Bushwalk Australia

My knee is buggered- those of you who use poles or walking sticks- is there anything to know about different brands or styles? I'd vastly prefer to use only one, to take the weight off of my bung knee, rather than both.

Any wisdom or insight?

I use them but get away with the lightest ones. Some (especially bigger people) seem to have all sorts of dramas, perhaps needing stronger poles (black diamond are popular?).
Using one is better than none. My knees aren't the best, began with the right but I probably would have avoided damaging the left if i'd have started with two poles earlier (wherever possible and on descents).

Get a cheap one to start and if it helps ( my knees are buggered as well ) then upgrade.
Personally I find 2 poles better but I have plenty of pairs as I pick up discarded old ski poles all the time, if using a single pole I would be using a traditional length 1850mm or longer as sometimes I need to use both hands on the pole to take the weight.

If you know someone with some, borrow for a trial. One is good, 2 can be better at times, can be a nuisance at others. I use Pacer Poles (al not cf) - and they are hand specific - can't comfortably or easily use the left in the right so not suitable for using only 1 and swapping as the need arises but you can get over that. I have dud knees, dodgy hips and a crook back so they are great for assisting in balance, getting up and down steep stuff and setting up a rhythm when on the flat stuff. Straight up and down types make useful tent poles if your tent suits it, those with an angled handgrip are a bit more difficult to use in this sense but not impossible. The angled hand grip is easier on the wrists and arms though.

Try as many as you can in the field before purchasing, considering not just the ease of use, suitability to your style of walking and alternate uses but also the adjustment method, construction material etc.

I'm a pole convert after walking the Milford Track. They really helped with descents and sure footedness on rough slippery ground.

I originally had a set of pacer poles but just found them bulky and annoying.

I now use lightweight collapsible Helinox poles. Poles can be annoying on narrow tracks and I'll either pack them away or just use one pole.

The real advantage of fixed-length collapsible poles versus telescopic poles is that they collapse small enough to pack in a day pack. This and their light-weight makes them great for travelling.

I use just one. I always find it in the bush along the track. Then when im done with it, it goes back to the other sticks lying around.

Walking, always 2.
Been using the same pair of BDs (now no longer made of course) for about 6-7years now for everything from easy alpine, ski mountaineering, bushwalking.
Often in NZ you can't get good decent sticks on the path so I'm used to carrying mine.

Great for the whole body not just the knees, when it comes to scrambling I either pack them up or loop the loop through my wrists and just let them dangle. Obviously used to set up the Aarn Pacer tents too.

When people ask me if they should just use one, I always ask if there are many 3 legged animals in the wild?

Dogbush is excellent!! Doesn't grow on peaks though, so carrying the extra weight and hassle up there outweighs' even the cheap newfangledy ones..
Iluv..soon, when yer older, you'll find the $ for a proper one. Later, when old And decrepid, two even
(later still, sit around home and advise others on pole choice ha har)

Nuts wrote:Dogbush is excellent!! Doesn't grow on peaks though, so carrying the extra weight and hassle up there outweighs' even the cheap newfangledy ones..
Iluv..soon, when yer older, you'll find the $ for a proper one. Later, when old And decrepid, two even
(later still, sit around home and advise others on pole choice ha har)

I pray to the gods every day for this blessing Nuts..

I've still had no-one come up with a good reason as to why expensive metal poles are better than cheap natural sticks.....

-What, that you'll make old age? meh, you survived yer 20's, the odds are good!!

-Well... there's nothing to discuss about the benefit of one natural stick over the other

Haha yeh quite true, survived my 20's survived having kids, survived getting divorced.... guess i'm harder to kill than that!

Hmmm maybe it's just something shiny and nice to make "hikers" look good along the "trail" ??

ILUVSWTAS wrote:I've still had no-one come up with a good reason as to why expensive metal poles are better than cheap natural sticks.....

Metal poles are not necessarily expensive. However, when you want them, they are exactly where you left them. No hunting around for hours on end.

if you walk where there are no trees!

ILUVSWTAS wrote: Hmmm maybe it's just something shiny and nice to make "hikers" look good along the "trail" ??

Ha, see, getting old already!! Yer, i don't like change much either, i just needed a way to keep on going. The difference when I forget them is pain and stiffness (sometimes lasting days) after coming downhill. This is also a sign of more damage being done. Mine weigh 200g's each and stow away. I use them for tarps and solo shelter, stick a ball head on one now and then.

I did strip em back and painted euc green

Not much use in scrub I guess but there's pleanty of bushwalking tracks around even if not using for other things (there is a fly rod attachment..)

Only ever saw the odd goofy european with them 20yrs ago. Now everyone has them.. wish they didn't, its about the only reason i don't like carrying them

that's a lot of helpful info to mull over- thank you all!

Try this website
http://www.helinox.com.au

holy smoke- I got to get me one of those helinox folding chairs! I could park it beside the trail and rent out thirty-minute stints in it for $5 a pop!

Off topic but yep! Have to agree, the chair looks great. I can see it as being most useful on base camping trips....