[pct-l] Poles

It's not so much the shock absorber feature that
affects your elbows.
You need adjustable length poles.  Poles should be set
to a height
That puts your fore-arm parallel to the ground.  When
hiking up, shorter
Poles are more efficient.  When hiking down, longer
poles are better.  On level
Ground the poles should be set to a length that makes
your fore-are level to the ground.
Ski poles are longer because we use them to set our
turns which is a constant length based on the terrain..

Most poles have optional crutch tip ends.  These rubber
caps do not make any
Noise as you walk, do not make holes in the trail, do
not scratch the surface of stone pathways.
Recent studies have shown the effectiveness of hiking
poles.  With each step the weight of  impact on your
feet is
Reduced by several pounds which adds up over the miles.
Naturally you have better balance and the poles are
very useful in other
Situations...crossing streams,  etc.

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Hike On and On


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