Walking poles
Posted by outdoormole on May 19, 2009
Walking poles are a hugely popular addition to your standard walking kit and are proven to help increase the calories you burn while using them as well as alleviating the pressure on your knees – especially when walking downhill. They also generally help with your balance on uneven ground.
Poles are sold in pairs but some people only choose to use one at a time – perhaps to support an injured knee, or to keep one hand free for balance. One pole certainly makes a difference to the walking experience but using two means you’re more evenly distributing the demand on your body.
Good walking poles are height adjustable – and will require adjusting as you walk over different terrain to ensure their effectiveness – and tend to be telescopic so that they can be secured easily in your rucksack when not in use. Some come with integral shock absorbers – particularly useful if you suffer with arthritic knees.
As with many things, if you aren’t holding your poles correctly, you won’t get maximum benefit from them. A common mistake for walkers is holding the pole incorrectly; the hand should be placed upwards through the strap which allows you to place your weight onto the pole without having to grip it over-tightly.
