Walking Poles

[alliecat]

Just a thought for the taller bods out there (not an issue for me ): have a look at poles for "nordic walking" - from pics I've seen, the true nordic walking style uses poles quite a bit longer than the usual "trekking" style poles. And since nordic walking is supposed to use your arms to help propel you along, they might even be a bit stronger than the usual style. Worth having a look at anyway.

Cheers,
Alliecat

[Ent]

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[johnw]

...Poles are a two edge sword. Great for tracks but murder for off tracks...

I totally agree. On the occasions when I use them these days I usually only take a single Fizan pole that collapses to a size easily stowed inside or outside a daypack. That said, in the past I have used two longer Black Diamond poles on very open alpine country in the Snowy Mountains and found that two poles works a treat off-track in that environment. Was admiring the $10 poles at the Chickenfeed shop in St Helens in August...before my wife dragged me away .

[BruceL]

Hi, I was told that Komperdell Airshock Titanal Contour Trekking POles were the best? Have you heard of anything about these or any other type?

To add another dimension to this thread, what handle/grip type do you use or recommend. As one who is yet to get walking poles, but who will need to before too much longer - the old knees certainly ain't what they used to be!

My walking buddy has tried many types and has finally settled on poles with a knob or ball on them, claiming they are the best when descending, rather than the normal grip. Any thoughts?

TR

Also, I was told that if you spend less than $100 dollars you'll only get *&%$#@! poles. My husband and I am doing the Overland track in the beginning of season, does anyone have any experience with poles on the Overland Track?

My wife and I (in our 50s) did the Overland Track in January using poles for he first time and were quite impressed with them. I used Aarn Pacer Poles which I chose because of the style of hand grip which suits my rather arthritis affected fingers. They were great although I discovered about 50 metres after leaving Ronney Creek that it is not a good idea using them on boardwalk - I managed to put the pole between the boards and pulled the whole tip clean off the pole. After scratching around in the grass under the boards I fortunately found the tip and replaced it on the pole. After that I was rather careful using them on the boardwalk and had no more issues with them. The Pacer Poles were easy on my hands and were of great assistance on the track - the pressure on the hands is always straight down on the fleshy base of the hand without requiring much grip by the fingers . My wife used $20 specials which she was quite happy with. Both the Aarn poles and the cheap poles withstood the rigours of the track with any sign of bending etc. and we will be taking them on the OT again in January 2010.

[Joe]

Anyone seen them in chickers recently?

[corvus]

Still had them in the Fourways just the other day.
c

[Joe]

Are they full length or only the walking stick style like you use gezza?

[sthughes]

Had full length ones a couple of weeks back as well as the 'old man' style ones

[nordicwalker]

Hello,

I read with interest the posts about Nordic Walking and the discussion about poles. Nordic Walking poles are NOT taller / longer than Trekking poles.
You can easily meaure Nordic Walking poles by calculating your height in cms and multiply it by 0.68. This is the most common calculation.

I'm a co-founder of Nordic Academy; we train health and fitness professionals to become qualified Nordic Walking Instructors. We also supply quality equipment. Nordic Walking is fairly new to Australia hence a lot of people don't know what to look for in a good pole, let alone how to perfrom the correct technique.

I have been invited to a few bushwalking clubs to talk about the use of poles. I do NOT want to convert bushwalkers to Nordic Walking; just unsing poles is so much easier and healthier.

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

heheh... nice play on words.

Might be worth checking out nordicwalker's post in the Specials/Adverts forum, and see if his organisation has any further advice on strength of poles.

[Joe]

I would back the Exped poles 100%. I don't know anyone stocking them (I might later but not currently... I can get if you hit brick wall though) but as I said earlier in this thread they are V nice. You would be doing something seriously wrong to break one....even you brett

[msw]

These may be the answer check out the "lifetime warranty"
http://www.wildearth.com.au/leki-makalu ... p-580.html
corvus

I just made a warranty claim on a broken leki trekking pole and it was refused. A pole section broke when I slipped on a bushwalk. The Australian Leki distributor refused the claim - even though in the US the same claims have been accepted.

So ... if you are going to buy a Leki pole in Australia, don't expect the 'lifetime warranty' to apply when you are using the pole.

[dplanet]

Count me in because I'd been once an unhappy customer with Leki pole distributor and have been happy with my purchase of later poles at Paddy Stores on Little Bourke, Melbourne and Glenferrie Rd in Hawthorn who are happy to send the poles away for repairs. Recently impressed with staff in Hobart who fixed it on the spot so that I could continue my journey.

[Strider]

Some of you might be interested that moontrail.com currently have a small selection of Black Diamond poles on clearance. I just picked up a set of Contour Elliptical Compacts for $69 + postage.

[MartyGwynne]

I will endorse the Jacko prostar trekking poles at about $119 per pair ordered from internet site in Queensland.
I have now used them for a few walks and am ver happy with them (I have a bit of a dicky back so using them allows me to carry full pack and do log walks).
You do need to get the ones which have the 7075 (or the high tensile grade alloy) as the others are easily bent over your knee (normally the cheap ones will bend easily).
The ones I have also have the angled grip on them which suits the angle of your hands.
If you can get the cheapies which are made from the high tensile alloy them by all means buy them (love a bargain).
Cheers.

[sthughes]

I will endorse the Jacko prostar trekking poles at about $119 per pair ordered from internet site in Queensland.
I have now used them for a few walks and am ver happy with them (I have a bit of a dicky back so using them allows me to carry full pack and do log walks).
You do need to get the ones which have the 7075 (or the high tensile grade alloy) as the others are easily bent over your knee (normally the cheap ones will bend easily).
The ones I have also have the angled grip on them which suits the angle of your hands.
If you can get the cheapies which are made from the high tensile alloy them by all means buy them (love a bargain).
Cheers.

Wild Earth also have them for $59.50 a pair. Not that I'm endorsing Jacko poles, the ones I had (not Prostar) were quite poor.

[MartyGwynne]

Yes Wild Earth was where I bought them.
I have found them easy to deal with.