Changed my mind about trekking poles after a convo with a thru-hiker

I always thought poles were just for old folks or people with bad knees, but this guy at REI who did the PCT told me they save like 30% of your energy on descents. He pulled out his worn-down tips to show the wear pattern, and that visual really hit different for me. Has anyone else been converted after a chat with a long-distance hiker?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix33124d ago

Honestly that worn tip visual is wild. It makes you realize how much force is getting transferred through those things over thousands of miles. Tbh I didn't think about it either until a buddy showed me how much his shoulders and knees thanked him after a long day with poles versus without.

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thomas27517d ago

@jennysullivan knows what's up. My knees actually stopped clicking after I started using them.

jennysullivan24d ago

Your knees and shoulders are basically paying the price for every mile you skip the poles. It's a small thing that makes a big difference over a long day on the trail.