Hiking Stick or Trekking Pole

Do you use a....

  • Hiking Stick

    Votes: 3 23.1%
  • Trekking Pole

    Votes: 9 69.2%
  • Neither

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • They are the same thing

    Votes: 1 7.7%

  • Total voters
    13

Grandpa

Well-Known Member
Messages
5,904
Points
113
Location
SE Idaho
I refrain from voting because I carry trekking poles but seldom use them. I like them for exposed sections of trail and river crossings, otherwise they stay on my pack.
 

ppine

Forester
Messages
3,929
Points
113
Location
Minden, NV
Trekking poles are typically used as a pair. Hiking stick or staff is usually a single piece of equipment.

I like trekking poles when backpacking for balance, moving over rocks, logs, and water. For day hiking and hunting I don't bother with them.
 

vinovampire

Member
Messages
63
Points
18
Generally I use a pair of trekking poles. I prefer trekking poles to a single stick/staff for a few reasons. First, I like the hand straps that most trekking poles use, which mean you don't actually have to grip them at all, you can just let them swing on the straps. Second, I like being able to maintain three points of contact when crossing a river or on ice. Third, I appreciate the redundancy of having at least one pole if one were to break. Finally, I usually use my poles when I tarp camp as part of my setup.

During the winter, which lasts quite a while around here, I add larger snow-specific buckets to the trekking poles. Walking through deep snow and across ice seems safer with two poles.

These are my thoughts on this matter.
 

TDale

Member
Messages
69
Points
8
I use both...or either...whatever. A stick when dayhiking, poles when backpacking.
 

Hikin Mike

Walkin' Like a Penquin Now
Messages
11
Points
3
Location
Atwater, CA
When I was able to backpack, I used two trekking poles. Since I have some mobility issues now (can't bend either knees) and I got into photography again, I use my tripod.
 

carmen

Active Member
Messages
1,051
Points
38
Location
In a house with a tin roof
I am sure I will make the change at some point over to a trekking pole but right now a stick is just fine for me. I keep a knee brace with me in case "righty" acts up while we are out but as long as it does not get worse (doctor words not mine) I should be okay for a few more years.
 

briansnat

Platnium Member
Messages
514
Points
28
Location
Morris County, NJ
I started using trekking poles while snowshoeing and hiking in the snow. Then I kept right on using them when the snow melted. Now I actually feel sort of strange if I'm hiking without trekking poles.

I was given a beautifully carved and decorated hiking stick made by a friend. Unfortunately a single stick just doesn't cut it for hiking, so it sits next to the door as a piece of artwork.
 

Blazer

Member
Messages
76
Points
8
My trekking poles have saved my butt from falling a number of times and are probably saving my knees. I do a lot of rock scrambling and steep, rocky inclines and descents and they are invaluable. I have a lightweight, collapsible pair of Black Diamond poles that fits inside my day pack so I can put them away when I need my hands free. My heavy duty Leki poles are what I use for backpacking. There is a place strip backpack that I can stick my poles in and they collapse as well, just not as small as the Black Diamonds.

I use them for snowshoeing too. You can switch off the tip and the buckets. Very trick. Wouldn't hike without my poles.
 
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