Bushwalk Australia

Hi guys

I have never really been into walking poles but after speaking with a friend recently, knowing of my plans to start carrying a heaver pack he suggested that get one. He said that it would come in handy when going down hill with a heaver pack.

My question is are all walking poles created equal? Like I get that a $10 one isn't going to be the same as a $50 one but once you are looking about the $50 mark, in that price range are they all about the same? The one I was looking at getting is the Alloy 3 Walking Pole that Macpac sell... Any ideas, anything that one should take particular not of when buying a walking pole?

Cheers
Anthony

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TBH iv'e never heard of anyone having as many dramas with them as you Brett Do you fling yourself across creeks yodelling as your airborne?

*Beware anything cheap <$60-70 with a spring
*One is a 'staff', two are 'walking poles', there is a big difference that staffers cannot appreciate. Both styles are better than none imo

The lesser alloys will also be heavier, as the tubes need to be thicker to be anywhere near the strength of the better ones.

I may have had a lucky run with my Fizan poles - they've been through the wringer and are still going strong after close to two years (I'm 95Kg). IIRC they are heat-treated 7005 alloy with a tungsten carbide tip and spring mechanism which hasn't given me any grief. These were ~$100 RRP at Kathmandu (so I paid ~$50 ea).

I've tried the Nordic walking thing and it wasn't for me - ended up paying more attention to where my feet and poles were going than enjoying my surroundings - but the second one comes in handy when walking with others and will probably end up being cannibalised for spare parts at some stage.

Poles ain't poles.. as explained above.
Have a look at this page http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/poles.htm for a good explanation of what poles are all about and how to use them.
My preference is for the double flick lock on the Black Diamond. Exped also has some with that and Leki will have something similar next year.
The reason I like the FL is because I do adjust them for ascents and descents, also that gives me a quick adjustment to put my tent in tension.
I was very impressed with the new Gossamer Gear Lightrec 4, (very light!!!) but they are very expensive, possibly more fragile than the BD and a bit of a pain to adjust.
But, up to a point , the lighter the better.
Folded size is also important for me (for travelling) so think about that too.
A mate had his brand new Carbon Fiber one piece poles crashed inside the luggage compartment of the bus . $99 US, six days of use..
Franco
I grew up seeing Nordic Style in use (cross country skiing) so to me that is natural, however if I take note of how I do it I go out of sync and tend to trip over...

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Laugh all you like but my "grandpa " style $10.00 walking poles have served me well over the last three years!! total outlay $30.00 and they are all still serviceable just need replacement of elastic on wrist strap on two however I do use them at walking stick length .
corvus

One of my poles flung me into the Scoparia this morning, went down hard and face first in a tangle, I wasnt impressed....

I must admit, the things are much better suited to open country and trails, I do carry them a lot. Guess they are doing something armwise (isometrics?) as I hardly notice i'm carrying them. A lot of the time they seem to just be kinda bumping along behind. They have saved me there a few times like that, ready for a quick jab.

I have noticed, given time, that the natural position for them rarely goes far forward in the swing more like a jab slightly forward and follow through. I think this has come with miles as i seem to remember consciously swinging them well forward in the early days.

Also find that I rarely adjust them much now. Keep the hands free and just slide down the shaft if necessary...
Maybe this is something to try (lock them hard in the 'square arm' position?

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Sorry to be a wet wig but I cannot help but be concerned about the damage poles do the trails.

Some downhill sections of the South Coast track were clearly failing consistently about the locations where the ground was many punctured by pole points.

Does anyone else have these concerns?

wander wrote:Sorry to be a wet wig but I cannot help but be concerned about the damage poles do the trails.

Some downhill sections of the South Coast track were clearly failing consistently about the locations where the ground was many punctured by pole points.

Does anyone else have these concerns?

You cannot be for real with this comment( which I have also read in a Magazine some where) ,they are smallish holes not HUGE bootprints ,puncture holes are just that!! and will fill naturally especially on the SC track.
corvus

I dont like pole holes in cushion plants, but the south coast track is WELL beyond any damage done by poles.

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I've seen pole holes in cushion plants, etc. However, I've seen plenty of boot prints on cushion plants, too. I think that inconsiderate walkers will damage the environment with whatever means they have available.

ILUVSWTAS wrote:I dont like pole holes in cushion plants, but the south coast track is WELL beyond any damage done by poles.

+1

Son of a Beach wrote:I've seen plenty of boot prints on cushion plants, too. I think that inconsiderate walkers will damage the environment with whatever means they have available.

Absence of mind / awareness would be the main means available, I suspect.