[at-l] Sticks and Stones

[m_factor@hotmail.com (Mara Factor)]

I find the straps on hiking poles to be invaluable.  Without straps, you are 
supporting a significant amount of weight with your hands and fingers as you 
grip the pole.

The term "wrist straps" is somewhat of a misnomer as they really don't go 
around your wrists when used properly.  The straps should go around the back 
of your hands, near your wrists, around the outsides of your hands, and then 
across your palms with both ends of the straps coming up between your thumb 
and forefinger (a picture here is worth a thousand words).  When you grip 
the poles, the straps should be between your palms and the poles.

When you do this, you'll notice that you don't have to grip the poles at all 
when you put weight on them.  Just putting the weight on them will have the 
affect of pushing the grips right into your hands.

As for collapsable poles, I didn't adjust my poles much on the AT where you 
were constantly going up and down.  Using them elsewhere though, I do quite 
a bit.  When you are going uphill for a long time, it's nice to make them 
shorter.  Longer for downhills.  They're also convenient for packing.

The springs are probably unecessary but I find they reduce a bit of strain 
on arms and shoulders compared to poles without springs.

$60.  $130.  $10.  Whatever you pay for poles will be a whole lot less than 
treating whatever damage you could otherwise do to your knees, ankles, etc.

Mara
Stitches, GAME99

P.S.  Cross country skiers generally use straps the same way but I've seen 
so many skiers and hikes alike who do not use straps properly that you 
really can't say "a skier can show you how" anymore.



>From: KellyGoVols@aol.com
>To: at-l@backcountry.net
>Subject: [at-l] Sticks and Stones
>Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 14:11:00 EST
>
>Do I need a pair of high tech leki poles, or can I use the bamboo stick I
>picked up in the Ocala Forest?  It has a rubber tip, but it doesn't have
>wrist straps.  I mean, do I really NEED wrist straps?  I want to have a
>comfortable hike (HA!) but $60 for sticks?!?!?
>
>Kel
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