trekking poles

My daughter is going to an adventure camp this summer and they suggested trekking poles for hiking. Got a stupid question. Do you need two poles for hiking or is one sufficient?

Two questions-how old is she and what kind of hiking are we talking about? Unless she is doing some serious backpacking in rough terrain, trekking poles might be just extra weight. If she is a kid, get an inexpensive pair at REI or somewhere like it. Make sure they are adjustable so they will fit her right. I hiked for years without them as I'm sure most of the older people here did. Now that my knees are a bit knackered, I have a pair. I have used mine for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing too.

Adventure camp? Well, get a pair of poles. It will save hassles with the camp counselor who will probably have the list of required gear in hand and won't let her participate without getting "exactly what it says here on this list, no ifs, ands, or buts about it!" (and it just so happens that the camp store has exactly the right kind for double the usual price or maybe rental for almost as much as you can buy an adequate pair in town).

Am I being facetious? No, just that I have dealt with some of the camps.

Actually, having a pair of poles helps with balance on rough trails, whether for day hikes with just a small pack with water bottle and lunch or for the overnight trip away from the fixed camp with a bigger load. I also find it helps with keeping a rhythm when hiking, which ends up using a lot less energy.

One thing you might consider, depending on your daughter's age and interest in photography, is buying one pole that doubles as a camera monopod (Leki makes a couple of nice ones that are adjustable - the top ball screws off to reveal a standard 1/4-20 tripod screw for the camera), and the second a regular hiking pole, adjustable being the best option. If she isn't an avid photographer, then a matched pair of adjustables is just fine. If she is less than, say 14 or 15, an inexpensive pair is ok, since she can get a good pair when she gets older and more responsible.

Hmm, I think Bill is right, as usual. I thought about that, then thought, nah, too much for a kid. But, then again, I'd bet she doesn't want to get there and not have what the other kids have.

Thanks for your feedback. She's 16 and you're both right. She probably wouldn't want to be missing something everyone else had.

The sometimes facetious reply is that you can use two poles but mostly carry one if that is all you have.

For an adult, the plan is to take about 20 pounds per stride off your legs. That adds up to about a whomping 40,000 pounds per mile. Just taking the weight of the arms on the treks is a considerable saving.

It takes a bit of practice to use treks correctly. Those little dangly bits of strapping that hang down from under the grip fit around your wrists and take up all of the weight. All the fingers/hand do is move the poles ahead. If you take the weight that is to be transfered from below the belly button in the hand, you better be built like a gorilla ... or you are just carrying them and looking cool.

http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/poles.htm

Indicates that the nicety of canted handle grips and sprung sections might not be working toward your advantage.

Europe/Scandanavia have a very competitive sport using trek poles in a flat walking/jogging out race.

Treks also keep you from falling as much as you might tend to do.

When I was about to start the Pacific Crest Trail I bought myself a single trekking pole. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not so didn't want to spend the bucks to buy a good pair. I was fearful that they would just inhibit my freedom. Well, within the week, my husband strained his knee on a steep descent and he then commandeered my pole. In return, he bought me a PAIR of poles at our next trail town. Wow!!!! What a difference the second pole made to my rhythm, stride and balance. My husband soon got a "pair" as well, and now we swear that we will never hike again with out them. They were a major benefit on steam crossings, crossing glaciers, and rough terrain. They gave us an additional push up on the steep climbs, and reduced knee impact on the downs. Another, unexpected benefit was that they prevented the annoying puffiness that I used to get in my hands by keeping them closer to my heart and keeping them moving more.

Now, I don't suspect that a 16 year old will be tackling severe terrain at camp, but if she shows any interest in hiking at all, spend the extra and buy here a pair that will stand up to years of use. They are now as much a part of my hiking gear as my trail shoes are. I find it ammusing that so many people (myself included) wait until my knees are already damaged and aching before they get the poles... which could have helped to slow the wear-and-tear if used at an earlier age.

If you are worried about cost, try a used clothing store and get some ski poles, and use a hacksaw to cut to fit. (just wiggle the handles off and cut them the same length, and wiggle the handles back on. The solid design does take vibration out of the pole.

Also, my 16 year old daughter has foot problems, and she found that swiping one of her dad's poles helped (and her cousin ran off with the 2nd on one trip)

I too, as I have aged, have discovered I have regained a great deal of confidence by using poles that I once had with youthful vigor alone :) and my knees appreciate me better.

Good Luck!

I posted the following paragraph on an earlier thread in the backcountry forum; while it may not be the coolest item for a 16-year-old girl, I've had Boy Scouts fight over which one gets to use my staff on stream crossings.

I've tried using a pair of hiking poles but found that I really preferred using only one, leaving one hand free. After trying adjustable poles, I settled on a fixed-length staffs. My favorite is a hardwood broom handle, bought at a hardware store, about 5-6 in length, with a crutch tip screwed onto the bottom. The handgrip is made from parachute cord wrapped around the pole, and a wrist strap is attached through a hole drilled in the staff. On top of the staff is a Stoney Point binocular rest which comes in handy not just for bird and deer watching but also makes a convenient handle when I'm supporting myself with the staff while I'm walking up or down slopes. I also use the staff to lean against after a tough climb. I can put all my weight on it without fear of bending or breaking it.

Another benefit of using a staff or a pair of poles was brought home to me on a day hike two weeks ago. I neglected to take my staff along. As I was daydreaming along the trail, I tripped over an exposed root and fell flat on my face. I bounced right up like the 16-year-old I thought I was, but two hours later my 54-year-old ribcage was screaming. Vestiges of the pain still linger. I am convinced I would not have fallen if I had taken my staff with me.

The moral, for me, is this: alaways carry at least one staff or pole while hiking.