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With my right knee not doing so well, can anyone recommend hiking poles. I have seen some in a local store but the prices are a bit high imho. Or would I be better off with a "stick from the woods"? I have seen some in the Grand Canyon at Vercamps, but not sure about them since I'm just getting started. I would like anyones opinion. Don't have lots of money, looking at around $50. give or take.

Jeff

0hurricanes wrote:With my right knee not doing so well, can anyone recommend hiking poles. I have seen some in a local store but the prices are a bit high imho. Or would I be better off with a "stick from the woods"? I have seen some in the Grand Canyon at Vercamps, but not sure about them since I'm just getting started. I would like anyones opinion. Don't have lots of money, looking at around $50. give or take.

Poles definitely ease the strain on the knees, they especially take the shock and jarring out of downhill stretches.

The advantages of the expensive poles are: 1) ease of adjustment, you want them a little shorter going uphill, a little longer going downhill and just right for even terrain. I typically adjust mine for a slight downhill and leave them at that. 2) lightweight and 3) shock absorbing (to reduce shoulder & upper back stress).

Watch some of the online retail sites like Campmor for close-outs on poles - sometimes 75% off.

A friend of mine has bought old ski poles at garage sales for $2. They are about 50" so a little long but fine for helping going downhill. He has cut some poles down and capped them with a 22 casing. Very lightweight. Nice grips and straps. This same friend will also use old Century Plant stalks if he forgets his poles.

Don't waste your money on those Verkamp poles. Go to Home Depot and find something if you want a big wood pole.

GO WITH THE WAL MART ONES-YOU CAN'T GO WRONG. I ALWAYS CARRY ONE.

I followed Preston's advice and used the Walmart ones before my surgery. I'd definitely recommend them.

Yep, go with Wal-Mart. They're cheap too, so if it breaks or something, what's $10?

I used to use one, then for Christmas got one from Jobar International, Inc. It's adjustable with a shock absorber in it. The POS broke already. I can't adjust it anymore for some reason. Heard it was expensive too...

Anyway, hiking sticks are a God send, especially when going downhill. I do some serious hiking sometimes, and couldn't get to some places I do without my pole. They make climbing downhill a breeze (as much as it can be). They're nice to have for snakes too, like if I'm climbing down over a rock where a bunch of snakes could be curled up under the bottom, I'll put down the pole first, so if there are any they'll strike the pole and not my leg. Also put them in brush and grass as I walk past.

The only suggestion I have is to stay away from shock absorbing poles. The whole point of poles is to relive some weight from the rest of your body. If the pole gives a little each time you put it on the ground that weight is transferred right back to your body... Also, they are loud (they often squeed a little) and they weight more than poles without (again, your relieving weight right?). Last but not least, more parts equals more parts to break down when you need them.

Just bought one of the Wally World poles today - wanted to try it out at Nine Mile Draw, but ran out of time today.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. I go to wally world on the weekend so I'll check it out. Had a DR. appointment today (orthopedic) and I have ostreo arthritis, so it's a brace for now to help pull apart the knee, then 2-3 years down the road knee replacement. They say I'm to young now (49)! Kind of a double standard, "yes your knee is in bad shape but the good news is your not old enough for a knee replacement"! Again, thanks.

Jeff