HikeArizona.COM

In response to Nay_Nay's reply:

Good boots will make a difference. The exception to prove the rule is a woman I know who hiked 80 miles thru the Wind River Mountains in tenny runners, but she is the exception. Well fitting boots are critical, don't stop till you find good ones.

Your knees will love you if you use hiking poles. Start using them before the surgery.

Well fitting footware is the key. Try on many pairs. If you don't want a boot, a good trail running shoe may be for you. Trail runners have a solid shank in them to help with pointy rocks and have a sole for rough terrain. Either way you go socks are just as important as shoes. Stay away from cotton. Go with wool or synthetics. I personaly love socks by a company called smartwool.

As far as a stick goes, I would recomend a pair of trekking poles. Go with Komperdale, Black Diamond or Leki. REI has house brand made by Komperdale that work well and are less expensive than the others.

In response to Nay_Nay's reply:

Whether you need boots depends mainly on how much weight you carry and what the terrain is like. If you're day hiking on reasonably even-surfaced trails, running shoes or trail runners should be fine as long as they fit well and give good support. I wear boots on rocky trails or with loads over 15 pounds. Even if I don't need boots for support, I sometimes wear them for protection from stubbing and abrasion.

I am a huge fan of trekking poles, I use them almost constantly while backpacking and very often when day hiking. The brands john.roach listed are the ones to consider. Check out ( 2018-08-28 dead link removed )
for a thorough evaluation of their pros and cons.

I'll wear tennis shoes occasionally when doing a "work-out" city hike, but I do find that my hiking boots (almost like tennis shoes) feel so much better. The soles are thick enough to absorb my weight on a rocky terrain. I definitely wear them when I'm carrying a load backpacking, or if I'm planning a full day hike and carrying a lot of water.

trekking poles, again I don't generally use them when I'm doing a "work-out" city hike, but almost always on the trail. They steady me with a load, keep me balanced when creek crossing, and are WONDERFUL on my knees when doing steep downhills. I also like them this time of year, with the snakes coming out. I was ready with them once, when a rattler started to hiss and rattle at my passing, gratefully he let me pass without incident.

Mary

One of the many great aspects of HAZ is what "has" been going on with this topic. Terrific advice--very well written--to the point--excellent.

Perhaps the underlying, common thread to the replies is the importance of being in "tune" with your feet and the trail tread and your distance.

Arguably, of course, there is no ONE perfect shoe, boot, footwear, etc. And no ONE perfect sock or combination of socks.

So the "trick," if you want to call it that, is to be willing to spend some money, try different footwear, socks, etc. "Tune" in to how your feet feel on different trails, conditions, etc. No one else's prescription will be right for you. Only you can dechipher what's best for you.

You do that by experimentation--within reason. You surely wouldn't want to go to Phantom Ranch in new shoes/boots/socks (although lots of people do and presumably survive).

The well-informed HAZonians above have given great advice!

As far as sticks go, however, we are emphatic--BUY 'EM & USE 'EM!

Personally, I will not go on a hike without one spring-loaded, adjustable hiking stick--the REI "cheapies" mentioned above. Honest. If I have left home accidentally without (Gawd forbid) my hiking stick I turn around and go get it. And if I am too far from home to turn around and go get it, I don't hike. Period. End of story.

Anyway, this is the type of topic that makes HAZ great. It's so classic!

Thanks to all you posters for your wisdom and insights. Tis awesome!

j

I agree with the opinions listed above and personally always wear my hiking boots and bring my trekking poles whenever I hike. Boots come in a wide range of styles and weights depending on the activity. As john.roach said.......try on MANY pairs. You'll know when you have the right ones because they'll feel like your slippers. I prefer a lightweight, high top hiking boot with good ankle support and find these work well for almost all my hiking and backpacking activities. You don't have to spend a ton of money on them either. I found mine for $40 at Big-5 Sporting Goods. I swear by wearing two pairs of sock also......merino wool first and then a good wicking hiking sock over that. This combo cuts down on blisters and sweating problem. Some people use sock liners but merino wool works well for me.

Trekking poles are the ULTIMATE! Shihiyea already mentioned they save your knees and help provide stability and balance. I've found that they also help me increase my speed once I've got the "rhythm" going and give me somewhat of an upper body workout too!!! I have a pair of spring loaded, anti-shock Leki's that I take with me everywhere. Even on the more vertical trails, they collapse and fit in your pack.

Happy Trails!

:mrgreen:

The history of HAZ, Trekking Pole topics 1, 2 & 3
http://hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtopic.php?t=297
http://hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtopic.php?t=450
http://hikearizona.com/dex2/viewtopic.php?t=1798

I find poles most useful on hikes involving bushwhacking or where I'm extending my recent ability.

They do make good javelins, cactus pole vaulters and snake pusher asiders.

REI has a presentation on hiking/treking poles. I can't find the flyer I picked up today but Matt could chime in.

I don't remember what day it was, but I'll check tomorrow and try to remember to post it in the AM.

Nay-nay, all great advice above! However, I will be the different one concerning trekkie poles. I like my hiking stick.

In response to Abe's reply:

I'm with Abe on this one, or I should say- I was. I have always liked my hiking stick, and if you drop it, say, in the yucky pools at Hieroglyphic Canyon, like I did this weekend, then you are not out 75 bucks.

Alas though, I abandoned my trusty stick on the way up to the Flatiron yesterday. Couldn't find it in the way down.

Guess I am gonna have to get some poles now...

Well, we can sure appreciate your confusion about "hiking sticks" versus "trekking poles" and all of the rest.

Oftentimes, the terms are used interchangeably. That only adds to the confusion.

In days of yesteryore, a hiking stick was a hand-selected and often hand-hewn piece of organic material. Literally: a stick.

It might have been a piece of a tree or some other stout and worthy substance. Here in the Southwest Deserts, a hiking stick can often be a saguaro rib, an aged yucca/agave spout, a riverbottom alder, cottonwood or other riparian species.

People who swear by their "sticks," taken in the truest sense of the word, have a spiritual attachment to those wonderful God-Given, hobbit-style things.

On the other hand, people like me, simply go to the hiking store and walk down the fast-food-stick aisle. We play "pick up sticks" and pay the piper at the check out counter. Yep, it's pricey. But it's fast, down and not so dirty.

We actually own a variety of the Old Style Classic Sticks. One we keep adorned with feathers and totems behind our entry door. I guess you could call it our "Good Will Hiking Stick." Or whatever.

But, when we just want to go hiking, we pick a stick with a spring inside and two adjustable segments. Lightweight metal. Stout, rugged and ready to roll.

When we wish to take a ceremonial hike, we gingerly pick up the sacred yucca stick from behind our front door and go with other sensitive people to a location worthy of the stick's status.

But, don't get me wrong--you can pick up any ol' stick beside any ol' road or trail and it will do just as well as any ol' $75 trekking pole.

It's PURELY a matter of personal preference. And, as always, the choice will ALWAYS be solely yours.

j

With all due respect to all opinions already posted...and I agree that it's a matter of personal preference but I've used both a hiking stick and trekking poles. I used a hiking stick but found that to be awkward for the size and weight and then tried using one metal pole for a while. Then I got two Leki poles and used them and in my opinion, nothing compares to using two. I find my speed increased on climbs and they really helped on descents with taking some of the load off my knees and ankles.

It's all what you're with accustomed to or can get yourself accustomed to and what feels best for you. I've been hiking and backpacking with my two poles for so long, I feel naked without them.


Just my 2 cents

:mrgreen:

I used a broom handle for years, cheap, light, and disposable. But shortly before my second knee surgery I converted to Leki poles, and won't go back. I'm all for simplicity, but the Leki's made a believer of me. Well, my knees believe and I gotta go with them.

In response to Trishness' reply:

I agree, but I sure wouldn't try taking Abe's stick away!

Sometimes I pick up a saguaro rib on unplanned day hikes. It's better than nothing, and I always feel sad leaving it behind. They just don't collapse very well.

big_load wrote:I agree, but I sure wouldn't try taking Abe's stick away!

Ahhhh, come on, I ain't that bad. I just love my stick, had it over 10 years when I bought it at a army surplus store in Prescott before I went on a backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon. It ain't pretty, it ain't high tech, but it's the best companion I ever had.

Certain people are Real Stick People. They gotta have a REAL STICK!

Hey, we think this is cool. NO doubt.

Regardless of the merits or demerits of this discussion, certain people gotta have a real stick. Period.

Well, therefore, this is an FYI for The Real Stick People.

NOAA says the the Southwest (taken as an entire geographic entity) experienced its wettest OCT-FEB period in 110 years of recorded data.

What this means for Real Stick People is that the streambeds of practically EVERY streambed in Arizona are literally littered with the Sticks of Your Dreams!

You can go practically anywhere and find some of the most classic Real Sticks you have ever seen or are likely to ever see. Why?

Well, the fluid dynamics of our just-finished winter have scoured some territory that hasn't been scoured in a lot of years.

Alder is a classic. It makes a fantastic hiking stick. And alder is one of the first to get scoured in a flood. But there's lots of other worthy suspect species, er, sticks...

So, you "Real Stickers," go take a hike in practically any drainage and pick yer stick!

j&s