Re: [at-l] trekking poles

["cosmo catalano, jr." <Cosmo.A.Catalano@williams.edu>]

A former single bamboo user, I too have been converted to double pole 
use.  All it took was one hike to convince me it was a better way, if 
less aesthetic.

###

Mara wrote:
"With hiking pole straps used properly, the straps lay flat on the back of
your hands (not your wrists) rather than "under" your wrists.  They then
wrap around your hands while staying flat, cross your palm and come out
between thumb and forefinger.  That way, pressing down with your arms
presses the pole into your hand without requiring you to grip the pole."

####

This is very similar to XC ski pole attachments, the pole "fling" to 
get them ahead of you is not recommended for skiing, but the use of 
the strap to generate more push is.  You really don't have to grip 
the handles tightly to put a lot of force onto the pole.  This works 
best for me on relatively flat trail or roadwalk.  You can really 
take some weight off your feet this way and make much longer strides, 
but you have to get a different rythmn going from "normal" walking.

When the terrain gets uneven, I'm pretty much using the poles for 
balance rather than speed.  The straps are also useful in very 
vertical terrain where you switch from pole support to using your 
hands.  With the straps on, you can just let the poles dangle from 
your wrists.  The only problem I worry about is on steep downs, if I 
fall, I want to get the poles out of the way, rather than be 
skewered, so I do sometime unstrap.  Sometimes I'll even hold the 
pole so the top of the handle in centered in my palm so I can really 
lean on it.  This is probably poor technique, but WTH...  Also there 
are times on the trail where I don't want to use the poles as all 
(not having the need for speed, or when my arms are tired), being 
able to collapse them and attach them to my pack is useful.

The formerly bamboozled,

Cosmo
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