More and more people are hitting the trail with “four wheel drive.” Hiking poles sometimes known as trekking poles or just plain walking sticks have increased in popularity recently. From the numerous comments about ski season coming early that I have received during my hikes along the AT in the Shanendoah valley it seems to me that many people do not understand these devices.
These space aged aluminum walking sticks have both mechanical and physiological advantages for hikers and have 101 uses on the trail. Mechanically, the main benefit of hiking poles is that they can widen your base of support. The wider your base of support, the more stable you are. To demonstrate, stand with both feet close together, now ask a friend to push you over. Then stand with your feet shoulder with apart and again have a friend give you a push. Wider is better for hiking. This can really help when you are trying to cover lots of ground, you can travel faster and be more shure footed. Another mechanical advantage of these sticks is that they help to distribute the forces involved in walking over a larger area. Weather it’s walking uphill or down, either the impact forces created walking downhill or the energy demands required to hike up hill. The forces involved can be spread over a larger amount of muscle mass. This results in an increased efficiency of motion.
As with any new sport skill the use of hiking poles takes some practice. There are many different techniques of “polling.” Most people agree that adjustable poles should be extended somewhat when walking downhill and shortened when climbing. To be honest, the best way to determine the optimal length of your poles for each situation is to try different adjustments and use what feels right. A pair of hiking poles will cost between 50-100 dollars depending on the manufacture and quality of materials. From my own personal experience and professional opinion as an exercise physiologist, these pieces of equipment have some really great benefits.
Top 5 Alternate uses for hiking poles
1. Snake be good stick 
2. Support pole for a tarp
3. A long arm to retrieve an almost lost bear bags
4. Sword fights with hiking partners to alleviate boredom
5. Noisemaker to scare away unwanted animals
Popularity: 5% [?]
