Any hikers/hillwalkers on the SD? I just got back from a weekend of hillwalking in Scotland, and noticed that the majority of walkers were using trekking poles. I’m interested to know what the pros and cons (if any) are, has anyone had good experience with them?
I have strong knees (for now 
), so no specific problems with climbing/descending. However, we did a couple of quite steep ridge walks that hammered the legs in general, maybe poles would have reduced fatigue?
Like anything else there are fads that come and go in hill-walking, trekking poles may be one of these “Hey look how serious* I * am, you need trekking poles to do the routes I choose!”.
I don’t know where you come from but from what I remember of hiking in Scotland, unlike much of England and Wales, following routes depended as much on compass reading as following an eroded, beaten path - and scree was always a possible so maybe people use poles as a sort of security blanket, a third point of contact for stability and, with them being shiny technical looking, you don’t run the risk of being labelled as an old wrinkly who needs ‘walking sticks’ 
I used to agree with Cat… but then my boyfriend got a nice pair: ergonomic grips, shocks - they were springy, like these: http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=11415777&parent_category_rn=5114910&vcat=REI_SEARCH)
So I tried them out on a backpacking trip. We were going up and down steep grades with 30 pound packs, and I gotta tell you, those poles really helped me keep my balance… so, since I didn’t have to expend so much energy keep balance on the ups and down and rocky parts of the trail, it freed up more energy for the strenuous hiking. They are especially useful in really rocky or uneven conditions and crossing shallow streams, etc.
So after I tried them out, we fought over them the whole time! 
I use them because I have a bad knee, and they make a huge difference. With no poles and a pack on, I’d have to stop frequently and basically walk at a crawl because it hurt so bad. Got a pair just to see if they helped and now I have no trouble keeping up with my husband and hauling ass up the trail. He finally got jealous and got himself a pair too. If you think about it, it’s like having an extra set of legs.
I have bad knees, so I carry a five-foot walking stick. Usually I just swing it casually, but it really helps if I’m going uphill or downhill.
While rehabbing from a tweaked knee, I was hiking up this one training hill, and I came across this guy using the trekking poles (and carrying a full pack). When we got to the top, I asked him about them, and he mentioned that he had screwed up one of his legs (can’t remember if it was knee or ankle) and he started using the poles after that. He told me that it may not seem like much, but you are able to offset your weight with the poles. And therefore can relieve the stress on your tweaked leg part. And that it made a big difference. So I got myself a cheap pair (basic - no shocks) and tried them, and am a firm believer.
I think for dayhikes (not backpacking), they can be useful. But for backpacking, they are extremely valuable. Especially for rocky downhills. In fact, I sometimes only use them on downhills when I’m backpacking. It’s the lowering of your body weight that has the most potential for twisting a knee or ankle. And having those extra supports really makes a difference.
I would say, if you’ve tweaked a joint, then they would be valuable. If you go backpacking, they are very valuable (did I mention crossing streams ?). For casual dayhikes, they may be more trouble than they’re worth.
Cons:
They’re light, but still have some weight. You have to really sand or file down any little nick in the handles as they will grind away at your hands during a hike. Perhaps the most annoying thing is needing to unthread your hands from the loops everytime you want to take a picture or something.
If you’re hiking cross country (through brush), they can be a real pain so it is often easier to just store them away through those sections.
Tip:
For steep uphills/downhills be sure you adjust the lengths: for uphills, slightly shorter than usual. For downhills, slightly longer than usual. Otherwise the angle change on your arms will fatigue you quicker.
I think it would be a more balanced workout, putting your arm muscles to use.
But if it really takes extra exertion and risks overdoing it without realizing, then it could spell trouble for those with medical problems.
As a member of a hiking club, and a hiker for many years, I am pretty darn sure it’s not a fad. They provide balence and shock absorbtion, along with the ability to use your arms for part of your propulsion.
Younger hikers tend to shy away from them, as well as many dayhikers, as they have lighter loads, but as they gain experence they usually will pick up a pair.
Some dayhikers perfer only one stick, using 2 for backpacking (multiday), or winter hiking.
Over the years the sticks have gotten lighter, and that should cause more to use them.
I bought a single hiking pole many years back and wasn’t sure if it would be useful, but it turns out to be a very good thing to have on New England trails. Particularly in the White Mountains, trails can be very steep, rocky, and often slick, and a well-placed walking stick can save your ankles. Particularly when it’s starting to get dark and you’re still a ways from the trailhead and have to start pushing it. Also very useful for crossing streams and cushioning the descents. I haven’t tried one of the shock-absorbing sticks, but I imagine that they’re pretty nice.
I hike nearly every weekend during summer and fall, and I wouldn’t be without them. I don’t take them on every hike but I will take them on any long hike or anytime I’m carrying a heavy load. They really make a difference for my knees at the end of the day.
Thanks for the opinions, seems like everyone rates the poles. I had thought of them as a bit geriatric, to be honest, but I’m going to get a pair for the next walk and see how they do.
If you have a pair of downhill or X-C ski poles, just bring those along rather than buy a $50 pair of trekking poles. See if you like them first, then maybe drop the bucks for the collapsable kind.