First off..yes, I would recommend getting a pair of trekking poles. I believe Santa got mine at Wal-Mart. Swiss gear brand, collapseable, cushion grip,wrist strap, multiple ends and it's even got a cheap compass in the handle..and it was accurate! They were cheap to or my Santa wouldn't have picked up two of them.

I used them this past weekend on the 19 mile Greenleaf state park trail. Pretty rought terrain, lots of ups and downs. These poles saved my knees and kept me upright on the last mile of the first ten mile day, but didn't blister my hands. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Not as conditioned as I once was.

Hiked Robbers Cave State park when Rita cut through the corner of Oklahoma, used same two trekking poles that a buddy has to create a very adequate wind break using a heavy space blanket and some para cord.

The poles come with a removeable rubber tip so that if you need to use them as tent poles, you have a narrow point to go through a grommet. Very nice set up and I am quite happy with them.

QUOTE: "Or do you mean hippie tree huggers? The picture that comes to mind when I hear "yuppie" is Stephanie and Michael from "Newhart" talking about the "B-Mer".

Ors,

As far as I can tell you can put a fork in the original hippie movement, it's dead. These folks grew up and became their own worst nightmares (but just don't recognize it).

Here in the Puget Sound area they drive solo, at high speed, in their giant SUVs to get an environmental rally. They talk on camera to TV types about saving the forests while living in log cabin mansions on a pristine hillside overlooking the ocean. Being the home of REI coop and lots of Microsoft millionaires, I'll see folks clad in $3000 worth of high tech clothing and gear to go on a 30 minute day hike. A hiking stick under $250 must be crap.

You're right, they aint yuppies, but they sure aint hippies either. For now, I'll just call them "Clueless in Seattle"

TR

I never much cared for them synthetic walking sticks much. I suppose a collapsible one is better if space is really a concern, but I much prefer heading to the hills and picking a few nice cedar saplings. I like to find them with a 2" diameter butt tapering to about an inch or so at 6 feet. I'll pick 4 or 5 out of a grove (helps to thin the grove a little anyways). I take them home, put the draw knife to them, sand them smooth, let them hang dry, then stain them with something nice, and varnish them up to protect them. Sometimes I carve little designs in them. Usually I just ball the butt end and put a plastic pipe cap on the other end. I like Cedar because it is so light and yet has incredible strength along the length of the pole. I've used them for batoning big knives to split logs. It dents the wood, but it is not so bad. I've yet to snap one. If I need a shooting stick, I just drill a couple holes in the handle and make some dowel pegs and that seems to do okay.

It cost me a little elbow grease, but what the heck, they last a decade of rugged use.

White wax wood staves are quite nice. Stronger than rattan, inch for inch. Back when I was taking lessons, just about all of the more advanced students had broken rattan staves during practice at one point ot another. The instructor's waxwood staff had a smaller cross-section (which made it more comfortable for some people) but was very sturdy. They frequently come with a bit of a taper, which most people like for their walking sticks.

And, er, yes. Stay away from those nunchakus. They're more dangerous to you than to anyone else, unless you've taken a good bit of time to train with them. Put the same training time into using a stick, and you'll have a more useful skill. Whether you're in an urban setting or a wilderness one, the chances of being able to find something stick-like are pretty good. How often will you be carrying nunchakus? They're inconvenient and will always excite comment. If you're dead-set on that STYLE of weapon, learn to use a chain or a weighted rope instead. At least that you have some vague hope of tripping over as a found object (or quickly improvising from your own kit).

nunchakus??

where did that come from?? we are talking about hiking sticks/poles

It came from the post I replied to. Pizzaman wrote:


Which I agree with, clearly!

Just looked at them tonight at Waldy based on your recommendation. They go for under $10 and I may have to pick up a couple. They get good reviews from what I can tell, and although the compass seemed to work on the one I checked, it was tiny and looked cheap.

Just curious how big you are... at 225, I'm not sure the extension joint locks would be tough enough for me.

Funny you should ask. I worried about that the whole time I was using them...but brother, if my 230 didn't wear out those joints on some pretty rough terrain, then they should last a while.

I like the shock absorber function, kept me from jarring my shoulders on the step downs. Yes, the compass is cheap, but hey, it's better than starring at your palm and trying to determine which way is north.

I think you'll find they are well worth the money. I was certainly glad to have them on that trip and they will go on the next one.

I did notice that my buddy has the same poles. Many hikes later, one of the joint tighteners has a small crack. Probably from overtightening, so you might watch that. He breaks his poles down after each hike, I got mine set at the height I like, so I'm leaving them there. Less chance for overtightening...and I don't have to get them set up again for the next hike.

An extra one in each vehicle might come in handy? hmmmm something to think about.

I was recently looking through the Campmor catalog, saw this one. Meets the collapsible requirement. I don't have any experience with it, has anyone checked this out?
Tracks Compact Travel Staff

Thanks highvelocity (or Hghvlocity) <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I didn't mean to imply that the compass was worthless, just that maybe it shouldn't be your primary means.

I saw they had a shock on them too, and it sounds like you had a good experience and we are in the same weight category. I think that seals the deal for me. The handles were comfy and I can keep an eye on the overtightening. But for $10, replacing one in a year really isn't a huge concern.

Pros:
Can be had for ~$10 per pole
Nice comfy handle
Functional (if potentially cheap) compass
Sharp anodized red aluminum finish
Breaks down to about 2 feet (roughly - I wasn't measuring)
Shock Absorber
Optional end for hiking or tent stake (need confirmation on that one)
Wenger manufactured?
Can hold my weight

Cons:
Not sure if this is made by Wenger (Swiss Army), but if not, likely Chinese build
Over tightening can crack joint locks (probably cheaper plastic)

Going to see about picking up a couple and start up some Geocaching .

I found a pick here (no affiliation - hope they don't mind direct linking which could bring in business)