HIKING STICKS

You've see them carried around by hikers as they go down steep descents. Many people claim several benefits of using hiking sticks, but the debate goes on. Apparently, some hardcore hikers and extreme mountaineers believe that the only way to enjoy a hike is to go without one.

Hiking sticks are simply walking poles that people use for everyday walking or for trekking down ascents and descents in the outdoors.

Hiking sticks take many forms so you may find hiking sticks looking like nothing more than single staves made from found wood or pairs of sophisticated height-adjustable poles made from lightweight (and expensive!) composite materials. The price varies according to the type of hiking stick you decide to get. If yours is just found wood, then of course it’s completely free.

Like any hand-held walking support such as poles, crutches, zimmer frames, etc., hiking sticks are designed to provide extra stability. They also protect the knees by spreading the load on your legs onto your arms. Though many people feel no need for hiking sticks, there are those who suffer for their pleasure in the backcountry because of knee pains as they encounter hills and/or carry heavy loads that put extra pressure on their already weak knees. If you are one of this small minority, then you’ll be grateful to end your days with lovely-feeling feet by using hiking sticks.

As it is, here are the Pros and Cons of using hiking sticks on the trail.

• Reduces knee pain

Your knees have spent most of their lives supporting your body weight around reasonably flat surfaces, so they are entirely unused to the kind of rough terrain that the rough outdoors offers. Add to that the additional weight of your backpack, the distance of your hike, and the impact of gravity, and it all gets converted into stress on the joints and muscles, causing knee pains.

By carrying hiking sticks, you can reduce the pressure caused by ascents and descents. Hiking sticks decrease the discomfort in the knees that hikers have experienced.

• Increase hill climbing power

Hiking sticks can be used to switch into 4x4 mode and let the pair of hiking sticks you have in your hands do some of the work against gravity, in lieu of your feet. The result is you get up quicker and the load is more evenly spread around your muscles.

• Can increase endurance

• Aid crossing soft ground

• Can aid balance for activities like river crossing.

• Financial outlay may be required

• Increases total energy expenditure

This is something that marketing departments of hiking sticks never mention. Hiking is all about the legs, as opposed to your arms. So by using hiking sticks to prop yourself, you’ll be spending more of your total energy budget.

• Keeps hands full

• Often get in the way on technical sections