I would like to read opinions about the use of hiking poles and damage/erosion to trails. I have used a wooden hiking staff for years (ah tradition!) with a rubber tip on the end. It seems not to leave a trace. However, I have walked behind a small group of hikers, all using hiking poles with spike tips (2 each) and the sides of the trail looked like someone had used a lawn aerator. I understand the utility of hiking poles, but I am concerned about the damge. Any comments?
Jeff
Without my poles, I would likely be unable to hike with near the frequency that I do because I have bad knees. For some people they are absolutely necessary.
Aeration can be a good thing in areas where compaction of the vegetation has occurred.
The greatest damage in the immediate trail vicinity is the trail itself. Meaning, intitial construction/routing of the trail created a gouge on the landscape. Otherwise, the area might be pristine (or not). A few more inches to either side isn’t going to be a major impact. It’s a small price to pay to be able to increase access for those who may have some disability.
And for all you younger folks, get them now and spare your knees some. Maybe you’ll have the opportunity to continue this grand endeavor into old age.
Alligator
Is it necessary to have 2 poles or would one be sufficient. To me 2 sounds like an over kill,???
Rebecca & Bennett
When I started Backpacking at the young age of 57, I had a lot of trouble with lower backpain. Newsom’s Backpackink suggests two hiking poles to solve this. It worked for me and has kept me on the trail for 6 years.
My observations are that staying centerered on trail is more important to trail wear but I do think poles do increase trail wear some.
I understand poles have been common in europe longer and observations from there might help. Have not hiked there myself.
“Lilac” Ken Coe
For balance, one pole was sufficient. But 2 poles will transfer up to 15% of the load to your arms, which aren’t doing anything in terms of weight-bearing while hiking. To get load off of both knees, the arms on each side would need to be engaged. I suppose the poles would also help the hips some too.
Alligator
From both a weight bearing and a balance prespective, it is better to have 4 contacts (2 poles and 2 feet) with mother earth than just 2. A single hiking staff is great and helps with balance and will prevent falls if you fall in one direction, but will do no good at all if you have to go off balance and fall in the direction in which the hiking staff can’t help you because it happened to be positioned on the wrong side of the body at that time. This is an LNT issue, even a foot print is a trace. Just how far do we want to go with the LNT thing? I highly recommend hiking staffs and poles (yes 2 of them) for anyone who wants and needs to use them. They help a lot. Keep on hiking.
Maintain
Alligator mentions that the use of poles on the trail will spare your knees in the future. I have been trying to decide if I should use poles or not. So far my knees are fine. Can anyone tell me how helpful poles are? Is there anyone that are anti-pole?
Heather
We tried them for the first time in VA after an ice/snow storm in February. Awesome aid! They probably helped keep us from serious injury when we probably should not have even been hiking. Highly recommended summer or winter! Take two!
Sky Rider
Sky Rider
They save a rolled ankle, right or left and set your tarp. River crossings are a lot safer.
B+B
Lekis and the like do damage trails. Lekis and the like do help hikers hike. Use your head, keep the impact inside the trail bed, and don’t use them above treeline in the Whites and on Katahdin.
(For you youngsters - would you believe there was this same debate decades ago, but the villain back then was ‘waffle’ boot soles?)
TJ
Like TJ says, there has always been the debate about trail damage. First it was hob nail boots. Then vibram soles. Somehow we got over that, and now the debate is on about treking poles.
But, if the majority of thru-hikers use them, there must be a good benefit, otherwise these guys would not carry the weight. So, I consider that to be a good testimonial for using 2 poles.
Peaks
It is one of the first items bought at Walisiyi (sp, sorry Wanda). After comming down Blood Mt. in GA young and old a like, get poles for their knees. If not there, they will have them by the time they finish NOC. They kept me from hitting the trail many times. And my big but would have made far more damage than the end of the pole. 2 poles, the only way to go!!
Papa Smurf
If you’re worried about trail erosion issues, Leki’s rubber tips work really well (not the tiny little tips some others sell, or the ones that protect the tips of a new set of other brand poles). There aren’t many rocks down south, so the carbide tips aren’t as important there (as opposed to the Whites, PA, etc.). Plus, with the rubber tips you won’t collect so many dry leaves on your tips in the spring and fall. Jeff and I used them through the south. Glue them on, and they stick around a long time.
I felt like a trash collector without them - carrying a pile of leaves that had been spiked on each pole tip. Now that’s useless weight!
As for 2 poles vs. one - almost everyone developes the “hiker hobble” over the course of the trail - 2 poles go a long way towards keeping you hiking on those inevitable sore feet.
-Chipper
Chipper and Jeff '02
<a href:“www.cascadedesigns.com”>Cascade Designs puts out a series of hiking poles under the “Tracks” brand name. They’ve got a large, sturdy, durable rubber pad that is threaded to screw on right over the spike tip. Use the pads most of the time, but you can always take them off if you need the spikes.
Teddy Roosevelt
I want to thank everyone for their input. Teddy, thanks for the heads up about the Cascade Designs poles–they seem to be what I am looking for. Also, thanks Leif and Zipdrive, this is a great site!!
Jeff from GSU
Poles work. I did develop sore spots in both knees at various points during my hike last year but all I did was time a pole with the problem leg and the knees healed. They can keep your pace for you. They can dull the boredom at times, and you will become bored if you end up alone hiking for a few days. How many people made up tunes to the beat of their poles? They just become an extension of you. As far as rubber tips, I used them. By doing so I never had to replace a carbide tip. I did go through three sets of rubber tips though. One set from wearing out and two for just losing them. It was nice not picking up leaves in the south. That is how I knew when I lost a tip. I started picking up leaves. But if you have Leki poles I would suggest using their rubber tips if you choose to use rubber. As far as trail erosion, I don’t want to get into that. I will say that when you get up north or in rocky terrain you will notice the scarred rocks. I can testify that rubber tips work as well as carbide tips on rocks as far as I’m concerned. Some will disagree with that as does Leki. Leki says rubber tips are for road use. At least that is what a rep told me. I think the use of rubber tips is a personal thing. Buy a set and see if you like them. But don’t install then on old carbide tips. They will come off pretty quick. I didn’t try gluing them on but that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. You could always cut off a worn out tip.
One note though. I would suggest not using the wrist straps. I fell in ice last year and due to the strap not letting me drop the pole, I dislocated my shoulder on Clingmans Dome. Just put your thumbs over the end of the poles to keep them out of your chest. It eventually becomes natural for you to do that.
Two Scoops
I’m planning on taking 8 trekking poles with me, and pulling a spreader filled with Scots Turfbuilder and grass seed. If anybody’s leaving after April 16, make sure to bring some straw to help keep the seeds on the trail. We’ll make the AT have the best lawn in the country, and there’s 8 directions I can’t fall.
The Amazing Gavo