TREKKING POLES VS STAFF

[Dean F.]

I still use a set of carbon REI poles, because they were relatively cheap for carbon poles, light enough (12oz total), 3-segment so they collapse small for travel, and they haven't broken yet.

Some day I'm going to get Light Trek poles, though.

[Anonymous]

"Some day I'm going to get Light Trek poles, though."

You won't regret it. the Light Trek poles are far superior.

[James D Buch]

When I first backpacked in the 1970's and 80's in California, I used a bamboo staff modeled after Colin Fletcher. Really loved it, and enjoyed particularly making the "lounge chair" with the backpack held up by the staff.

Over 20 years of no backpacking and then in 2007 I decided to attempt some or all of the Appalachian Trail. I bought a light wooden staff early in re-equipping for the trail.

The Appalachian Trail beginning at Springer Mountain was harder to hike than the Sierra Mountains in CA. Couldn't possibly be age, could it?

I got a lot of support from the wood staff. At first I was full of contempt for all of those clicky-clacky trekking pole users. And of course, all of the holes by the sides of the trails put me off more.

There began to be some more situations where just the staff wasn't working out so well.

Well, in Franklin NC, I ended up getting trekking poles. I gave the staff away, and sent the tarptent poles home, thus coming out with maybe a small weight savings with more support possibility.

I liked the trekking poles uphill and downhill which a lot of the trail tended to be in that part of the country.

I did the Harper's Ferry to Shenandoah National Park in 2009. Had the poles again. Needed them on the rough spots. But there were a lot of easy hiking near level stretches where I got bored trying to use the poles for little obvious advantage. I ended up carrying them, often collapsed, for level hiking.

The second experience with them added a different perspective – they aren't that much fun in easy terrain.

Oh, they are now a firm part of the equipment because of the dual use tent and hiking poles.

Without that tough up and down terrain in the Southern AT, I probably wouldn't have switched over to being a user.

[Mark Roberts]

I have the REI staff, which is a cheap and cheerful solution, and works nicely with my DuoMid.

I recently got a pair of LT4s, mainly for use with a SpinnTwinn, and while I like them, I always feel like I'm in a rush when I use them Nordic-style.

With a staff, you get a nice gentle swing going, but with poles, used properly, it's like you're in a race. Used improperly it's hard to get a good rhythm going, I find. I might just use one, and carry the other strapped to my pack.

Agreed, though, that for stream crossings two poles beat one staff.

[carl becker]

+4 GG LT4
I tried trekking poles last year by purchasing a pair from REI. Not cheap and heavy. For me they helped with balance and efficiency while hiking. I returned them for the GG LT4 with straps at half the weigth and now they are my tent poles. I thought about using them for a tripod but then the shelter would not be up for the sunrise and sunset shots. Now I have replace my 1.25 lb tripod with a 4 ounce tripod.

[Brendan Cohen]

I’ve always used trekking poles, but I’ve had some knee pain that has sent me searching  for relief. I was curious if a staff would provide some relief. I couldn’t find any definitive FIRST-HAND opinions from anyone who has objectively tried both. So I did just that!

I ordered a Zpacks staff and took both the staff and a set of poles on a hike. It was a three mile hilly loop that I did twice—once with the staff and once with the trekking poles.

The results? While both help with pace and knee pain, the staff definitely helped more.

The geometry of the two is completely different. With the staff, you hold it much higher (about shoulder level) and your arm remains close to your body when you bare weight. You basically hang from the staff as you transition. With the poles, your arms have to make up the extra distance by extending further out from your body as you place your pole tips. In that position, your arms cannot support your body weight, no matter how hard you try. It was pretty definitive when you tried them both. This isn’t theory.

On an aside, I also noticed that the staff takes less effort. For one, you’re only swinging one arm at a time, which cuts your arm exertion in half. Also, since the staff is much longer, you cover the distance with less swings, which further decreases the effort.

I hope my post helps someone.

 

[Diane Pinkers]

I use the Fizan lightweight aluminum trekking poles, and really like them. Lighter weight is better; I found that with heavier poles when i was more tired towards  the end of the hike, I would be carrying them. I did snap one pole last summer when I slid on the trail and the pole was behind me in my stride. The only way they could be better would be if they would add the ergonomic Pacer Pole handle onto the Fizan light poles; the Pacer Poles are too heavy.

[Bob Moulder]

5-year bump — is that a record or what?!  ;^)

I use poles but since “going UL” about 2 years ago have worked to tweak both technique and poles to suit personal preferences.

I found that I don’t really use poles for flat trails, or slightly up- and downhill, so I end up carrying them a lot, but when I do need them I really like them (chugga-chuggin’ up hills) and want to be able to deploy them instantly and, when done, to return them quickly to the carry position.

This means that quite often I’m carrying them, so they need to be light, and I also prefer no straps, which makes it much quicker to engage/disengage them.

Would I be happier with a staff? I don’t know. I’m pretty darn happy with my poles, especially with my myog poles that weigh 7.2oz/pair, which I also need to pitch the Duplex, and I’m not willing to spend money on a good staff just as an experiment.

 

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