Hiking Sticks....Anyone Use Them

[xcvator]

Just looking at getting a couple of hiking sticks to help the old bones,  but the prices can be a bit frightening  any where from $80-00 to $150 each.
Any recommendations please ?

[weeds]

We also looked into them......when we were preparing for a Green Gully and Overland Track

Wife borrowed a set and did some walks using two and one......she didn't think they benefited all that much and talking to some friends who are in a bush walking club they said there is an actual technique to use them properly to get maximum benefit. Wife hasn't bothered to buy a set.

To me, multi-day hiking they look like a hinderance, just another two items to juggle. Although those with ultra light tents needs to walk with poles as the poles hold the tent up.

People that have them, love them and say they help a lot.

Are the more expensive one lighter??


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[rossm]

Just looking at getting a couple of hiking sticks to help the old bones,  but the prices can be a bit frightening  any where from $80-00 to $150 each.
Any recommendations please ?

Good question.

Was scrambling around in the Kennedy Range a few months back with some people who swore by them.

Will be interested in other views. My knees are not what they  were.   

[Bird]

pick em up off the ground for free

[Traveller]

Have used them on a couple of hikes (Overland Track was one) and found them quite good. They certainly provided extra steadiness when negotiating steep and/or slippery tracks. For the Overland we hired the poles as others in the group needed to hire more gear, and we had them as a test run. My wife was so impressed that she purchased some and we tend to share the pair.

I can't recommend a brand but can only suggest that you pick them up when the sales are on, and it just happens to be sales times for all the big name walking suppliers at the moment. Jump on the Web to give you some idea of prices, but be ready for a shock. I know Anaconda and etc run their own brands (cheaper), and Macpac have some of the lower priced sets.

When we were looking there was a huge range, even from the same manufacturer. Various adjustment/locking systems, whether you wanted 'shock absorbers' in the poles, even lengths.

Good luck with your search.

[DrewXT]

My oldies use Leki poles, when I worked in Outdoor Ed, I gound them a pain on the flats, but useful going down hill...

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[alnjan]

The Bride has a Leki hiking pole she uses as a walking in general.  The shock absorbing benefit of the hiking pole helps taking the jar out of the hand and arm easing the arthritis.  Me, being a bigger bloke and pretty rough with my gear use the good old tree branch cut to size. 

[glenm64]

https://youtu.be/OmCI1HwXPYs

Cheers Glen

[Robbo]

Just looking at getting a couple of hiking sticks to help the old bones,  but the prices can be a bit frightening  any where from $80-00 to $150 each.
Any recommendations please ?

Hi xcvator. I have a couple and find them great. As i also have a hip problem they provide support as well when needed. I got mine from an NZ site called "TradeMe" it is just like Ebay. They were only $9-95NZ each plus shipping. They have a spring loading in the lower stem which acts like a shock absorber. They are still listing them but i can't put up a link from my phone.
Use Google to get the TradeMe site and then put "Hiking Stick" in the search box.
Hope this helps

Cheers

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[nab]

I made a few out of 20mm electrical conduit for the kids. A bit of coloured tape at the end and they loved them!! Not sure if they provided any benefit though haha

[Gandalf the White]

Just looking at getting a couple of hiking sticks to help the old bones,  but the prices can be a bit frightening  any where from $80-00 to $150 each.
Any recommendations please ?

Personal preference I guess, but I use a tall staff that I made from a stick. Cost me 25c for a rubber cap to go on the bottom.

[GBC]

I have a single telescopic one which works well with my dodgy knee. I'd go a folding one over a telescopic one next as mine tends to self adjust.

[xcvator]

Personal preference I guess, but I use a tall staff that I made from a stick. Cost me 25c for a rubber cap to go on the bottom.

Gotta go in a back pack, mines not as big as yours      

[Foo]

Just looking at getting a couple of hiking sticks to help the old bones,  but the prices can be a bit frightening  any where from $80-00 to $150 each.
Any recommendations please ?

Fork, I only paid $29 from Aldi and they are telescopic. I need one when my sciatica nerve decides to give me chit. 

Foo

[Swannie]

Geez Keith I knew you  were old  but... .....

[Bill]

I have a pair, wife has a pair and they both live in the garage.
Can't be bothered trying to get the knack of them.
Maybe when we are a bit older...
Bill

[DannyG]

I use them. They are great for the knee's and stability.

I never did use them, I felt they would be a hinderance but since I bought a set I never go on a bushwalk without them. And yes my Ultra light tents use them as tent poles.

Leki's are a good brand but dont spend a lot of money. I use some carbon fibre ones from AliExpress, they have served me well. Just dont buy ebay $20 ones, they wont stay locked in.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ultra-light-Adjustable-Camping-Hiking-Walking-Trekking-Stick-Alpenstock-Carbon-Fiber-shooting-Climbing-Skiing-Trekking-pole/32271577034.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.f3tnXJ

I have done most of the longer touristy walks in Tassie such as the Overland Track, Walls of Jerusalem, Freycinet, three capes etc and these days I do more off track walks to mountains that most people dont go to so I have a lot of experience using them.
If I dont take them, I am walking sideways by the time I get back to the car. When I use them my knees thank me. You can pack them up and put them away if you are walking on easy board walk or flat ground and they are annoying you.

[Paddler Ed]

Started using them when I was 24 or so, and working in Outdoor Education (13 years ago!) - I've done some damage to my knees over the years from mountain biking and walking, so anything to help is a good thing. Combined with decent boots, Superfeet and Poles, I'm all good.

I use a pair when I'm walking with an overnight or longer pack, and sometimes on day walks (wife has banned me as I go even faster with them than normal). I got some cheapo Decathlon ones in the UK, that did the job.  (By the way, watch out Anaconda when Decathlon get up to speed completely...)

Like others, I used to work in Outdoor Retail, so I know the hype about the different brands (Leki, Black Diamond to name a few), but I also know how to fit them, and that makes a world of difference! You need your arms to be carrying a tray of beers back to the table... Don't forget to sink the spike of the pole into the ground a bit as when you walk that's what will happen, so set it correctly. Also use the loops on the handles - put your hand up through them so the strap sits in your palm, and allows your wrist to pull the pole down a bit.

I found that walking with an alternate swing worked best for me, and

[Fizzie]

I use a tall staff that I made from a stick

Just like this one, G

[Troopy_03]

First thing that popped into my head when I saw the heading is this:

[Bird]

http://www.sticksite.com/making_sticks/


one for Keith

[marvellous_matt]

Paddler Ed mentioned all the right things.
If set right, and used correctly can be of benefit (I always use them) but if wrong length/wrong grip, most likely do not much, or even use more energy.

[Ben.Archer]

I got some cheapo Decathlon ones in the UK, that did the job.  (By the way, watch out Anaconda when Decathlon get up to speed completely...)

LOL - they open their first store in Australia tomorrow  in 19hrs 23 minutes and 18 seconds.  Not that I am counting.

Right beside Ikea at Tempe

http://content.decathlon.com.au/tempe

[Paddler Ed]

LOL - they open their first store in Australia tomorrow  in 19hrs 23 minutes and 18 seconds.  Not that I am counting.

Right beside Ikea at Tempe

http://content.decathlon.com.au/tempe

The trick is at Decathlon is to know how to sort the wheat from the chaff. Their Quechua brand is good, we have quite a bit of their gear actually, but the cheaper ranges aren't so hot. They did take over one of the older climbing gear manufacturers (Simond) in Europe a few years back I noticed, so that led to some decent gear being stocked as their own line. Generally anything Forclaz and above is pretty good; they got rid of their top line though it seems and replaced it with Simond.

[richo9923]

LOL - they open their first store in Australia tomorrow  in 19hrs 23 minutes and 18 seconds.  Not that I am counting.

Right beside Ikea at Tempe

http://content.decathlon.com.au/tempe

Massive thumbs up to this, literally the best thing to come from france in .... well EVER!