Re: Hiking/trekking poles? Yay or Nay?

"zoomie" <goodman.aaron@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:54a5e63d-c651-416a-98a1-bd6164abe779@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>I took the middle fork on this. I use aluminum poles, but didn't
> spring the $120 for the nice Leki/Komperdel nor $14.99 for the Walmart/
> Target poles. I bought mine at a surplus store, they telescope, have
> baskets and caps, neoprene grips, wide straps and each has 10 feet of
> Gorilla Tape wrapped around the shaft.They have about 700 miles on
> them and still look fairly new. ****blem is I'm having trouble finding
> a replacement set.
>
> Zoom
Mine are cheap models from S****ts Chalet, and they have two virtues:
first, 
the grip is comfortable (I prefer a smooth round grip), and secondly they 
felt sturdy.  And the tips were modified as described in another post.

As for the extra weight of carrying poles, I don't see that as a problem 
with uphill/downhill hiking.  I put far more weight on the pole than the 
weight of the pole itself.  The benefits in increased stamina and lower
knee 
problems are great.