SUL packs & trek pole usefulness?

I have never used 'hiking poles'.*

It is very rare to see a hiker using these in Australia.
I've seen an older bloke using them here but that's nothing to do with older aged hikers, as the many other older hikers i've met don't use them.

*I once used two sticks to help me up a steep inlined track for about 30 minutes when an old knee injury blew out and I was hurting. That's rehabed now though.

My Europa tent has an UL home-made carbon fibre pole for the front instead of a hiking pole.

If a hiking pole helped me to enjoy the outdoors because I had a disability then I wouldn't be against using one. But for me its just another item that I can do without.

As I see it, their use (or perceived need) perhaps has a cultural element.

Pole usage has almost nothing to do with my pack weight.
I use my poles for many reasons already mentioned above. Not mentioned however is a walking style that allows me to look around more rather than where I am walking on the trail (obviously you have to be careful). It gives me a greater engagement with the scenery around me. I do hate the noise factor, so I usually don't use them in the early morning preferring not to scare the wildlife.

Great link James!

After making fun of people with poles (another overpriced piece of gear!), I did break down and try them. The trails I'm on are so narrow they only allow the use of one pole, most of the time. If it's flat, I don't use them at all. But I have found that poles are essential on downhills now, following my knee surgery. Saved me from a couple of falls on the rocky trails in Guadelupe National Park last weekend.

I have noticed a considerable difference when using poles versus not using poles. My balance crossing snow is increased, better leverage going up stone stairways (those that hike in the Sierra's know what I mean), Improved mobility going up hill, takes a lot of the strain out of hiking downhill. My knees love them. Oh and last but not least, they are used to support my Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape!!!!!

Hike your own hike.

When hiking without poles my hands and fingers get thick. I can put my thumbs in thumbloops but that gets old really fast, so I'm keeping my poles for now. Though on my last hike I did hike a while without them and felt good as while. I did get those thick fingers.

Eins

…I am looking into this because I have knee problems…I have actually realised that there is so much to be learned about the unaided stride that I am leaving my poles behind and learning to use my own legs in a different way. There is so much to learn about walking normally….and of course it's easier to do that learning when the pack is very light…

If a pole is doing absolutely nothing else, it is reducing the complete weight of an individual's arm from the supporting leg at the time of a step. If my 3.2 oz pole can save my leg supporting around 10 pounds during each step, it's doing a fine job.

I realize that this is a very minor, but nevertheless, overlooked aspect of using poles, but one which I consider.

I have become determined to go poleless. For one, UL hiking for me is largely about a minimalistic philosophy. The freedom to enjoy myself without weighing myself down phyisically and mentally, less stuff to worry about and to take care of as well as less stuff to buy.
I know most people love them and some people look at my small light pack and me walking sans poles and think Im not prepared and not experienced enough to know any better. I only used a single pole at first – more like a walking stick than poles really, but I became aware after a few years of using it, that my right ankle (Im right handed) was not as strong as my left. If I fell down ( and I did still fall, the pole could not prevent that) my right ankle would almost get turned and my left would always be fine. I have never sprainged an ankle by the way nor have I ever had a broken bone. This to me was a sign that the pole was indeed taking weight off my feet – the right in perticular, but to what advantage? My body would naturally strengthen to meet the demands I placed on it, would it not? I know that if I didnt have an UL load that might not be true because the weight would simply overwhelm my joints -but I do carry an UL load for that very reason!
Also, I would notice after using the pole all day that if I stopped I could see that my balance was not as good. Normal people might say -"Oh, thats because the poles help so much with balance! thats why without them your balance is poorer." -But I have been jumping boulders and climbing trees since I could walk and I always had excellent balance. To me, it was a sign that my body was adjusting to walking with a pole and there fore without one I was more off balance. I know people also say wait till your older then y'll see! Well maybe so, but for now I will enjoy the backcountry pole free with just my 2 legs for as long as fate allows.
– I also orderd The MLD carbon fiber poles to set up my tarp, 50 bucks!

I use one cane (travel) style Leki pole with a trail basket and tip. I could never get used to hiking with two poles. I'm not a speed hiker so I don't need poles to propel me. My style is more a meandering hike so I don't miss anything. I use mine for two reasons: 1) balance on rough or slippery terrain, and 2) to help me look cool. As a side note: it also comes in handy for poking bears and snakes and such. It basicly all boils down to personal preference.

HYOH!

I didn’t start hiking with poles till early 2003. At one point about 2 years ago I wondered if I had become addicted to them, and went pole less for awhile. Well……….

I started falling again. I had aching knees after coming down sharp and or steep inclines. I went slower going up or down steep stuff.

So the poles came back. I move faster. I rarely fall or trip. I don’t hurt so bad. I use one pole for my AGG tent.

I did upgrade finally after wearing out my old poles. I now have Lady Ti Leki’s. Me using my babies:

And yes, I can’t imagine doing snow without poles. Nor crossing water. It is all about balance.

I will add to the chorus… the usefulness of poles is independent of pack weight.

I use poles (primarily nordic style) when I need to cover big miles on trail, or do steep climbs and descents. I too fall less, my knees ache less, stream crossings are easier (especially the swift knee deep ones), and they're great for shelter use.

I don't always use them, like when bushwacking or exploring off trail. Sometimes they go on my pack, sometimes they stay home. But overall, I use them 90% of the time.

Hi James,
I had to think about your post for a while and read the associated URL-good stuff! An observation re "poles without straps or non-functional straps are a huge loss in my opinion": I would agree with your point if one is employing the standard grip when using trekking poles. However, when using the cupping technique to grip the pole, the only function a strap fulfills is as a retainer if the pole pops out of your hand for some reason. I have been a bit surprised that cupping hasn't come up somewhere in this thread, as it seems to me to offer some advantages over over the traditional grip: 1) Greatly reduced hand fatigue because the pole is seated (cupped) in the palm of the hand during the propulsion phase and lightly held between the thumb and ring finger as it swings forward to replant. Much easier on the forearm muscles than maintaining a tight grip on the handles. 2) I personally find it easier to get a good powerful pushoff that fluidly brings the triceps, lats, and posterior deltoids into play, much like the ancient spear throwing stick(as I visualize the leverage), again with no strain on the forearm muscles which must maintain the tight grip on the handles when using the traditional technique. 3) No chafing across the back of the hands that I used to encounter after several hours of using the traditional grip where the strap supplies part of the leverage, especially in hot weather. 4) I find that I am able to achieve more precise tip plants over a greater range using the cupping grip, especially on steep downhill terrain. All of this is just my own personal experience, but I just thought I'd throw it out there for discussion.