I get it all the time. It's snow-free weather and here I am carrying a pair of hiking sticks (or trekking poles) on my way to a trail when someone smartly jokes, "Hey, are you going skiing or something?" But on the flip side, when I'm on the trail with hiking sticks, I would always pass by people hiking who would point at my sticks and say, "That's a good idea!"I guess this is indicative of the difference of opinion about hiking sticks. Despite the derision and extra burden of carrying around these poles, I believe that they're worth it. I have arthritic knees from years of playing basketball and using these sticks on hiking trips have allowed me to better enjoy the scenery while allowing me to take my mind off my knee problems.
Hiking sticks are beneficial in many ways. One of the most important benefits is that they give you two extra legs (if you're carring two sticks), which increases your stability. The stability is nice for balance when you're crossing streams on boulders, logs, or stones. Often it's a hassle to change shoes in the middle of hike (you wouldn't want to waterlog and ruin your expensive gore-tex hiking boots, wouldn't you?) so the balance gained by the extra pair of legs will keep you dry while maintaining your momentum as you're boulder hopping. The extra legs also help distribute the force and shock of each step you take, which mostly goes to the knees. The added stability can also decrease the likelihood you'll be twisting an ankle or knee (since not all of your weight is on your feet), and keep you upright (which is especially important if you're carrying lots of weight on an overnight backpack trip). When you're going downhill on a steep decline, the extra legs can help you "spider" your way down confidently. Hiking sticks can also benefit you in unexpected ways. For example, you can use the sticks to probe for depth in a stream crossing or marshy area, you can creatively use them as a makeshift tripod for photography, you can lean on them for rest, you can push off the sticks while ascending a hill, and you may make yourself appear bigger in wildlife encounters by raising the sticks or at least defend yourself when all else fails.
In order to realize the benefits of hiking sticks, you must hold them properly. This means that you must utilize the straps attached to the handles of trekking poles, which allows you to lightly hold on to the sticks. You won't realize most of the benefits of trekking poles by holding onto the handles in a vice-like death grip without using the straps. To properly grip the poles and thus taking advantage of the straps, place your hand through the looping strap with your palm facing forward and your fingers upright (kind of like you're about to push through the loop of the strap). Your wrist should be resting on the strap while your fingers are free to grip the stick. If you're familiar with cross country skiing, it's the same way your grip the ski poles. Once you've properly gripped the sticks, you should try to establish a rhythm with both your arms and legs as you hike to ensure that one stick and one leg strike the ground at roughly the same time (preferably in such a way that opposite arm and leg are in use).
Trekking poles do have their drawbacks. For example, you'll have to carry extra weight while not having free hands and you'll be exerting more energy as your arms now play a greater role in each stride you take while hiking. The lack of free hands can be especially cumbersome when you're scrambling and need to hold onto trees or rocks. Hiking sticks can also fail by slipping or changing length without warning, which can be hazardous when you're exposed to drop-offs or when the trails are narrow. They might also get caught in dense vegetation or in grooves on bridges or fallen trees on narrow trails as well. If you're hiking closely with your partner, you might poke that person inadvertently. Furthermore, the tips of the sticks may make loud noises when striking hard surfaces such as granite, pavement, or lava. Finally, it's possible to disturb or even destroy vegetation just off the trail (if it's narrow) as hiking sticks typically require you to use more room.
Given the pros and cons of hiking sticks, it's ultimately up to what your comfort levels are and how you perceive what your hiking situations will be. There are still many backpackers and hikers who are adamant about not using trekking poles and view them as nuisances, while there are those like me who look at them as tools to enhance the outdoor experience. Regardless of your choice, the ultimate point of going outdoors is to escape to nature and enjoy the beauty around us. Trekking poles are merely one way to help you achieve those goals.
