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After borrowing one and discovering that actually they are kind of useful, I'm looking to get one of my own. However I'm a bit lost and all I can see when I walk into Millets is 10 million different Leki ones and I don't have a clue what the differences are.

Can anyone recommend one, or point out things I should look for? I'm not looking to spend loads so it doesn't necessarily need to be aerospace-grade carbon fibre or anything.

Thanks!

Hi

I was very skeptical about the use of poles and wasn't that impressed with the leki ones my fella had brought.

Then i discovered pacerpoles, bit more expensive than others (i was lucky enough to get a good deal) but what a difference they do make when walking.  I have a dodgy knee following a ski accident and the poles do seem to help especially downhill.

For me the handles are super comfy and they do seem to feel like a natural extension to your arms.  Also being light, they are easy to stowe when not using them.

I'm really pleased with mine but at the end of the day I'm sure its down to using them correctly.

Good luck

Becky

To buck the trend a liitle, I use but one, this works best for me. I bought a Leki Makalu for £20, last year. I can't praise it enough. Very well made, standing up to this tough winter well. No anti-shock. Good grip that is comfortable. I can open it with gloved hands and haven't had a problem with the two joints freezing up.

Here

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll be checking all the links out shortly!

I did tell a small white lie in my first post - I actually borrowed two but couldn't get into the rhythm of the whole nordic walking thing. Like Neil I found that one seemed to work better.

.Matt

keep trying - 

don't give up on 2 - it takes some practice - it took me a few days of using them constantly (and playing games like counting steps/breaths- like when running - or is that just me?!) to really get into the rhythm.  Once you do it's like riding a bike or juggling, and becomes automatic. 

And you would piss all over your former one-pole-self if you raced each other up a hill!

(and be a lot more stable - what happens when you fall in the direction of the poleless hand.....)

I have Lekis (ergo ultralights - with the antishock 'switch' inside glued closed - so solid)), which are springier than the Black Diamonds I have seen- the problems Guy refers to do happens, but not that often with me.

lightest (aluminium IMO - carbon snaps not bends if it does go) you can afford - but I'd steer clear of those Mountain King 'TrailBlaze' tentpole things if you want to put any weight on the poles(and you probably will)

buy a pair of the cheapest of cheap ones you can find e.g. £2 a pair from the pound shop for example. then you'll be able to assess what you want out of the pole after some proper practice. it will save you lots of money in the long run.

Mr Sworld wrote (see)

PTC* is a fan of the Fizan compact ultra-lite poles (160g!). I'm thinking about them but waiting for a good price to appear!

Mole wrote (see)

Mr Sworld wrote (see)

PTC* is a fan of the Fizan compact ultra-lite poles (160g!). I'm thinking about them but waiting for a good price to appear!

here for £50 a pair  - is that a good price?  Seems it if they are tough enough and faff-free

Embarassing I know but I have a bright green pair I got from Decathlon. If these ever get stolen, I'll buy them again because they're excellent. My idea was get a cheap pair and see how they do like Parky Again suggested but I am so satisfied I wouldn't think of paying more for a famous name. Of course it might just be luck. The grips though are not super comfortable but then I only use them one day at a time so don't have a problem.

I'd recommend the MountainKing brand but not those tentpole type. They do something like 10 poles. Everything from 7075 alloy to the alloy with carbon fibre over the top. Don't know why but could be so if they fail it won't be a sudden catastrophic failure like all carbon ones but would bend and still be useable to get home.

There are many models from shock free to double spring shock which has a soft initial absorber spring then a stronger one for those reall heavy falling over plants. These shock absorbers can also be locked off if needed. Lock the absorbers for uphill to use more of your energy transfered through the poles and releas for the downhill sections. According to their website blurb,

I intend to get the supertrekker one to replace a BD pole with a dented mid section. It is cheaper to get this good quality pole than replace the centre BD section. How bad is that? BD poles are crap at spares. Their retailers and distributors are unhelpful. One (the climbers shop) asked for a £25 special order fee on top of the £20-30 for the mid section!

BTW MountainKing is made in Newcastle so you can buy British made and get a very good pole. Some are only 150g too.

Two poles are also good for backpacking. They help you with the heavier load and you can use as tentpoles with some tents, tarptents or tarps.

I use Black Diamond poles with their shock absorbers.  I find them far superior to Leki, the lock is easy to use with gloves and easy to adjust if required, the shock system is quiet and barely noticeable but takes the sting out of descents. 

My knee gave way a few years back descending off Scafell pike and my poles took the majority of my weight.  The alternative would have been coming down on my bum or an MRT call out.

 I use them or not depending on how I feel, they are  light enough that I will strap them to the side of my pack just in case.

interestingly many years ago before they became popular I did a short winter course in Scotland and virtually all of the instructors were using poles of some description.

Steve D

twiglegs wrote (see)

I've never tried poles and have no feeling of urgency to do so atm. 

I scoffed at pole users for years until a friend lent me a pair. I don't use them on the flat but up and downhill I really appreciate them.

Try a pair and see, a cheap pair will give you the idea as Parky says. Then you'll know and can do something or forget about it.

I have always carried a wood walking stick, either one that I have cut and worked on or a bought in one. These days when travelling I carry a cheap pole for everyday use but if I want to walk faster or longer I use the Pacer poles and I find these ideal for the longer days out.

So all three types have their place and use. My favorite cane for the local fields or a slow walk with the wife, the metal pole for when travelling on public transport and the expencive Pacer Poles for the harder days.

I've never tried poles and have no feeling of urgency to do so atm. 

If you're happy with your knees then there's no real reason to bother.  But it does sound from the above that you're not entirely happy with your knees.

I find that poles are a bit of a faff and don't use them more often than I do, but I started using them because of knee trouble and on longer treks, especially steep downhills, knees and grumblings from them are why I still do.

i've always had an hatred of the tap tap tap noise they cause

Put some rubber feet on them.

Pete.