Isle Royale Forums

People thoughts on whether trekking poles are necessary?

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Necessary? No. It is a matter of personal preference. I had always used them (and I have a tent that uses them) and then, last year, I experimented in the Porkies without them. I found I enjoyed that, so later this month I plan a trip to IR without poles. We'll see,...

One hiking pole. Three legs are better than two.

More for stability than anything else.

It has kept me from falling more than once.

I like them... I use 2 when hiking with full gear. I really think they help with general stability and stress on the knees when going up, and especially down hills with a pack on. I know they are a bit trendy right now, but I use them anyway, lol. I recently upgraded from some aluminum Black Diamond poles to a pair of tri-fold carbon poles from Paria Outdoors and they are great. Plus, they fold up small if I want to stash them on the pack for any reason.

I carry two poles and pull them out when the trails get a bit tricky. It really does help the legs to be able to balance with your arms. I had a fall once and broke a pole, but the pole slowed me down enough that I didn't hurt myself. Without the pole I would have taken a full force fall to the shoulder with a heavy pack. I think of it as having hand rails.

not necessary, but it's my preference to use them, for reasons given above and also: they prevent (to get medically technical) "sausage fingers," a condition that besets me if my hands just dangle at my sides throughout a full day's hike.

Not necessary at all, but I started using them a few years ago and would rather not go without them now. I make better time and I'm less fatigued at the end of the day. They're also invaluable for putting the hammock tarp in porch mode.

They were both my savior and annoyance on my trip last week. Saved me navigating mudholes, loose flooded boardwalks, going downhill, and pulling myself uphill. But annoying when the brush along the trail makes then useless and have to carry. But since I got a trekking pole tent, I kinda have to take them regardless.

You know I use them. Some areas they sure come in handy!

I always use trekking poles. I feel like it helps me balance myself a lot.

I normally use one of the pair I have because it hurts like hell to slip fall down.