A person began to use a stick as an additional support when moving over rough terrain a very long time ago. It is difficult to find an old image of a highlander, a traveler or a shepherd without a stick. Meanwhile, in mountain tourism, trekking poles have been used relatively recently. Before them, alpenstocks were used, and sometimes the use of the latter was of a limited, “professional” nature. Tracksticks owe their birth and popularity to the German company Leki, which in 1974 was the first to manufacture telescopic tracking sticks. This invention made it possible to use the same sticks for any terrain and height of the tourist, in addition, it made them easily transportable and convenient. It can be said that it was a revolution, and now it is difficult to imagine a tourist making a multi-day trip without armed with track sticks.
What are trekking poles for?
The main purpose of tracksticks is to unload the joints and muscles lower extremities. Sticks distribute the load among more muscles and joints and make the arms and shoulders work actively. Research by the expeditionary doctor of the Bavarian mountain rescue service, Gottfried Neureuther, quantifies this unloading. On average, it is 560 kg / min on the descent, and 480 kg / min on the ascent. Which, in terms of an hour of walking, turns into an impressive 34 and 29 tons, respectively.
In addition, trekking poles give more stability, which is very useful if the hiker is carrying a heavy backpack. In the aggregate of all the qualities of the track sticks, they can significantly increase the speed of movement (especially with a load) and the time of the day's transition. Moreover, they reduce overall fatigue, muscle damage (fatigue) and allow faster recovery. What was experimentally confirmed in 2010 by scientists from Northumbria University (England).
How to choose trekking poles
When choosing any tourist equipment, you need to remember that it must have a set of necessary properties, and not just one, to which other valuable qualities have been sacrificed. This rule should be followed when choosing trekking poles. Their only drawback is the presence of mass. Alas, absolutely light equipment has not yet been invented and, probably, will not be invented soon. Therefore, when trying to choose the lightest of the track sticks, make sure that their length and strength remain sufficient. After all, the only way a manufacturer can reduce their weight is to save metal and reduce the length, which, in turn, can easily make sticks completely unsuitable for hiking. As for the choice of length, you should probably take track sticks larger than 130 cm. Of course, they are also suitable for a person below 175 cm, but in any case, a spare ten centimeters will not be superfluous. In general, there is no special classification according to the length of trekking poles. Otherwise, it would be necessary to describe all the possible conditions of the terrain and options for people. Sticks should be selected based on personal experience and representations, adding a little “in reserve” strength and length.
For many of us, the image of a wanderer, a traveler from past eras, is a silhouette wrapped in a worn cloak, leaning on an imposing staff. It is no secret that people who set out on a long journey on foot often chose a strong stick as their companions, which they could rely on on the road.
With the beginning of the era of mountaineering in Europe - this is the second half of the 18th century, travelers on their way to the peaks had to overcome an increasingly difficult terrain - ice fields, steep scree, long descents. For greater convenience, climbers began to use the so-called alpenstocks - long sticks, equipped on one side with a metal attachment that can keep its owner on icy or rocky surfaces. Since the middle of the last century, for these purposes began to use ski poles At the same time, the disadvantages of such equipment became tangible - after all, during the ascent and descent, sticks of various lengths are needed, transporting them in transport or carrying them on a backpack is just as inconvenient.
In 1974, the famous European manufacturer Leki launched the first pole model on the market. telescopic design- several knees of different diameters could be folded into each other, fixed in the desired position with the help of special fasteners. Thus began new era, a new market segment has emerged that provides the consumer with the opportunity to travel using length-adjustable poles that can be folded for carrying. It should be noted that telescopic sticks did not immediately gain general popularity, but by the end of the 20th century they were produced by many manufacturers, designs appeared that differed from each other in weight, material used, locking mechanism system, and purpose.
Use of trekking poles. Medical aspects
There are still people who consider this type of equipment unnecessary when traveling. It's no secret that many people go through rather difficult routes without sticks. However, to present moment very serious studies and observations have already been carried out, generally confirming the undoubted benefits of using trekking poles. First of all, their effectiveness is manifested on routes laid over rough terrain, including long and rather steep ascents and descents. So, one of the studies of the end of the last century (Neureuther, 1981) indicated that on average, when lifting, the unloading effect is 34 tons per hour, and when descending, 29 tons per hour. Agree, not a lot. First of all, the knees and spine are unloaded. At the same time, the wrists, elbows and shoulder joints. Incorrectly sized sticks may lead to circulatory disorders in the upper extremities and to hypothermia (frostbite) under conditions cold weather. Also, with the help of sticks, it is convenient to maintain balance in difficult conditions, for example, when crossing water barriers on stones or logs.
Design features. Telescopic/folding poles
Most modern trekking poles have telescopic design, consisting of three (rarely two or four) segments of different diameters. The top knee is the thickest, the bottom knee is the thinnest. Accordingly, when folding, thinner parts enter larger ones in diameter and, in the desired position, are fixed using a locking mechanism. Thus, it is possible to adjust the length of the sticks to a fairly wide range, on average, 60-140 cm. Most sticks have the ability to adjust the length at each junction of their fragments. That is, the classic three-section stick is regulated in two places. There are designs in which the lower fixation point has only two “folded / unfolded” positions and is fixed with the help of side buttons. Length adjustment is carried out only in the upper connection. The advantage of the telescopic design is reliability, convenience, versatility. Disadvantages - a rather significant length when folded (usually 60-68 cm for a three-knee stick), relatively big weight(500-700 g per pair).
The second type of sticks, less common -. For such sticks, the segments do not stick into each other, but simply unfold like a tent frame or an avalanche probe. When assembled, they are held together by the tension of the cord located in the middle of the structure. Some types of such sticks have the ability to adjust the length in a small range due to the mechanism located in the upper segment, while others are not equipped with such a convenient option, instead offering the user an ultra-light weight and different length options from which to choose when buying. Most of these folding structures are not recommended by the manufacturers themselves for heavy trekking, more often only for light walks. The main advantages of the folding scheme are less weight compared to telescopic sticks (from 350g) and smaller overall dimensions when folded (from 34cm). It is worth noting that really reliable folding sticks rather have only the second advantage, since they differ little in weight from light telescopic models. Disadvantages - less reliability of most models, less ease of use and worse versatility.
Innovative trekking pole designs
Recently, some manufacturers have been trying to deal with one of the main drawbacks of trekking poles - the inconvenience of quickly changing their length, which is very important on rough terrain. The American company MSR succeeded the most in this by placing the controls for changing the length of the stick on the handle. The first generation of such sticks with a mechanism positive-locking revealed a number of operational shortcomings, which were to some extent eliminated in the updated line in 2014. So far, these sticks do not yet have a really reliable and proven design, and besides, they are quite expensive. Probably, in the very near future, such mechanisms will seriously compete with those described above and, over time, may force them out of the market.
Another drawback of the poles is their low strength to side loads, which primarily prevents their use for self-holding when falling off on steep snow-firn slopes. Firm Black Diamond partially solves this problem in the elliptic series of sticks, in which the section is changed from round to elliptical, thereby significantly increasing strength without much increase in weight. Of course, such sticks are more expensive than classic ones, but for many users looking for the most reliable design, this is justified.
Types of locking mechanisms for track sticks
Currently, the most common two types of locking mechanism - screw clamp, located in the middle of the stick and eccentric clamp. Other names for screw mechanism - collet, twist-lock, internal clamp. Locking is carried out by rotating the sections relative to each other. In some modern sticks, it is enough to make half a turn or even less to securely fix the sections. This type of latch is currently considered the most durable, that is, it provides a greater resistance to the folding load than an eccentric clamp. However, this type of clamp has a number of significant drawbacks - inconvenience of use at low temperatures (especially when working in gloves), or in a humid environment, when the grip of a wet hand and a wet surface of a stick is limited. At sub-zero temperatures, freezing of the mechanism is also possible.
The second type of locking mechanism uses the principle of an eccentric lock and is located on the outside of the stick, making it potentially more vulnerable than a collet lock. Other commonly used names are - lever lock, lever clamp, external clamp. It was first patented by the American company Black Diamond in 1993 (to this day it has not changed much and is known as flick lock , modern development received with a number of technical innovations and in this form is called FlickLock Pro), but with the expiration of the patent, it began to be used by most manufacturers with certain processing. Currently, this type of locking device is at least as popular as the collet. The main advantage is ease of use, especially at low temperatures and in a humid environment, on average, lower manufacturing cost (if some innovative models are excluded), simplicity and reliability of the design. The main disadvantage is a somewhat greater bulkiness and vulnerability, the possibility of opening with a hard engagement with a solid object, a slightly lower knee fixation force - with a maximum load in the vertical plane of the stick, this lock gives the stick more chances to “fold”.
Some models of track sticks use a combination of both types of locks - either different types of locks in each of the joints, or both types of locks duplicate each other in each joint (for example, some models of Gabel sticks).
Anti-shock mechanism for trekking poles
To prevent negative impact on the joints of the hands, some models of trekking poles are equipped with the so-called "anti-shock mechanism", which in essence is a shock absorber mounted in the handle area. Less commonly, a similar mechanism is located in the lower knee, in the area of the safety ring. Basically, damping is carried out using an elastomer, sometimes springs. Less commonly, in more expensive models, a combined elastomer/spring and pneumatic element system is used. The use of the anti-shock mechanism has its own specifics. It performs its role on slopes or flat areas. On climbs, such a system harms rather than helps, reducing the coefficient useful action muscular system user. Therefore, the anti-shock system is deactivated. Many users question its effectiveness, since it is widely believed that the system itself of the joints, muscles and ligaments of the upper limbs is a fairly reliable shock absorber. I have yet to come across any references to reliable medical research on this topic. So, the effectiveness of such a system is doubtful to a certain extent, the disadvantages are obvious - high cost, increased weight, potentially lower reliability of a complicated system. Probably, it should definitely be recommended only to users with overweight, joint problems, recent limb injuries.
Handle types. Lanyards. Tips. Rings
The convenience of using trekking poles depends on many factors. One of the main ones is the comfortable shape of the handles. Currently, handles are made of plastic, neoprene, cork, wood, rubber. Neoprene and cork handles have proven themselves best. As for the latter, it is important that the percentage of the cork itself be greater than the adhesive part, otherwise such material will no longer be so convenient. First of all, the “right” material provides a comfortable soft grip and prevents slipping of the hand and the formation of skin abrasions during prolonged use (many people still recommend using gloves). The shape of the handle is also very important. Many companies have their own views on the ergonomic shape, as a result, the choice is quite large and each buyer has the opportunity to choose a stick to suit his needs. For safety reasons, it is customary to make the end of the handle as round and as large as possible. Also, the rounded pommel allows you to take the stick with a grip from above, which is very convenient on the descents. A number of models have a handle located at an angle to the stick. It is believed that this form loads the brush less. It is very convenient when the soft cover of the handle falls below and allows you to intercept the stick without changing. nyaya length settings.
The shape and material also affect the usability. lanyard- soft adjustable strap that wraps around the wrist and takes on a significant part of the load. At the same time, the lanyard prevents the stick from being lost when it is released uncontrollably by the user under force majeure circumstances. The reverse side - a hand secured with a lanyard can be injured in some situations. Theoretically, the design of the lanyard is safety, but in real conditions this is not always the case. For greater convenience, the lanyard should be easily adjustable, elastic, soft and wide in places where the load is applied.
Tips trekking poles
They are typically removable and replaceable and are made from a heavy duty tungsten carbide alloy. They are able to hold the tip on hard ice, rocks and other hard surfaces, and are extremely wear resistant. Poles with regular steel/aluminum tips cannot be used for serious trekking. The two most common forms of the point itself are in the form of a lens or in the form of a “flower”. The first holds better on ice, the second on rocks. Most users do not notice a fundamental difference in their effectiveness.
Rings for trekking poles
Usually they are removable and quick-change. The main mechanisms for their fixation are either threads or a special swivel-clamp connection. As a rule, most sticks come with two, less often three sets of rings of smaller and larger diameters. The small diameter is used in warm weather, the large diameter is needed for use in deep snow. Many users remove their rings completely in the summer. For serious trekking (for example, in Norway), this is not recommended, since it increases the chances of breaking or bending a stick stuck in stones or soil, which, if there was a ring, most likely would not fall so deep.
To move on even hard surfaces, such as asphalt, sticks are often put on rubber tips with a special tread. The same nozzles can be used during transportation of sticks in transport and crowded places.
Additional options for trekking poles
Many people would like to expand the capabilities of their trekking poles by making them a multifunctional piece of hiking equipment. In particular, it is not always possible to take an ice ax with you on a difficult hike or climb, and users of sticks are interested in the possibility of using them for belaying on snow and self-holding in case of a fall. Unfortunately, tracksticks are either not suitable for this, or they are very limited. Climbers should look for poles with elliptical section sections, as well as detachable ice ax-shaped handles, which are of limited use for self-holding.
Also, the stick can be used as a photo tripod or monopod thanks to special mounts and adapters that can be located in the handle of some models. Sometimes this opportunity comes in very handy.
In an emergency, sticks can be used to organize a stretcher to carry the casualty. Also, in the most extreme cases, sticks can be used as snow anchors by burying them in dense snow and additionally ramming it. In this case, it is better to use several sticks at once, partially laid out for greater resistance. In an emergency survival situation, a stick can have many uses, which you need to familiarize yourself with in special manuals.
Some designs of ultra-light tents include the use of poles as frame elements. IN winter hikes sticks are often used as pegs for stretching in deep snow.
Materials for making track sticks
The most widespread in the manufacture of sticks for tourism is aluminum, or rather, various aluminum alloys. A good performance/price compromise is 7075 T-6 (aircraft-grade aluminum). Many expensive track sticks are made from carbon fiber (carbon fiber) - it is very light and durable, but more sensitive to shock loads, especially point ones. Often there are combined designs, where different sections of the stick are made of different materials. The so-called "titanium" sticks, as a rule, are made from titanal - this is an aluminum alloy, where the proportion of titanium is extremely low, but its content improves the strength characteristics of the product. Komperdell is especially known for its titanium sticks. Titanium alloys are rarely used. As a rule, for sticks from the ultralight segment.
Care and storage. Transportation of trekking poles
Trekking poles require minimal maintenance. After use, they are recommended to be disassembled, cleaned, if necessary, washed with soapy water, and dried. Lubricate locking mechanisms. It is best to store sticks unassembled in a dry place.
Many modern backpacks have special attachments for hanging trekking poles. For example, the American company Osprey produces a system for carrying sticks with the ability to easily access them without removing the backpack. The classic way to transport poles in a backpack is from the side behind the compression straps with an emphasis in the middle of the open side pocket. In a backpack of sufficient volume, the stick will fit in the middle without difficulty, which is useful when checking the backpack in luggage. If you are traveling with a small backpack and want to store the poles in the middle - your choice is not telescopic, but folding poles (their folded length can fit into 35cm). Remember that it is forbidden to carry sticks in the hand luggage of the aircraft!
Choosing trekking poles
No doubt most hikers will find trekking poles important element your equipment. Their choice should be taken as responsibly as possible. You should not buy the first ones that come across in the store. Many of my friends, starting with the most budget models, eventually moved to the "premium segment" or to the middle price segment anyway. More expensive models, as a rule, combine reliability, lightness and sophistication of important “little things” that make such products a truly functional travel assistant. The cost of this type of product compared to other hiking equipment is not that great, so think carefully - is it worth buying the cheapest?
As always, before buying, I advise you to write down your requirements and wishes for the product on a piece of paper. Decide which criteria are primary for you, which ones are secondary. Weight, reliability, compactness, locking mechanism, material, brand - all details must be thought out in advance. After that, you are ready to go to the equipment center and ask competent questions to the seller.
Conclusion
Hiking with or without sticks is your choice, I hope it will be conscious and not made for the sake of fashion or in an effort to imitate others. One thing I can say for sure - the more rugged, difficult the terrain on your hike, the more there may be a need to use trekking poles. They are not a panacea and will not be able to replace an ice ax for you on a difficult ascent, but they will perfectly cope with their functions in other conditions. I wish you exciting and safe travels!
What are the sticks?
You can separate the sticks for nordic walking and for trail running (skyrunning), but this division will be rather arbitrary, since often the only difference between them will be only in weight. Some trail runners (particularly Vertical Kilometer ® skyrunners), for example, use non-folding ski poles in races.
- Nordic walking poles are usually the simplest, cheapest and heaviest.
- Trail running (sky running) poles are lighter and therefore more expensive.
Everything is quite simple: the lighter the stick, the more expensive it is. Aluminum sticks usually weigh 250-350 grams per stick, while best models from carbon offer a weight of 150 to 200 grams. Here, in general, and the whole difference. But when it comes to long, hours-long races, every 100 grams of excess weight matters a lot.
There are sticks folding And not folding. Non-folding poles are mainly used for Nordic walking.
Folding are divided into two types:
- telescopic, in which structural elements, when folded, are hidden one in another according to the principle of a system of retractable tubes that enter one another (in the photo above);
- folding, in which structural elements are folded like a folding rule (pictured below).
The mechanisms for fixing the elements of the stick also differ.
For telescopic sticks, this is either a twisting fixation mechanism or a clip-on clip. Both mechanisms work very reliably and the choice depends only on personal preferences.
For folding sticks, the folding-unfolding mechanism is based on the use of a flexible cable passing inside the stick. The mechanism is simple, reliable, allowing you to fold and unfold the stick in just seconds.
Poles are made primarily from either aluminum or, more expensive models, carbon fiber, or a combination of the two. The material of the handles can be completely different (plastic, rubber, rubber, etc.), as well as their shape and length, up to the use of natural materials, such as cork, so that the hand does not sweat and does not slip.
All sticks are equipped with straps (lanyard) that allow you to more securely fix the stick in your hand. Most often, lanyards are removable. We would strongly discouraged use a stick without a lanyard or without fixing the lanyard on the hand. The fact is that the tips of the sticks are often made of hard alloys (pictured below), they are very sharp and are practically weapons. With such a tip, you can easily, like a spear, pierce anything (even yourself when falling on a stick). That is why, with such stick tips, you can do not allow them to be carried into the cabin as hand luggage.
ALWAYS USE BELTS FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY!
A stick with a strap on your hand will never roll down your slope, will not be left far behind if it suddenly gets stuck in a crevice during the descent. You will never lose it if a belt is put on your hand.
Some lanyards are ergonomically shaped and are tightened onto the hands with the help of a Velcro fastener, acting on the principle of a burdock. This is quite convenient, as the hand, forearm relaxes, and this saves strength. But at long distances, you often have to unfasten and fasten this “Velcro” and this takes a lot of effort, and most importantly, the “Velcro” constantly strives to stick where it doesn’t need to. This is terribly annoying after 10-12 hours of movement. Therefore, many manufacturers began to use various designs for quick fastening of belts. They are a half-glove, constantly worn on the hand, and a quickly removable carabiner, as, for example, with sticks from a German company Leki(photo below). Such a glove also protects the palm when falling or resting on stones.
The main major manufacturers of trekking poles are: Black Diamond, Leki, Dynafit, Raidlight, and there are also Guidetti, CAMP, Swix, Salewa, Cober, etc. There are a huge number of manufacturers.
How to choose sticks by height?
If we are talking about telescopic poles, then everything is simple - the height of the pole is adjustable, and with practice you will experimentally choose a working height that is convenient for you. If we are talking about folding sticks, then most often these models are not adjustable in height, although now Leki has also released adjustable folding sticks in which the adjustable section is hidden in the handle.
Manufacturers sell folding sticks in increments of 5 centimeters long. But in any case, a table on the website of the seller or manufacturer will come to your aid, helping you choose the height of the sticks depending on your height.
When it comes to buying the first sticks in your sports life, then we would recommend buying telescopic sticks in order to empirically choose the length that is convenient for you during use. For example, for the author of this article, with a height of 180, the manufacturer recommends sticks 125 centimeters high, but I prefer a working height of 130 centimeters. I ran with different sticks, different heights and came to the conclusion that it is at a height of 130 centimeters that I go uphill most comfortably and use energy optimally.
As for the change in the length of the poles at the moment of movement along the distance, depending on the ascent or descent and their angles, experience shows that it is better not to change the length of the poles. From our point of view, there is no sense in this, only an extra waste of energy at a distance. The angles of the slopes of the mountain slopes are not constant, so why change the length of the sticks every time this angle changes? It is also not worth trying, in our opinion, to change the length of the right-left stick when traversing the slope. All this is unnecessary and unnecessary waste of time and effort.
Transportation of sticks.
On long races it is impossible to carry sticks in your hands all the time, and on some trails of increased mountain complexity you often have to walk using climbing hanging rails, which is simply life-threatening with full hands. Best of all, in places where you don’t need sticks or get in the way, attach them to a backpack. For example, Salomon backpacks have regular and convenient mounts for both telescopic (photo above) and folding sticks (photo below).
Or you can use multifunctional belts for attaching folding sticks, for example, like the ARCH MAX Trail Pro. The video below shows the mounting process.
Another feature of folding sticks, at least some models and manufacturers, is the vibration of such sticks when moving. They are more mobile when relying on them due to less reliable fixation of the segments than telescopic sticks. in expensive and modern models the Antishock system is used, which avoids such an unpleasant phenomenon, but all this undoubtedly increases the cost of sticks.
Where to use sticks?
Of course, poles are mainly used on mountain trails with a lot of climb. But sometimes poles are very useful on "smooth" trails with a small amount of dirt, but for example a lot of dirt. The use of sticks helps to unload the legs and, most importantly, the back, save strength and help with balancing on unstable surfaces. You have to pay for this with an increase in the pulse value due to an increase in the load on the hands and excess weight. Whether or not to use sticks is your personal choice..
Advantages and disadvantages of using trekking poles.
ADVANTAGES:
The use of sticks makes it possible to give the body a more even position and, thereby, due to the opening chest improve breathing, as the muscles of the diaphragm will work more smoothly. Also, the use of sticks improves blood circulation in the limbs. The return of venous blood relieves swelling of the hands and fingers and promotes better thermoregulation.
When climbing steep slopes, the poles act as shock absorbers and relieve stress on the ankles, knees, hips and spine… In the short and long term, this reduces the risk of injury. When climbing, the use of poles reduces the load on the quadriceps and hamstring, as we transfer part of the body weight to the poles, leaning on them. This way your feet will stay fresher if you use sticks.
But at the same time, it should be noted that the use of sticks increases the heart rate (by an average of 10%) and increases calorie consumption. This is good if the goal of your training is to burn more calories and lose weight, but bad if you are running in competitions. On the other hand, a slight increase in heart rate and energy expenditure is offset by a decrease in overall fatigue and a decrease in the risk of injury.
On long trails, as opposed to short trails, it is more important to keep the “freshness” as long as possible than to regulate the heart rate, and therefore the use of poles is justified. Sticks also help to balance, which means you feel more confident. Sticks help to overcome obstacles such as mud, snow, unstable and large stones, etc.; pass streams and rivers to ford, and in extreme cases, protect yourself from an animal or help another runner.
FLAWS:
First of all, these are additional financial expenses. The next item is excess weight which you need to carry with you. Although modern carbon sticks weigh no more than 500 grams per pair, but during the competition every extra gram counts. Sticks also occupy the hands, making it difficult to take water and food.
You also need to understand that the use of sticks requires the development of a rather simple, but still running technique with them. In the video above, the Champions of Russia in skyrunning show the technique of movement using trekking poles, but here is a small accompanying comment from Dmitry:
"The eternal question to run with sticks or not? Before asking yourself such a question, you need to buy good light sticks and learn how to run with them. Than longer distance and the more climb the more sticks will help you. At the beginning of the race, sticks will help you keep your feet fresher, and in the second half they will help your tired feet a lot. If you have problems with coordination, are overweight or even just have large muscles, for example, like me, I recommend training with sticks and running mountain races with sticks too.
Try to use different walking and running techniques with sticks, alternate. If you train in places where there are no mountains, walk with poles on a treadmill to the maximum incline, stairs, or just do exercises using poles. Until last year I did not use poles, now I run all the races with them, last year I tried Black Diamond carbon poles, I had enough poles for 3 races, they broke quickly. After that, I started running with Camp Xenon 4 poles, I have had them for a whole year, safe and sound."
If you've never used poles before, it's best to practice running with them at least a few times (packing, feeding with them, climbing and descending techniques) before taking them to a race. Effective training exercises using trekking poles you can watch the video of the running school Trail Running School Dmitry and Ekaterina Mityaev. Another set of exercises with trekking poles can be seen at LINK.
Besides, you need to carefully read the rules of the race . At some races (for example, the famous one), the use of sticks forbidden, and on those where it is allowed, in the vast majority of cases, it is necessary to go with them the entire distance from start to finish. You can not use them only on the rise, and then leave and continue the path without them. You also need to be more careful in relation to other runners and not injure a person running nearby with a stick.
It can be stated that there is no definite trend in the use of poles among professional runners or among amateurs. At professional athletes, just like amateurs, someone constantly uses sticks, someone from time to time, and someone never. To understand whether you need sticks or not, whether they help or hinder you, you can only empirically run with and without them a sufficient number of races.
An article about trekking and ski telescopic poles. How to choose from a huge variety of offers exactly those that you need for certain types of activity.
First of all, let's decide what we are going to talk about telescope sticks, although even now you can meet a lot of tourists who walk around with old classic sticks: “Why buy telescopes?”
| What is the difference between low and high price sticks? First of all - quality materials and design retainers, and here you do not need to choose the easiest option! I can, on my own more than fifteen years of experience, unequivocally recommend clamps on eccentrics, and not standard twisting ones. And just the pioneer and unequivocal leader in this segment of sticks is the company Black Diamond, and all similar latches are now used by more and more companies, which speaks for itself. |  |
I can say that the lifetime of sticks with spins with more or less intensive use, usually 1-2 years, then problems begin, and often such that in field conditions are simply unavoidable. It's not a matter of quality, but construction property. Therefore, no loud name of the company guarantees the absence of problems - I had enough of such sticks and the result is the same.
The second question is how much knees? There are two, three and even four-knee models, and here you already have to look at what sticks are for.
My opinion - the most universal is three tribes, they are suitable for use all year round, and trekking, and freeride, and backcountry. I do not recommend buying such poles just for skiing - they are easier to break, and the advantages of compactness are most often not used.
 BD Distance Flz Z-Poles |
Type constructs BD compactor, with technology z-pole- a successful invention of recent years, they allow you to fold the poles very compactly, they are a little more complicated and expensive, but easier and great for snowboarders - these poles usually fit easily into most freeride backpacks, unlike three-knee models. But poles are still a necessary attribute for a freerider-snowboarder, and carrying them in an external mount of a backpack is not very convenient and safe, I have observed many situations with the loss of poles, clinging to a tree, etc. etc. Therefore, I highly recommend such sticks mainly to snowboarders or those who ride both one and the other projectile. |
The next question is materials and their combination, and here the eyes run wide from the choice of different models. As for the choice between metal And carbon, in general, we can say that carbon is more expensive, lighter and sometimes stronger, but does not tolerate shocks, for example, with a ski edge. That's why carbon sticks require accuracy in use, and are relevant for those who save every gram, for example, for long or high-speed ski touring routes and ascents, where you carry a heavy load, etc. In other cases, I prefer sticks made of metal alloy, they are simpler, cheaper, more maintainable and there is a large selection of various models.
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Black Diamond sticks have two main options - with plastic And metal latch I have used both. I can say that I have never had problems with the strength of plastic, and the main advantage of iron latches is that they are flatter and look neater. I also advise you to carefully handle plastic latches at temperatures below -30 degrees, and generally do not forget that metal becomes brittle in the cold.
By handle designs, there are quite a few options here, several types of rubber are used, and cork, and plastic, in general, it depends on the main purpose of the stick and does not play a big role for me. It is convenient when a neoprene or rubber extension is made below the handle - if you need to quickly intercept the stick lower, for example, on a short traverse. This is usually typical for trekking models, well, such a decision also does not interfere with skating, except that it slightly increases the weight.
Well, the last, important detail of the sticks is tips And rings. Keep in mind that when trekking in the mountains, the tips wear out pretty quickly, and it is advisable to have spare ones. For freeriding, this is not so important, but blunt tips are great if the slope is hard and rather steep, in such a situation, the support on the sticks should be reliable both during the ascent and descent, I was repeatedly convinced of this.
It seems to many that trekking poles are not at all important in hiking, but this is not so. They are ready to help us in different situations: to take on some of the weight, to become a support for the awning, to be a frame for a stretcher, to turn into a splint in case of a fracture. Therefore, you should not neglect this element of equipment and buy it for five and a half kopecks. If you're hiking more than once a year, then it's worth considering quality trekking poles, and I'll give you some tips on how to choose trekking poles - what to look out for!
What to look for when choosing trekking poles
Design
Sticks must be telescopic! In mountain tourism, it is always necessary to be able to change the length of the sticks for convenience, efficiency and safety of the passage of descents, ascents and plains. Moreover, on the plain, you can also “play” with the length, changing the main goal from additional points of support to devices to speed up movement =) .
The number of sections also matters for their compactness - the more, the shorter the sticks are when folded. Also large quantity sections gives a greater range of height adjustments, but this is not so critical. And of course - three-section sticks in the folded state are more difficult to bend or break. This is important in a situation where they are not used for their intended purpose, for example, to create a stretcher or transfer the injured directly to them.
In any case, you can’t clear up here - there is a choice of two sections and three, I have not yet seen other options.
Fasteners
Second important point- it's clamps! They categorically should not be “twirls” (I mean collet clamps =)) or some other tricky devices! Exclusive clips! Preferably metal clips!
Metal clips
The problem with “twists” and other dubious solutions is that no matter what brand produces them, they are still very much afraid of dust, dirt and water. If all this gets into the mechanism, then the sticks begin to jam, poorly fixed and, accordingly, lose their functionality. Often it is impossible to fix it on the go, you need to make a stop and apply force, sometimes even the force of a couple of people,
and sometimes tools to “fix” the problem.
Clips work on the principle of simple compression of the tube, therefore they are simple, reliable and easy to repair and set up!
Why I recommend metal ones, because plastic can crack either when sticks fall on a stone, or in the cold, or when fastening through force! It is clear that metal is also not eternal, but it significantly exceeds plastic in reliability, especially if plastic is cheap.
It is useful, but not critical, to pay attention to the adjustment bolts on the clips! Well, if they are made in such a way that there is nothing to loosen, unscrew and get lost. For example, on my 2013 Black Diamond Expedition, the adjustment bolt is located under the clip latch, and it is not so easy to loosen or lose it.
BD FlickLock Clips and Adjustment Bolt Section material
The third important point is the material of the stick sections. Here I recommend taking aluminum, not carbon. Carbon is certainly lighter and more resilient, but does not take a hit and does not like to be treated badly.
It is also better to look for the brand of aluminum in the description of the sticks, to be precise - aluminum alloy! There may be something like 6005, 7005, 7075 and in the same spirit. Alloys differ in their composition, and therefore in their properties. Roughly and briefly, the larger the number, the stronger the material (here, those who are interested and know English can read about aluminum alloys - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_alloy). From myself I recommend alloy 7075 - time-tested, but I think that there is already something stronger and more reliable in trekking poles.
Cheap sticks are made from the softest alloys that can bend for no apparent reason 🙁 . And to correct it is already normal unrealistic 🙁 .
Tip
From now on, everything is not so critical. I'll just note a few things:
- The tip should be sharp with a special reinforced “tip”.
- Well, if the main part of the tip is made of metal. Live longer with frequent transitions on small stones, volcanic slag.
- Great if the tip is removable and can be replaced without using special means. I note that in any case the tip can be replaced, but new special tips, tools and straight arms may be needed!
Pens
First of all, choose the handles for your hand so that it is comfortable, but consider the need for a small margin for gloves or mittens. It’s good if there is an emphasis on the arm under the arm and a small ledge on the bottom too - they will come in handy! It is good if the lanyard is conveniently adjusted to the arm and wide enough not to crash into it.
Handle material:
- Cork - warm, comfortable, but unreliable and usually more expensive
- Rubber - cold, but reliable, cheap and versatile
It is desirable that there be another one below the main handle ... or the handle itself should be elongated, as if consisting of two parts. This is very convenient for climbing, traverses - you do not need to constantly reconfigure the sticks, you can simply intercept from one handle to another.
I note that even if there is no second handle, you can always wind reinforced tape, blue electrical tape, or you never know what else, making it look like a second handle!
Rings
Rings worth checking for their flexibility! They should be moderately flexible and resilient. If the rings on trekking poles are plastic, throw them away and buy others separately. Plastic crumble on the first stones.
It makes sense to take winter wide or very wide rings if you are sure that you will walk on extremely loose or puffy snow, if the snow is only in the form of snowballs that remained in the mountains after winter, then small rings will work with a bang. Plus - they will be less likely to get stuck in rocks or bushes!
On my own behalf, I can recommend trekking poles tested by time and by me from the well-known brand Black Diamond. In particular, the models: Expedition and Trail Pro, and for those who walk in the mountains, snow and glaciers in winter (Review can be read here at this link -).
