Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do Thanks Mully
In article <[email protected]>, pign9 <[email protected]> writes >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much >should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do > >Thanks Mully > > It depends <g> 1. How old are you? 2. How fit are you? 3. Do you suffer from Arthritis or any joint pains? 4. What sort of walking do you do? I could not climb hills/mountains without them as I suffer badly on the descent, each step down jarring my knees. I use the poles to lever myself down gently. For me, one is nowhere near as good: I had to lend one on a downward run last year and I found out then! But spend the least you can. There is no advantage in sprung poles unless you are sprint-walking on the level. Bernard Hill Braeburn Software Author of Music Publisher system Music Software written by musicians for musicians http://www.braeburn.co.uk Selkirk, Scotland
"Bernard Hill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > In article <[email protected]>, pign9 <[email protected]> writes > >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there > >advantage and how much should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will > >just one do > > > >Thanks Mully > > > > > It depends <g> > > 1. How old are you? > 2. How fit are you? > 3. Do you suffer from Arthritis or any joint pains? > 4. What sort of walking do you do? > > I could not climb hills/mountains without them as I suffer badly on the descent, each step down > jarring my knees. I use the poles to lever myself down gently. > > For me, one is nowhere near as good: I had to lend one on a downward run last year and I found > out then! > > But spend the least you can. There is no advantage in sprung poles unless you are sprint-walking > on the level. > .......................... My 1st use of a pole today - think Bernard has it spot on! I am in my middle 40ts but have a bit of knee problems from playing football many years ago and also I prefer uphills to going down them and found it helped. I went around the side of a hill today with uneven ground below me and it deffo helped me.
pign9 <[email protected]> wrote >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much >should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do > I use one, occasionally. A pole in my left hand is an encumbrance AFAIAC, others differ. I was glad of it for the last couple of strolls around my local pimple, which had a covering of packed snow and ice, as an aid against slipping, especially with both camera and decent binoculars hung round my neck! -- Gordon
"Bernard Hill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:> But spend the least you can. There is no advantage in sprung poles > unless you are sprint-walking on the level. > > I find the sprung pole (I only use one) saves stress on my wrist and thumb joints where arthritis is making inroads. If I use a pole with no give, the joints take the shock and after an hour or so, I'm hurting.
Do your poles not have a wrist strap. I usually find that most of my weight is taken by the strap and the fingers and hand just hold the grip of the pole. Only real time I put any weight onto my hands is if I'm reaching down and have the palms of my hands on top of the poles. Mike Mason "john goldfine" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > > "Bernard Hill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:> But spend the least you can. There > is no advantage in sprung poles > > unless you are sprint-walking on the level. > > > > > I find the sprung pole (I only use one) saves stress on my wrist and thumb joints where arthritis > is making inroads. If I use a pole with no give, the > joints take the shock and after an hour or so, I'm hurting.
On 28/2/04 4:25 pm, in article [email protected], "pign9" <[email protected]> wrote: > Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much > should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do Poles are definitely a good thing, especially as you get older ands your knees begin to feel the strain. I only started using one a couple of summers ago and then, last year, started using two. Two poles are superb and are especially useful when coming down hill. Indeed, I wouldn't like to think what some of last year's walking would have been like without poles.
On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 16:25:15 +0000 (UTC), pign9 wrote: >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much >should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do Let me see. The three peaks and now poles. All you need are GPS and digital cameras to complete the set. Have a look at Pete's Poles Page at http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/poles.htm Then if you still think tou need them buy a cheap pair to see if you get on with them. I suggest the Approach BX1 at £21 a pair from here http://www.three-peaks.com/shop/2/47/ -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
pign9 wrote: > Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, For hill walking, yes you should buy some, they are not a waste of money. > whets there advantage Going uphill - you set the poles to short length and you use your arms to help pull you up the hill. Helps build up your arm muscles and takes the strain off leg muscles and knees, so your legs last much longer into the walk before getting tired. Going downhill - you set the poles to long length and place them in front of you, leaning forward as you walk. This helps you walk faster with a more natural stride and reduces the knee jarring effect as you take each step. In other words, you let the poles take your weight instead of your knees. Many years of steep descents without poles can wreck your knees. On the flat - not much use at all. Shorten them and stick them in your pack. On rough or slippery ground - very good for maintaining balance and helping you to stop falling over. Very handy if carrying a heavy rucksack, helps to prevent twisted ankles. Other uses - checking the depth of bogs before walking through them, defending yourself against wild dogs, sticking into the spokes of passing cyclists, doubles as a monopod with a camera (if you get one with a screw off handle) and many more. > and how much should I spend, Whatever they cost. > Also do I need two or will just one do Two are way better than one, a lot more than twice as good. With two poles you can keep one on the ground at all times for constant support, with one you only get intermittent support, and your walking is not balanced. With two you can set up a very nice walking rhythm, once you get the hang of it. Now that I've started using two I'd never go back to using only one, the difference is much bigger than you'd think. Paul -- http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=118749
"Bernard Hill" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > In article <[email protected]>, pign9 <[email protected]> writes > >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there > >advantage and how much should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will > >just one do > > > >Thanks Mully > > > > > It depends <g> > > 1. How old are you? > 2. How fit are you? > 3. Do you suffer from Arthritis or any joint pains? > 4. What sort of walking do you do? > > I could not climb hills/mountains without them as I suffer badly on the descent, each step down > jarring my knees. I use the poles to lever myself down gently. > > For me, one is nowhere near as good: I had to lend one on a downward run last year and I found > out then! > > But spend the least you can. There is no advantage in sprung poles unless you are sprint-walking > on the level. A couple of months ago I asked a similar question of this ng. Following the advice I made a couple of poles for my companion and myself. We tried them out today and using one pole the up hills were definitely easier. Using both poles the down hills were a doddle. My knees feel fine and a similar walk without poles would have been almost impossible, 17 km walk today highest point 1917 metres ascent 375 metres Richard > > > Bernard Hill Braeburn Software Author of Music Publisher system Music Software written by > musicians for musicians http://www.braeburn.co.uk Selkirk, Scotland
In article <[email protected]>, Mike Mason <[email protected]> writes >Do your poles not have a wrist strap. I usually find that most of my weight is taken by the strap >and the fingers and hand just hold the grip of the pole. Only real time I put any weight onto my >hands is if I'm reaching down and have the palms of my hands on top of the poles. > Exactly my experience too. But John did say wrists too and I imagine that could be a strain point. Bernard Hill Selkirk, Scotland
> Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there advantage and how much > should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will just one do > > Thanks Mully Used to think they were for wimps, not for rufty tufty outdoor types like me. That was until I actually tried them. Now I find coming down steep slopes no more taxing on my poor knackered old knees than walking down the stairs at home. You can use your arms to spread the effort going uphill with a heavy pack. They add stability when crossing uneven ground and are also invaluable for testing boggy ground before commiting your weight to a soggy patch. They could have also been used in a defensive capacity against what might have been a rabid, uncontrolable Tasmanian Devil sheepdog, had it not kept snoring blissfully as I tiptoed trepidatiously by. To quote Mr M Python - If there's one thing I couldn't manage without on the hills, its my trekking poles and Thermarest - No that's two. OK if theres two things I couldn't manage without in the hills its my trekking poles, Thermarest and compass. - No hold on that's 3, etc etc Steve Jones
On 28 Feb 2004 15:57:41 -0800, Steve Jones wrote: >To quote Mr M Python - If there's one thing I couldn't manage without on the hills, its my trekking >poles and Thermarest - No that's two. Err three actually. -- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
That would be one very large sack to carry all that though. Mike Mason "Phil Cook" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 16:25:15 +0000 (UTC), pign9 wrote: > > >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of money, whets there > >advantage and how much should I spend, been looking at Some Leki's, Also do I need two or will > >just one do > > Let me see. The three peaks and now poles. All you need are GPS and digital cameras to complete > the set. > > Have a look at Pete's Poles Page at http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/poles.htm > > Then if you still think tou need them buy a cheap pair to see if you get on with them. > > I suggest the Approach BX1 at £21 a pair from here http://www.three-peaks.com/shop/2/47/ > > -- > Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
On 28/2/04 9:09 pm, in article [email protected], "Paul Saunders" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Other uses - checking the depth of bogs before walking through them, defending yourself against > wild dogs, sticking into the spokes of passing cyclists, doubles as a monopod with a camera (if > you get one with a screw off handle) and many more. Not to be under-estimated these - on any count!
"Mike Mason" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > Do your poles not have a wrist strap. Cane grip--the strap doesn't glue one's hand to the pole, as with a straight pole.
[email protected] said... > > you can get poles that mount DIGITAL CAMERAS YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Is that legal? -- Fran If you need my email address please ask.
Yes providing they are used by consenting adults. Mike Mason "Fran" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... > [email protected] said... > > > > you can get poles that mount DIGITAL CAMERAS YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Is that legal? > > -- > Fran If you need my email address please ask.
In message <[email protected]>, pign9 <[email protected]> writes >Poles, should I buy some or are they a useless waste of >money Chap has a lovely range of hiking/walking sticks, bought a decent hiking stick (you know, the kind that comes up to your armpit) made of Irish blackthorn with a stag-horn handle for about 60UKP. Didn't like/want one of those things they sell that looks like something the Ski-Pole Manufacturers dreamt up at a sales brain-storming event. Uses - well I've used it for a year and found it useful for getting me over stiles, up and down hills, testing the depth of streams, keeping between me and dogs, it possibly improves my breathing, it gives a nice counter-point rhythm to the walk, it makes me feel like Charlton Heston or any other OT prophet as I walk into town after a walk, and it will probably last longer than me Downsides - tripping myself up, where to put it on in a small car, train or bus-seat, remembering to take it with me from the aforementioned car/train/bus, doesn't collapse so cannot take it on planes (I presume). Martin -- Martin @ Strawberry Hill
