Overview of Walking Pole Features
Like any fitness product, several companies have
gone out of their way to come up with new and interesting ways to make their
products more convenient or effective. Walking poles are no different, as
manufacturers of these poles have designed special features as part of their
products that make them more of a luxury and a considerable upgrade from
simply finding a strong stick on the ground.
The Basic System
Each of these parts can be found on basic walking
and hiking poles. Many of these poles come with additional features, such as
extendable/retractable shafts, as well as various weather baskets, etc., but
on any walking pole you find in the store or marketplace, you will very
likely find each of these parts to be present.
1.
Shaft
Of course, ever walking pole has a shaft that makes
up the majority of the pole. The shaft is most often made of either aluminum
or carbon fiber. In general carbon fiber is a little better for most hiking
trips. Aluminum poles have a tendency to bend and break, and they also
conduct electricity better, so if you are walking in thunderstorms or areas
where lightning is possible, the poles can represent a danger. Carbon fiber
still conducts electricity, but not nearly as well.
2.
Handle
Walking poles are designed with a good grip that
makes it easy to hold onto the pole for a long period of time. This grip can
be made of rubber, plastic, or something else that is easy to handle. It
also may have a wrist strap connected to it to make sure that the pole
doesn’t fall off your arm as you walk (also allowed more freedom of
movement).
3.
Tips
The tips of hiking poles may be plastic, rubber,
carbide, and aluminum. They also generally come in three different styles –
rubber, single point, and chiseled. Most of these tips are acceptable for
any purpose, but rubber is best on frictional/hard surfaces, chiseled works
well across all conditions, and single point is designed more for icy
travelling.
4.
Baskets
Hiking pole baskets are designed to ensure that the
pole does not sink too much into the ground when you walk. Baskets are found
on almost every pole, including those that are used in Nordic walking,
despite the unlikelihood that the pole with sink into the concrete. Still,
in the event where you need the pole for some type of outdoor activity, it
is much better to have a basket than not have one. Baskets can often be
replaced on poles depending on weather conditions.
5.
Anti-Shock System
Most poles also come with their own installed
anti-shock system. This takes some of the vibrations and pressure from the
walk away in order to reduce arm tiredness and improve overall comfort with
the pole. The anti-shock systems are one of the primary reasons that users
of these poles enjoy these poles more than standard walking sticks.
Here are some of the most interesting features of
walking poles:
1.
Camera Mount
Perhaps the newest and most unique feature of these
walking poles is an unscrewable top that allows the stick to become a camera
mount. The screws on many types of point and shoot cameras fit perfectly
onto these walking poles, and the area that can be unscrewed does not impact
the efficacy of the walking pole.
2.
Shock Absorbers
When someone swings a tennis racket with
considerable force, the vibrations from the ball hitting the racket can
shake and push your arms, elbows and shoulders. So shock absorbers are added
to reduce pressure and injury. Some walking poles have similar features, so
that if you slam the pole against the ground, your joints do not experience
the same force and pressure that they would otherwise.
3.
Wrist Straps
Part of the comfort of using a walking pole is that
you can move it to any area you see fit in order to help yourself keep your
balance, reduce injury, etc. Part of that freedom requires you to place the
pole at angles designed to support your body – angles that may make it hard
to hold onto the poles on occasion. Wrist straps make sure that your poles
stay by your side, even if you fall, trip, or release the poles for any
reason. They also allow you to stretch and rest your hands without putting
the pole down.
4.
Adjustable Length Shafts
It is not uncommon for some of the more well made
poles to have adjustable shafts that allow you to change the length based on
your height and comfort level. The adjustable length can also be useful for
carrying/storage when not in use, though the degree of adjustments that the
pole allows varies considerably, and the more it is adjustable the more
expensive it often is.
5.
Whistles
There are also walking poles that have loud
whistling capabilities inside the shaft. The purpose of this is, in the case
of an emergency, to give you the ability to whistle for help (or for others)
at a moment’s notice, without having to carry a whistle on hand.
Choosing Comfort and Safety over Features
First and foremost when you decide which pole to
get is your own comfort and safety – you want to make sure that you choose a
pole that is comfortable to use regularly, and will provide you with the
safety you need depending on the walking condition. But after you have found
poles that have the capabilities you need, there are also many different
types of features to consider that can make the poles even more useful.
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