.
I have poles but only break them out when crossing water or ascending/descending steep terrain. And of course to hold up my Zpacks shelter. But, there are plenty of times when camping with friends that I dont bring poles and instead use sticks to hold up my shelter.
It took me some time to get used to trekking poles but they just made sense to bring along to set up my non freestanding tent. Now I have grown accustomed to them and I have found they are very useful in keeping suspect dogs away from me which is an issue where I tend to day hike.
I couldn't have done my 2016 thru of the AT without them. With that said, I broke one, and for a week I walked without them, and it was so liberating. I found a sense of balance that was missing when I had them. Still, I will always bring them.
Thank you for offering good information while still stating that the option is totally up to each person.
I use my trekking poles. They have saved me from falling several times and they make those technical trails that I enjoy a bit easier.
Thanks for this Jupiter. I never used poles for many years of hiking and then hit the big half century, and have since tried them out and realised that they help me quite a bit mainly on downhills. The annoying aspect is where to put them when you're going uphill and have to grab tree roots etc to pull yourself up- its annoying to have to keep taking off the pack to stash them in side pocket etc. I like them for crossing rivers, it feels a bit safer. Happy hiking!
I could never quite get the hang of using two poles, but now that I'm over 50 I picked up a trekking stick from REI (basically a short single pole) and it has been a godsend to protect my ankles on rocky or rooty inclines/declines and balance during water crossings. Who knows, maybe you'll be a single pole dude.
I started using trekking poles a few years ago (after resisting for a long time) & realized how great they are! The older I get (I’m 50) the more my knees appreciate the help poles afford them.
Walking thru tall grass I often use only one pole to tap the ground in front of me to potentially ward off snakes that are hidden. They are also handy to protect from dogs or even other wildlife you might encounter. One can really be handy while silk blazing. And finally, at night while one is used to hold up my tent, I lay the other by the outside entrance as my security blanket for things that go bump in the night.
I like to use one very long wood pole. I am 5'10" and the pole comes up to about my nose. It weighs about a pound. I think it is willow, and I have also used bamboo. I find it super helpful for stream crossings and downhills - you can kind of catch yourself with it. Thanks for the video!
I'm considering grabbing one pole to bring on a trip next month for water crossings. Would be my first time using poles if I do. Great content!
My friend carries just one pole, he uses it for rivers, but also at the end of the day when he's more tired, or if he wants to change things up a bit. Can be useful, hope you enjoy it!
I do use trekking poles, but I definitely like the idea in all my life of minimalism. Gadgets complicate life, and the less things you have to fool with is better for me. Thanks for the vid
I use my cherrywood staff, made it myself from a cherry tree branch picked up in 2014. Seasoned for 6 years before stripping, sanding, varnishing. It's seen some miles and is the right height to use as a shelter support. Also has a bit of a hooked end, which helps forage berries etc high up.
i never used hiking poles until i had knee surgeries in my mid 50s. now, i hike with them all the time. when i am on flat trails, i just carry them.
Same for me, i like to put my hands in my pockets or loop into shoulder straps. Also i feel like i look way cooler with out them.
They've saved me from getting wrecked pretty badly more than a few times + safely increase my speed by +10%. I know a lot of hikers, especially newer ones, are hesitant to use them because of they feel it's a "bad look"... but I'd say they're nearly as helpful (to me) as good hiking shoes. I recommend everyone carry at least one, especially because you can get them easily under 7oz (some are even under 4oz).
I love this! Hike your own hike (said as a trekking pole user)
I'm on and off with trekking poles. I used them for a while after I had a fall that broke my finger. But lately, I've brought them and just left them in my pack. Dead weight. Still there are these times where they are incredibly useful. On loose steep rock where you want to test things. Water crossings. Snow , as you said. I suspect my next hike will be wet and slippery so I will probably bring them and actually use them.
I kinda feel the same way about poles as Jupiter. However, I do use 1 pole for my tarp shelter...and at 62, I like the extra stability while hiking. So, I compromised and carry ONE trekking pole.
Same here. ☺👍
I love this video. What a great philosophy!
Older hikers like me need them for balance. Which I guess, in turn, helps prevent injury (headers).
I almost never carried hiking poles during my 32 years of backpacking and what I learned was how to balance myself. Instead of a 'crutch' I was forced to learn how to walk down a slippery, rocky 10 ft section of trail...spoiler alert... bend knees, take really short steps, angle your feet to brace against the vertical edge of the trail, keep moving so your center of gravity is already on to the next step if you start sliding. One example of a valuable skill that I doubt pole carriers would think of. That gave me such a feeling of freedom and self-sufficiency to really look at a situation and figure out for myself the solution. No bad things happened to me without poles. It is not automatic that you must have them. Of course the idea of feeling the need to walk 20 miles in a day was never a thought. 6 to 10 miles in mountains was more than enough to really savor what you are seeing...isn't that the point of getting away from your usual world of stress and electronics and breathe deeply and slowly?
I was just using a good stick from the trail but made a tent that uses a hiking pole so I use one pole if I'm not doing a hike-a-bike. Two seems like a lot of hardware to me but I haven't tried it. Mostly helps me with keeping balance to have at least the one.
They've definitey saved me from probable broken bones.... I like to stop and rest leaning into them when winded.
Agree. Of the multiple reasons for using trekking poles, that's one of them.
Im not sure if you have. Ive been watching your videos on and off for years. But you should do like in depth video from when you set up your camp to when you head out in the morning. I know it would probably be super minimal and not much of a video lol. but still cool to see your entire process unedited or sped up when you make camp. Great videos
I've thought about this, and have included more in recent videos like what you want. Specifically the video from the san diego trans county trail, or a lot of footage of campsites in the superior hiking trail videos. Part of my problem is that the majority of the time I setup camp after dark, and that wouldn't be much of a fun video! But check out "Testing New Gear on the San Diego Trans County Trail" and you'll see more of this kinda thing
@JupiterHikes I will do that thanks for replying!
Team no poles here! I can see the benefits, but there's also drawbacks to using poles too. Potentially, ankle ligaments and tendons become stronger without using poles. Using poles burns more calories, which could either be a positive or negative, depending on your perspective. Most of all, personally, I like to have my hands free: Easy to grab onto rocks; Easy to get my phone for photos/videos/navigation; Most importantly, easy to reach for snacks! Also, no annoying clacking noise from pole tips on rocks 😅
Maybe in the future I'll have to do a part two :) As I very much agree with your reasons for not using them!
@@JupiterHikes Yeah, that would be good. There's definitely positives and negatives to both. As with so many things, a lot comes down to personal preference. Great content, as always 👍
Be careful with twirling them. I also do that, and one time I flung it about 15ft in the air like a dancers baton, and missed the catch. The metal tip stuck me in the hand and I started bleeding everywhere. Yeah, I know, I am an idiot lol.
I do really love them though. I am a gym rat outside of hiking, and they also help me feel like I am getting a little bit of an upper body workout too, so that it isn't just all legs all day.
I never used poles until I got into my mid fourties, but they have been a real boon for me as I have got older. I tend to stow them if I am on a long flat section, and on plenty of climbs, because as you say, I enjoy the freedom of not being encumbered. But they are absolutely clutch for me on downhills. I slip and fall at the best of times, and the last place I want to get hurt is out in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, the philosophy of "do whatever works for you" is always good advice. 😊
downhill, yep! that's when I use them. uphill if steep, yep! I use them and find them especially helpful when I'm carrying a full pack and the trail is steep enough that I need to resort to the rest step. Poles are a huge help when doing the rest step. Stream crossings, yep! Walking in the water on slipper rocks for a while (like in Aravaipa Canyon), mandatory yep! Hiking across snowfields, definitely yep! Hiking on a flat trail or one with very gentle uphill or downhill slope, nope. I just carry them, one in each hand, held roughly at the midpoint of each pole. If I know I'm facing a long flat stretch of more than a mile, I'll put them on my pack, but most trips they are in my hands for the whole trip.
Im 67 trekking are a must for my wife and I they keep us on our feet. They provide additional proprioceptors which helps with balance. Unfortunately I have bad shoulders and can only use 1. I constantly switch poles from right hand to lleft
I love my sticks. I feel they really help me push for longer days
Agree on all points. Plus: Especially when hiking downhill they take a lot of the pressure from the knees and if you work with the poles a little more, it is basically like a full body workout also leading to better posture. Helps your shoulders and spine. I was super doubtful in the beginning, tried them a few times, put them away and now after years of back and forth always use them. True game-changer.
I didn’t start using trekking poles until my knees started begging me to. Such a huge help.
I use trekking poles but I'm turning 75 in a few months, but I don't use them all the time. They give me a bit more thrust on uphills and better balance and confidence on the dreaded downhills. But I do some very steep downhills where I put the poles away because they just become an extra risk factor. My worst falls seem to have happened on level ground not using trekking poles.
Yes, BALANCE!
I, too, don't like trekking poles, but I, too, am an aging man. I've found that I love the black diamond distance carbon z poles. I don't use them all the time, and they are soo light that I hardly notice when they're strapped to my pack or my chest strap for a quick stash. They are expensive, but for the lightest and quickest to assemble poles, it's worth it imo. Some people complain about durability but I hiked the TA with one pair (that also doubled as my tent poles) and never had a problem!
Maybe you should use the Community tab to take a pole 😉 on how many of your viewers use them.
Lol
Nicola Giovanelli, Lara Mari, Asia Patini, and Stefano Lazzer have a more recent study from their one being cited here (2022 vs 2019) titled Pole Walking Is Faster but Not Cheaper During Steep Uphill Walking. it doesn't seem to be a correction, rather this time it's done off the treadmill and up on a mountain, and examines maximum effort.
Found the study, here is the Conclusion : In the examined condition, athletes should use poles during steep uphill maximal efforts to obtain the best performance. Conversely, during submaximal effort, the use of poles does not provide advantages in uphill PW (pole walking)
I’m hiking the desert in the winter, there are two additional benefits. Snake probing and holding sharp branches aside. Poles are invaluable!
Due to chronic pain I use poles almost 100% of the time, even flatlanding in Florida. What's funny is I end up being able to hike further and faster with less pain than most of my hiking buddies.
Like already mentioned when I use poles (trekking, not stripping) my hands don't swell at all or as much. Another reason is I can use said trekking pole to move danger noodles off the trails for their safety and mine. Or I can use them for defense if need be. They have many uses beyond the ones they are advertised for.
Thanks for the clarification 😂
On my AT hike i saw 3 bad falls by pole users. I fell once. Poles slipped in rocks and dug out of dirt. On stick was good and one hand was free!
I've done a lot of hiking, not Jupiter's number of miles but both the AT, PCT, part of the AT again and a million shorter hikes - almost all without trekking poles. I've tried to force myself to use them and maybe I'm just too stupid or maybe too used to the rhythm of using poles with cross country skiing, but I find it really hard to adjust to the poles. I'm used to walking (and earlier also running) on trails and off trail and placing my feet in the right places is almost automatic. With poles I suddenly have two more things to decide where to place. Not a big deal on easy trails, but as soon as there are roots, rocks, puddles etc etc the poles actually slows me down. There are of course exceptions like when it's icy/slippery or very steep, but that's usually a really small percentage of a hike. As I've gotten older the benefits particularly on downhills have made me use trekking poles more, but it still doesn't feel "right".
i definitely agree with the whole being free without trekking poles thing
It’s maybe also just what one is used to - I’m much more likely to trip myself up if I use them while walking at a normal pace, I just feel clumsy while using them. But I do always bring a single one in case of snow or if I’m facing a very very steep descent through slippery, muddy or loose, gravelly terrain. I go mountaineering a lot, so a lot of the time I’m using my hands on the rock and it’s super annoying to keep having to pack them up, get them out again etc. but it’s good to have the one for sticky situations and as a tent pole!
I believe hiking poles are very beneficial for a hiker because they provide stability (esp. on downhills, stream crossing, and snow crossings), help relieve knee pressure if you use them correctly, and can help provide a slight forward movement action and cadence when you want to zoom straight ahead. A misnomer about poles is that they have to be expensive, I have had my Black Diamond aluminum poles for 20 years and beat the %$#@ out of them and they cost only $50. The expensive poles on the market, while feel and look good, may not last long with heavy duty use. I went through 3 Komperdells in 2 months.
A lot of the aluminum poles are super cheap compared to carbon ones, and will last a whole lot longer too! Some of them are even lighter weight than many of the carbon
I don't use them, I always lose them.. so I gave up + I don't like them. &, I like my hands to be free.
I use one pole only for a couple reasons. 1) it leaves one hand free to grab snacks or cameras or whatever so you have less to juggle. 2) In areas that lack trees etc I can still set up my tarp with a good ridge using the pole. 3) It gives me the necessary stability when doing river crossings or snow etc so I'm less likely to fall, granted 2 poles would give more support but you get most of the benefit with only one and having a free hand is still potentially helpful. 4) you still get some of the impact reduction for your body, not as much as two but more than none. 5) when stowed in your pack one pole weighs half as much as two. 6) you have a handy weapon for fighting off those hungry thruhikers and other wildlife. 7) One pole looks less goofy than two.
I don't use trekking poles, but I probably would if I wasn't caring my tripod and camera for every mile 😆
Big reason for me too, camera in hand every 10 minutes is made a lot easier hands free
I'm an older guy who uses poles for all the reasons you stated, and some additional ones listed in the comments. And I have another to add: it provides some upper body workout I might not otherwise get, and helps balance strength between upper and lower body. But the bottom line is this: get outside and do whatever works best for you!
I never felt the need for them except when coming down Rainier and Kilimanjaro. When dealing with so much decline at once it was just too much for my knees. Luckily I had poles with me. And now that I'm pushing 60 I think it's probably just a good preventative measure to use them regularly, especially when I can use them for my shelter now. hyoh
I have never used trekking poles, but usually try to find suitable piece of wood as a staff. They are very handy in rough terrain and stream crossings, but tend to get in my way at other times.
I also tended to lose my found staffs by the end of the trip, so another reason to not buy expensive poles.
In Australia spider webs across the track are no match for a trekking pole. Snake paranoia also requires some type of weapon in your hand, aka trekking pole. I think I get a little momentum push forward from my arms muscles that are otherwise doing nothing all day. Thank you. Ray.
Have tried to use them but trekking poles make my shoulder injuries worse.
I can't seem to get used to them either, but they're always in my pack. They bail me out when I get tired and start slipping (literally)
That's true. From philippines.
Upper body workout and all other reasons mentioned to use poles.
Always a treking pole pole user. Sometimes, a single pole will suffice.
I use them every hike! Too many injuries and now too heavy of pack haha
Anyone else see that the rocks in the shot starting at 7:23 look like an eagle spreading its wings?
Yeah amazing
Hhmm, I will be on the PCT in just a few days and I will definitely be bringing poles. But who knows , maybe I will ditch them eventually?
Plant Papa
So many times Ives slipped down and caught myself with my trekking poles
How do you put your tent or tarp up without a trekking pole? Do you always manage to find a stick or a tree?
I have never once had a problem with finding a stick or tree or bush. But on this hike my partner is carrying trekking poles, so if we need them, they're there. Other hikes though and I've never used or needed them
I carry them, but use them sparingly. They definitely help on uphill and downhill stretches. But on moderate grades they just annoy me.
Love my Lekis
I feel completely the same @JupiterHikes . Mainly, I don’t like having my hands occupied. I I want to get a snack out I have to stop put the pole away and then get a snack. Same for my phone, map, etc.
Also, all of the studies show that they prevent foot/ankle/calf/leg injury. However, anecdotally, they hurt my elbows, shoulders, and wrists if I use them all day. Like a LOT. If they are removing 4.4% of the impact from your lower half they are adding quite a bit to a part of the body that wasn’t designed to take weight all day like our legs are.
I know a lot of folks like them and especially for older hikers it is nice to take some weight off the knees but I’m not convinced they’re preventing injury through the ENTIRE body (although clearly they do prevent injury to the lower parts legs etc.) and I feel a fair amount of the 90% current use rate is marketing/a fad. In ten years I bet it’ll be more like 50/50 use/don’t use.
I could be completely wrong though. Who knows?
I want to clarify; they hurt my elbows when I use them correctly to create propulsion. If only using for stability they don’t hurt my elbows. However, if they are used incorrectly they actually are less calorie efficient than not using at all.
I see a lot of hikers using them in the way where they are actually pushing against the poles slightly rather than using the poles to push similar to a skier. If you are angling the pole out forward away from your body you are working against yourself from an energy standpoint (stability wise it probably if helpful though).
Im omnipolar, single pole only. Having seen so many Frenchmen in tights in the Himalayas and REI groups clad in gortex in the Sierras, furiously double poling on the trails, I just dislike the vibe. But, chacan a son gout, as they say.
I've tried trekking poles, but I just hate carrying them, I don't like having them in my hands, I always find myself wanting to get rid of them. Just a preference I guess.
Tried the trekking pole thing also, but being an old military guy, the only item I carried in my hands was a my rifle. Could never get use to the poles, like having my hands free when I hike. I even tried a hiking staff, but I just cradled it in my arms like my weapon. Old habits die hard I guess.
I use 1 (one) trekking pole and I use it only while tough descends or if I need extra stability e.g. on a snow or muddy terrain. Also I use it to erect my tarp. However I like to walk with free hands and I mostly hated poles when I wanted to take a photo or when I am filming. Somehow I believe that human bodies were evolved in millions of years for a reason and moving without such support is the most natural way of walking.
One hint: people who walk with poles all the time, are actually gradually diminishing their natural sense for stability and this may lead to uncertainty when walking on narrow ridges etc.
I use them for longer hikes or hikes with hills, but I long ago removed the straps (hat tip: Andrew Skurka) and they are soooo much better without them. Without the straps, they're safer, more versatile, easier to use, less encumbering and more fun.
I understand the no-strap concept, but there are many advocates for the opposite view, that straps are really the main component of using poles effectively. Basically, you put your "weight" on the straps when going up hill, like cross-country/skimo skiers do. You don't even have to grip the poles much at all, and most of the force is transferred to your arms.
@@ropersix Yeah, it's apparently a hard sell. People are very attached (ahem) to their straps and don't like the idea of not using this part of their equipment that came pre-installed. I don't notice that I have to grip harder or get more fatigued without them. I can use them in one hand, tuck them under my arm to take a photo, grip them lower down for steep uphills, put my hands on top of the grip for steep downhills, set them down easily to adjust my pack, pick them up easily after a snack stop, don't have worry about which hand is which, don't get my hand wrenched awkwardly when the pole tip catches in a crack, etc. For me it's well worth giving up the marginal benefit of letting my wrists take my weight.
@@matt_w I practice downhill skiing since 55 years with poles with straps. It was never a question to me to use trekking poles the same way.
@@matt_w After reading this, I googled Andrew Skurka and Trekking poles. I am taking the advice of You and Andrew. Also signed up for his newsletter
I just started using poles and quickly removed the straps. When I go cross country skiing, I use the straps, of course, but then I push the poles
much more backwards, so it's not the same movement.
I refused to use trekking poles for years. Then I finally started using them at age 45, and my knees thanked me. I think it's analogous to riding a bike with clipless instead of flat pedals. It takes some getting used to, but once you start, you don't want to go back. Now it feels wrong if I don't have trekking poles while hiking.
That is a great analogy to bikes!
Sacrificing a small amount of efficiency for the sake of increased enjoyment makes a ton of sense. It's almost as if the absence of poles is a "luxury item" for you.
Since I either tarp or use a trekking-pole-supported tent, it's not even a question. Carrying tent-specific poles feels deeply dumb, and I can't rely on trees above treeline. Even when I cowboy(ish) camp I use a bug bivy which benefits from being held up. I can definitely do with just one pole, and I tuck them away if it gets Class 3 scrambly, but having at least one pole is one of my most essential multitools.
I don't really like using trekking poles, but I won't backpack without them. They've saved me from so many slips and falls, and rolled ankles, that the inconvenience is far outweighed by the benefits for me. I'm also not walking thousands of miles a year like you do, so the poles help compensate for my body not being as strong or in shape as it could be.
nice😊
Trekking pole use is also dependent on the area.
I mostly hike above 1500m/4900ft. This is rocky, uneven terrain where the use of two poles isn't feasible. Either it is to steep or you damage/break your poles. Having one hand free is also safer. I carry one pole to use on deep descents, to erect my tent and as a safety measure if i should sprain my ankle etc.
For sure! For a nice groomed trail, hell yeah trekking poles. But once you get into some off trail situations with talus or bushwhacking, and they can be more trouble than their worth.
Not related to the video, but I'd like to ask the community for some advice. I plan on buying a backpack for some 2-5 days hikes. I was planning to buy the decathlon mt100 backpack (80$) but then I saw that the osprey atmos AG 50l LT backpack is on sale (from 260$ to 180$) and was wondering if it's worth the additional 100$. A few more things:
- I don't plan to go on 2-5 days long hikes this year, but I'd like to prepare myself by buying gear that is on sale throughout this year (and get myself into better shape in the meantime).
- I know that you should buy the backpack last, but the "big 3" that I plan to buy take up roughly 18-20l of space so I hope that the remaining 30l are enough.
- I also don't plan on doing winter hikes, so my equipment would be 3-season and should not be "that" bulky.
Looking forward to the advice.
Edit: I'm from Europe if that helps.
I don't have experience or knowledge of the decathalon backpack, but can say that I have seen hundreds and hundreds of Osprey Atmos packs while on my hikes and would generally consider it a really great option. It's tried and true at least on all the major US trails. Hopefully someone else can comment and add some extra info for you.
@@JupiterHikes Thanks for the answer. Yes I've seen reviews of the atmos and heard only good things, and at 160$ off it seems like a steal, but hearing the opinion from someone who is using it would also help.
I have an Osprey Eja 58 liter pack (women's) and I love it. It fits the majority of my big items inside the main compartment, including my large BV500 bear canister, since I hike mainly where canisters are required. It weighs 2 pounds 13 oz, so it's not ultralight, but the Osprey Astro 50 liter is 4 pounds 5 oz, about a pound heavier than the Decathlon. I think the Osprey Exos 58 liter at 2 pounds 13 ounces would be a better pick, or the Osprey 48 at 2 pounds 12 ounces. One of the features I like on these Osprey packs is the Refined AirSpeed suspension, a fancy way of saying the back of the pack is curved away from your back and a suspended mesh screen that allows air to flow on your back, keeping you cooler. It all really boils down to personal preference, so I would just try them on with weights and see how they feel, but you won't really know until you have it packed with all your gear and you get some hikes under your belt actually using it, getting it dialed in.
I've heard good things about osprey packs, but for the past 20 years or so, weight is most important to. I use the Gossamer Gear Mariposa which comes in at a little over a pound, so it's 1 1/2 pounds lighter than the osprey. If you decide to check out lighter packs, take a look at Jupiter Hikes recent video re his gear. He discusses his pack choice in that vid. There are quite a few packs in the 1 to 1.5 pound weight range.
I imagine 90 percent have them, not use them. Of those that use them, how many only use them occasionally?
I tend to always carry a set on my pack. I use them when I'm crossing a sketchy stream, walking on slicker surfaces, maybe when I'm bonking at the end of the day or to prop up my tarp. 90 percent of the time, I don't use them.
As far as force goes, I altered my gait to reduce the force transmitting to my knees and back. Downhill, I try to bend my knees more like i would riding a hard tail mountain bike, and I land on my midfoot or forefoot while avoiding heel strikes.. Uphill, force isn't really much of an issue.
As far as speed goes, I go quite a bit faster without poles. And the metronomic pace of using poles really detracts from the natural flow that the trail provides.
Better to have than not I guess! Or better to use them occasionally than never. Someone else commented about a trip they took where snow was much worse than what they expected in their planning, and just having the poles on them was very helpful. Me, I just gotta be so stupid careful if I were to run into the same situation as I don't carry them at all
@@JupiterHikes The vast majority of the time, mine are in the side pockets of my old GoLite pack.
When asked why I carry them and don't use them, I just explain they're for ballast to keep my pack balanced and they weigh much less than the set of 5 lb dumbbells I used before I got the poles.
Another time they come in handy is if you roll an ankle or twist a knee. That little bit of support can mean the difference between hiking out or being rescued.
I like hiking with 1 pole. Two poles is too much of a hassle and they are more of a hinderance to me. Hiking with one pole gets me in a nice flow and rhythm, especially going up hill. Getting out the pole is also a kind of mental cue for me, "hiking has begun". I'm in hiking mode with the pole.
Hitting the AT in 10 days wish me luck! (Just got new poles)
Goodluck! and have fun :)
10 days would be an awesome FKT !
good luck. Enjoy the long green tunnel!
I hate trekking poles. They are cumbersome, distracting, and yet another item to fuss about. A lot of times i see hikers just carrying their poles and not even using them. If i need something to stabilize while crossing a creek, there is always a dead branch that i can be ready made into a temporary stabilizer to crossing a river. Snow maybe different, but i have yet to desire a pole to cross snow . It is a minimalist thing. If i don't need it, why force yourself to use it? Hiking the PCT, people asked me if i lost my poles. My fellow hikers don't seem to understand that you can, and people have been doing it for millennia, hike without poles. Trekking poles are useless in thick brush or scrambling (using your hands) up or down a slops. Maybe i lack brain compacity to concentrate on feet and poles? I find my mind and body are freer if i don't have to think of where i need to place the pole while walking. I really like being hands free.
I may be one of those you've seen carrying the poles which I do when the trail is flat. But on steep uphill and downhill, I find them invaluable. Also river crossings and snowfield crossings. I've done a lot of backpacking the North Cascades where there are snowfields during the entire hiking season (which lasts about 2 1/2 months!). I used to carry an ice axe for the snowfields, but I found that I'm just not comfortable crossing steep snowfields, so the ones I do cross trekking poles do the job. So I no longer carry an ice axe, too heavy!
Well said. Its like modifying the body we evolved with. Silly.
@@richardalbitus7229I mean, using the handrails in a staircase will make it easier to climb the stairs
Ultralight cult tip. Take off the baskets. Only use for them is the really big sizes on snow. They always get caught up on roots and plants and just sink into mud anyway.
When i was younger i felt i didnt need poles. Once i got into my 50s they became indespensible. Jupiter, as you get older your balance, agility and reaction time deteriorates and i think you will ultimately come to use them.
I always use them on the way back, never on the way
Most of the time I use trekking poles, but there are times I don't use them,just don't feel like it.