Lots of people use
walking poles. Lots of people don’t. Here
at
Up and Under we think that a set of
walking poles are almost as important as
your
boots when it comes to
hill walking and trekking.
We can think of an almost endless number of obscure reasons
why carrying poles is a good idea (Chris once managed to stretcher an injured
Labrador off a mountain with a set!). However here are 6 reasons why
carrying a set of poles will make your walking more enjoyable.
- Reduce
impact on joints in ankles, knees and hips when descending. We’ve
heard there can be a reduction of up to 30%! That is a huge amount and
could really make the difference between pain and no pain after a walk.
- Helps
on level and uphill ground too. As you are putting a significant
amount of weight through your arms, you are reducing the strain on your
legs helping you walk further.
- Full
body workout. When you use poles you tend to work your upper body much
more. This is great for general mobility, muscle tone and strength and is
a real benefit of poles if walking is your main form of exercise.
- Stability.
When walking on uneven terrain or descending steep slopes, poles can be a
useful aid in keeping you upright! They can also be very useful when
crossing streams and small rivers where you may not be able to see the
terrain clearly.
- Improved
posture. Walking with poles tends to promote a more upright posture.
Good posture (i.e. neutral spine alignment) is important as it will not
only reduce the chances of back pain but also improve breathing and
therefore respiration (transfer of oxygen to the bloodstream). This can
subsequently lead to improved performance as muscles receive more oxygen.
- Muscle
balance. Not strictly a benefit of using poles, but an advantage of using
two poles instead of just one. Using two poles means that muscles on both
sides of the body are doing an equal amount of work. This will reduce
chances of injury and ensure good posture.
Essentially all of this should mean that you can walk for longer and cover more ground in more comfort. It will also mean that you feel better after the walk, which means you can get back out on the hills sooner. They may even help prevent an injury that could keep you cooped up indoors for a long time!
We sell poles from
Leki and
Black Diamond. All the poles we
sell at
Up and Under are very high quality, using strong, light materials and
sturdy joints. They should last a long time, perform well and are unlikely to
break. However, any poles are better than no poles whether they cost £10 or
£100!
We try to cover most budgets with poles like the
Leki
Voyager and
Black Diamond Trail Back offering great value, whilst the
Black
Diamond Distance FL is perfect for those looking to shave every gram. We have
loads of options in between, the
Leki Softlite is a good all-round option and
is probably our best selling pole. If you prefer the ease of use of a ‘flick
lock’ system rather than the traditional twist to lock style then take a look
at the
Leki Corklite Speedlock or
Black Diamond Trail Pole. Some people like
‘anti shock’ poles. These have little springs that help reduce impact further.
The
Leki Softlite AS and
Black Diamond Trail Shock are good options.
If you are after
Nordic Walking Poles then
click here.
All of our poles are sold as pairs and are priced as such.
For the reasons listed above we feel that using two poles is far more effective
than using just one. It is important to care for your poles. Don’t leave them
soaking wet in the garage. They can easily be dismantled into sections rinsed
and dried. This is especially important if you have been walking along beaches,
as the salt water will corrode the poles quickly.
Click here for our full range of walking poles.