Trekking poles….I don’t get it

[mlgc20]

Personally, I wouldn’t go on any serious hike or hunt without trekking poles. Don’t use em when walking around the block. Anything in the backcountry though, no chance I would be without them.

 

[trophyhill]

Love my trekking poles when I’m humping camp in and out, or if I’m packing meat. The only time I’ve used them while actually hunting was coming down a steep slope in AZ last January on some very loose rock and loose soil. I strapped my bow on the back of my pack, grabbed the poles and down I went without incident. They tuck away quite nicely on the outside of my Hoodlum.

edit: I used them another time while hunting last year for elk now that I think of it. This river where I crossed. They saved my azz from falling from the slippery moss and stepping in unseen holes under the water. On the way back across snow had melted and the water rose. When I first went across it was maybe knee deep in a few places. Coming back across it was almost nutsack high. It was nerve racking for sure

 

[mountainman406]

Like others have said, I’ve found them very useful for heavier loads. Packing camp in/out or packing meat, I’ll use both sticks and it takes a lot of the stress off my joints. When hunting, I usually strap 1 to my pack and use 1 while carrying my bow with the other hand. This me balance while going over blow downs/deadfall and I can still use it for side hills and other rough terrain. Just my two cents.


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[Broomd]

Try hunting in steep country without trees or anything else to grab and you might really appreciate them.
I can't imagine high country hunting without trekking poles (esp. Kodiak), and coming back with full packs. Wouldn't waste my time going in without them.

 

[Marble]

So I was in the elk woods, very thick, very steep terrain, with a very heavy (for me) pack. I did have poles with me, however I felt
Much more comfortable using my hands grabbing trees/saplings/ground (especially with a bow in my hand). I also could not see myself strapping my bow to my pack, just not worth the risk of it getting knocked.

What am I missing?

You're not missing anything per se. But consider this, I've killed as many of my bulls in the timber at archery ranges with a rifle, while they sleep in their bed as I have at distance. I use one trekking pole to put down when I step over stuff that may be noisy to step on, to soften my step or move it. I also sometimes wear mechanic gloves for the pine sap and branches so I don't ruin my hands.

Might take most of a day to travel half to 1 mile in the timber.

Sometimes the pole has worked out well for a rest, but in the timber, there is so much to use for that purpose, the pole is more of a convenience. And I can always put it back on my pack.

For actually hiking and moving on a trail, covering some distance, downhill is the most important for me. They help tremendously.

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[mtnwrunner]

Most of my hunting partners are all "in the prime of life." Most over 60, I'm 63 soon to be 64, and we have dubbed them "mountain canes."

Randy

 

[ElkNut1]

No poles here, I see little advantage in the 8 states I've elk hunted. I really don't get the glamour behind them?

I tried them one year because I tore a calf muscle, couldn't wait to be rid of them. Not for me at 66.

ElkNut

 

[cnelk]

I use one trekking pole. Especially helpful when traversing beetle kill blowdown.
It’s like having and extra leg.

It has saved many a fall when a pesky branch snags a pant cuff.

 

[Travis907]

I don’t use them too much, but when I do they sure will save your knees, especially going downhill! The main reason I use them is for stability with a heavy pack (80+ lbs). They will save you from potentially bad falls while packing out meat in steep, rocky terrain. You will be happy to have them and won’t pack out heavy loads without them! Do your body a favor and get a set!

 

[cnelk]

I cut a small spruce for a trekking pole when we packed out my buddy’s Alaska moose a couple weeks ago
Absolute must

 

[Pacific_Fork]

Whether Im hiking in with 40-60 lbs on my back or packing out camp and meat (usually in the 80-120 lb range) trekking poles are always a must. Get me up steep hills and down, adjust the height often for varying terrain. Saves your knees and joints. Some studies suggest you move faster which in my experience is def true.

Scientists Weigh in on the Great Trekking Pole Debate

A new review sifts through the evidence for and against hiking with poles

www.outsideonline.com

 

[Fred]

So I was in the elk woods, very thick, very steep terrain, with a very heavy (for me) pack. I did have poles with me, however I felt
Much more comfortable using my hands grabbing trees/saplings/ground (especially with a bow in my hand). I also could not see myself strapping my bow to my pack, just not worth the risk of it getting knocked.

What am I missing?

No rule says you have use all the time... it's OK to do what is best at the conditions you are in.

 

[Nelsesmp]

I do not carry them with me. When i shoot something and make a trip back to truck I bring them on the way back….I usually only use one though


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[Button]

What trekking poles are you using?

 

[Loggerdude]

I gotta see the guy packing the two quarters.

 

[MuleyFever]

I always have my poles. Makes carrying weight so much safer and hunting solo that is a good thing.

 

[Sled]

If you have to ask....

Trekking poles are just a tool to be used appropriately. For me, that's on the pack out or in a river crossing. Mine even doubles as a mono pod for my optics in a pinch. I threaded a 1/4x20 stud in the top of one.

I'm able to carry more weight safely in difficult terrain due to the added stability of the poles. Sometimes it's the difference in getting an animal out in one less trip.

 

[jhm2023]

Trekking poles are great and I never go on a backcountry hunt without them. There are times where I strap them to my pack or carry both in one hand and that is typically when walking through some thick brush or when on a final stalk and trying to avoid the clicking of the carbide tips on rocks. I can say I hate using a single pole, only doubles for me. I snapped a pole sheep hunting this year and it drove me crazy not having the second.

Otherwise I always use them for the following reasons, not in any particular order.

-They reduce knee impact by something like 15-20% based on a study I forget which one I could be misremembering the %.
-Stability in rugged terrain like rocks as well as stability during creek/river crossings, even more so when the legs are really tired.
-Help controlling my descent with and without a heavy pack.
-Increases distances I can jump across certain obstacles like those strangely narrow and very deep creeks.
-Doubles as some good shooting sticks for medium range shots when vegetation prevents shooting prone, obviously if practiced.
-Doubles as a tent pole or poles in my floorless shelters.
-Two with some 550 cord makes a great clothes line for drying clothes when weather permits. Also placing boots one them upside down allows them to drain and dry even in the rain.
-When taking a break on long heavy pack outs sometimes I don't want to drop my pack and sit but I do want some weight off my back for a minute, so I plant my poles and lean forward on them to get some relief from the pack weight.
-Testing rocks or other things I want to step on for stability before trusting them with my weight.

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[PMcGee]

As others have said they’re definitely worth it with a heavy load. Especially on loose slopes.


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[trophyhill]

What trekking poles are you using?

I bought the carbon REI poles for a lot less than what the name brands cost back in 2015. They’ve been great