Do I need a hiking pole?
Anyone that has experienced pain in their legs on a
hike has likely found some type of long thick stick that they picked up to
try to finish off the trail. Thick sticks are useful makeshift hiking tools,
allowing you to get some of the support that you need as you cross the hefty
terrain.
Because something as simple as a stick works well
enough to give your knees and legs the help that they need, many people
wonder why they would benefit from a hiking pole instead. Yet despite the
availability of sturdy, free sticks, hiking poles provide a number of
benefits that you simply do not get from a stick that you find on the
ground.
Benefits of Hiking Poles
·
Convenience
Of course, one of the main benefits of a hiking
pole is convenience. You have a strong, powerful stick that is the perfect
length for your entire hike and designed to withstand the force of your body
with you at all times. You no longer have to waste time trying to find a
clean stick of decent length that will withstand both your weight and the
entirely of the hike.
·
Shock Absorption
Most hiking poles are designed with shock
absorption capabilities. This takes a great deal of pressure off of your
shoulder and elbow as you walk, giving you a more comfortable trek and
helping ensure that your joints do not experience as much pressure as they
would with a regular stick.
·
Comfort
Hiking poles also have a number of different
features designed to improve your overall comfort level – features that you
will not find with a regular stick. The handles themselves are considerably
more comfortable, and the stick will not have any spare branches, leaves or
bark that could cut into your skin or make your hike more uncomfortable.
These poles are also of a much lighter weight and made with a stronger
material.
·
Safety
Hiking poles are made with withstand long hikes,
and will be able to manage your weight better than sticks that you find on
the ground. In addition, the tips at the end of the pole are designed with
points that help them grab into the dirt more easily, and the baskets make
sure you don’t get stuck within the terrain. Each of these improves how
safely you maneuver with the stick, as well as whether or not it will last
over the course of your hike.
Hiking Poles are Made for Hiking
Though large branches that you find on the ground
make adequate hiking poles when you have no other options, true hiking poles
are designed to withstand all of the elements, handle your weight, be much
more comfortable and absorb some of the pressure that occurs when you slam
your pole against the ground. They are much more enjoyable on a long hike,
they have more safety features than any stick, and they will last you
through all of your longest hikes for years and years.
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