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Thought trekking poles were for old guys until my knees quit on a 9 mile climb in Zion
I always figured poles were kinda goofy and just extra weight, so I hiked Utah for years without them. On the way up to Angels Landing my knees started screaming around mile 6 and some guy in his 60s cruised past me with two poles like it was nothing. He let me borrow them for the last stretch and I felt maybe 30 percent less beat up by the time I hit the top. Bought a cheap $40 pair at the REI in Springdale the next morning and have not done a real hike without them since. Anyone got a rec for ones that do not rattle like crazy on rock?
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charlie_ellis12d ago
Poles are a crutch that keeps your stabilizer muscles weak and messes with your gait. My buddy carried a pair for two seasons and ended up with weird shoulder pain from planting them unevenly, plus you burn extra energy swinging them every step. Real hiking is about building leg strength and balance on your own, not leaning on sticks. If your knees quit at mile 6, that's a sign to train more and lighten your pack, not buy gear to patch the problem.
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