Trekking poles and gear weight?

"The fact that trekking poles actually alleviate pack weight should one consider there weight when weighing gear?"

Yes — definitely, although you can count the poles as part of "skin out" weight if you carry them pretty much all the time.

"When standing on a set of bathroom scales you'll find that after engaging your trekking poles with arms relaxed your total body weight will decrease more then the total weight of the poles."

Hmmmmm…

"Consider this,
When standing on a set of bathroom scales you'll find that after engaging your trekking poles with arms relaxed your total body weight will decrease more then the total weight of the poles."

The weighing platforms on most bathroom scales aren't terribly accurate or effective. You may have to shift around till you find the heaviest weight read, which would more than likely be the best figure to use. On my cheap bathroom scales, instead of just putting my feet on the "feet spots", I have to hang my feet off the edges to get them to even measure my weight in the right ballpark.

I think he's saying that the trekking poles are supporting your arms, so there is less weight on your feet when you are using them.

This is not to be confused with REDUCING pack weight. Trekking poles simply engage more upper body muscles in carrying the weight of your pack. This means your lower body doesn't work as hard since the weight of the pack is distributed more evenly between your upper and lower body.

I myself have found an equally effective method to achieve the same result without the use of trekking poles… going barefoot.

-Sid

Sid said: “I myself have found an equally effective method to achieve the same result without the use of trekking poles… going barefoot.”

Might be okay in Florida, but going barefoot up a rocky trail with snowmelt running down it…. I’m not that tough! You could go buck naked too and save a bunch of weight :)

Suck it up and include the pole weight in your skin out totals. They are “worn” in the same way boots are. Poles are all about control for me– rock hopping streams, navigating rock and root ladders and never a turned ankle, then becoming part of my shelter.

I keep turning over plans to mount a few fishing pole line guides and jury-rigging a reel seat to turn a hiking pole into a bait-cast fishing pole. Whirrrr [[[[[[twang]]]]]]] trout almondine with rice for dinner :)

"Might be okay in Florida, but going barefoot up a rocky trail with snowmelt running down it…. I'm not that tough! You could go buck naked too and save a bunch of weight :)"

Well, going barefoot for me has nothing to do with saving weight. It prevents the muscles of my feet from atrophy and promotes a much more natural and healthier gait.It gives me the same benefits that trekking poles give, like always having a slight bend in the knees and using the upper body for balance.

As for going barefoot in conditions like what you mention, you could always try out Vibram FiveFingers. They will give the same effects as going barefoot while protecting your soles from rough terrain and cold.

-Sid