Trekking poles

[Scrump]

I am thinking about trying trekking poles for my weekend walks. Have never used them before so looking for some advice.
Prices seem to vary from very cheap to quite expensive ( carbon fibre).

I have noticed that Lidl have some arriving in the middle aisle next week so am wondering if these are worth buying to try the concept ( it is not much money lost if I don’t like them) or are they no good and I would be better off with a higher quality pair from the outset?
Looking at the cork handled ones here:
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/aluminium-hiking-poles/p1...

Searching old threads I saw Leki poles recommended but they vary from about £50 a pair up to £150 a pair (at go outdoors), confused.

[anonymous-user]

Scrump said:

I am thinking about trying trekking poles for my weekend walks. Have never used them before so looking for some advice.
Prices seem to vary from very cheap to quite expensive ( carbon fibre).

I have noticed that Lidl have some arriving in the middle aisle next week so am wondering if these are worth buying to try the concept ( it is not much money lost if I don’t like them) or are they no good and I would be better off with a higher quality pair from the outset?
Looking at the cork handled ones here:
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/aluminium-hiking-poles/p1...

Searching old threads I saw Leki poles recommended but they vary from about £50 a pair up to £150 a pair (at go outdoors), confused.

Probably made from carbon fibre and your paying for the name. Go for he cheaper ones, and this might seem a but odd but watch some utube videos on how to get the best out of them, you might find no use at all.

[spikeyhead]

The cheaper ones are fine for general use. If you're walking for many hours on end then having some lighter ones help, but not everyone gets on with them so I'd start cheap.

[AlpineWhite]

Make sure you learn how to use them - I'd say most people don't use the straps properly and get little benefit as a result.

Twist lock mechanisms are prone to failure in my experience, the ones with levers are better. But to try them out, why not start with a cheap pair?

[LordHaveMurci]

I bought a pair from Sports Direct for about £20, heavier than £100 ones but do i care? Nope.

They make a huge difference to me on difficult hikes, easier walks I tend not to use them.

[Scrump]

Thanks for the replies. Seems like a pair of cheap ones will be fine as a starting point.
Will pop down to the local Lidl next week.

[vaud]

Also always buy a pair. Never just one as they are not good for your gait.

[Faust66]

The Lidl poles look to be pretty good for 30 quid a pair... at that price you can't really go wrong.

The add states they extend to 135 cm... they'll be fine if you're not too tall. My Leki poles go up to 150 cm IIRC: I have them at 135 as I'm quite tall (6ft 5). It's worth bearing in mind that the poles won't be as stable at full extension, so if you think this may be an issue, perhaps look elsewhere.

I'd agree with what others have said: watch videos and learn how to use your poles.










It's Friday so I'm having some beers. There are many double entendres above, and I've hardly sniggered at all.

[w1bbles]

I use mine for Munros so they get stuck between rocks and generally suffer immense abuse. I go through a pair a year so cheap ones suit me better - I then don’t feel too bad if I fall on one and it bends beyond recovery. They’re brilliant on the knees for downhill sections.

[Skyedriver]

Did Ben Nevis in 2022, couldn't have done it without 2 poles.
Wife won't go on a walk with out at least one.
It's the balance, the support, the confidence they give you.

[popeyewhite]

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

[ben5575]

popeyewhite said:

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

Ignore this ^^^ nonsense.

As previously mentioned, learn how to use them properly, particularly the straps. At £20 they're a no brainer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2YwOE4okA

[Faust66]

ben5575 said:

popeyewhite said:

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

Ignore this ^^^ nonsense.

As previously mentioned, learn how to use them properly, particularly the straps. At £20 they're a no brainer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2YwOE4okA

It's not the first time popeyewhite has come out with this 'theory'. Seem to recall Bill roundly debunked him over on my Hiking Gear and Adventures thread.

As Bill is a Physio who knows what he's talking about (he was kind enough to give me some valuable advice a while back), I know who I'd be listening to...

[w1bbles]

popeyewhite said:

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

Agreed with everyone above. This is utter b0llocks.

[SlowcoachIII]

I would go cheaper to start off with until you’re sure you like them as I find them quite irksome but others I’m with love them. I only tend to use mine if the day will push me to my limits and I need the additional power of my upper body.

[ecsrobin]

Faust66 said:

ben5575 said:

popeyewhite said:

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

Ignore this ^^^ nonsense.

As previously mentioned, learn how to use them properly, particularly the straps. At £20 they're a no brainer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2YwOE4okA

It's not the first time popeyewhite has come out with this 'theory'. Seem to recall Bill roundly debunked him over on my Hiking Gear and Adventures thread.

As Bill is a Physio who knows what he's talking about (he was kind enough to give me some valuable advice a while back), I know who I'd be listening to...

Yep bks.

I read that poles take about 20-30% of load off you.

Be had numerous back issues over the years so at Christmas I got some black diamond poles to enable me to do longer walks again. I’m amazed how much quicker I am uphill than friends without poles.

As mentioned also how you use the wristbands makes a big difference.

[lizardbrain]

I quite like the feeling of having four legs during a descent. Basically eliminates jelly knees.

I've always bought the cheapest 10 quid pair. I wasn't aware the expensives ones were proportionately better. I'm skeptical but admittedly havn't tried them and generally don't pay any attention to weight. Taking paper books etc

[smifffymoto]

Poles make a world of difference.

Buy them.

[popegregory]

w1bbles said:

popeyewhite said:

Ditch the poles, work on your walking fitness. If you try a mountain and can't do it without poles you shouldn't be going up unless the poles are a workaround for a short term injury.

Further to the above, the more you use poles the worse your walking will get, obvs.

Agreed with everyone above. This is utter b0llocks.

Semi b0ll0cks, in his defence, the point about fitness is entirely valid and needs considering before you embark on some big adventure. Yes to the poles though, and you’ll be astonished at the difference you didn’t expect them to make. As soon as you start some extended mileage, and especially on a hill descent, you’ll really notice the difference. Agree with the others about start cheap and see how you get on. Best bet is some eBay Leki sticks off someone whose New Year’s resolution was to be a mountain climber but gave up after a day on the Malverns. Yes, carbon lightweight Lekis are great for a winter spine race but frankly, for casual recreational use, even with cheap ones you’ve got to want to break them

Edited by popegregory on Saturday 3rd February 07:41

[Roofless Toothless]

I was sat outside a restaurant in Cadiz once, enjoying a nice lunch with friends. There was a thumping great cruise liner in the harbour, looking like a multi-storey hotel - which it was, I suppose. A bunch of American tourists came past, nervously following a tour guide, and I noticed several of them were using poles, like they were scaling Kilimanjaro or something. Obviously, they had never walked more than 20 yards in their lives, and it was all a tremendous adventure for them.

After lunch we all had a nice stroll round town. Unaided.