In reply to Jonny2vests:
> Fair enough if your knees are shot or you have a massive pack, but otherwise you're just robbing yourself of core stability / balance skills that would serve you well on steeper ground.
If only it were that simple!
To ger to the point where your balance skills are well developed, you'll have to develop them first.
On any accessible mountain, spend some time watching hillwalkers walking over any mildly uneven, rocky path. The sort of path that has an uneven rocky bed rising smoothly.
It is my observation that the majority of hillwalkers have poorly developed balance skills -and I'm not talking here about the level of ability needed to slackline- just that of moving efficiently over broken terrain.
Unless you're an infant, infirm, carrying a big load or have had a really long and challenging day, 'skipping' along the tips of rock on a path is usually the most efficient. But most would rather rather walk between the rocks, seeking the security of flattened soil or trampled vegetation. Pavement conditioned, they seek maximum area of contact with the ground at each step, rather than consider the inefficiency inherent. This technique I see frequently with or without poles.
The more contentious aspect of this discussion is the type of pole (n.b. I did not say 'make' of pole). Owners of poles other than Pacerpoles, who have not used pacerpoles correctly, will generally display brand loyalty, assuming that Pacerpoles are no more different to theirs than the difference between say Ford and Vauxhall.
I Beg to differ.
Most of the users of poles do so in a manner which initial propulsion is achieved by pulling the upper limb and trunk into flexion. Essentially what many walkers do without the emcumbrance of poles. So poles rob these people of less than imagined.
Pacerpoles , when used correctly, tap into the normal pattern of walking so that, they could be used to encourage balance and core stability.
But what do I base these assertions on?
I rehab people's gait as a physio and I solo walked/cycled the British 3000's in 2012, unsupported, with Pacerpoles.
My ability to move efficiently in a mountain environment without Pacerpoles
is far better than most 54 year olds. So there!
Go and have a look on the Pacerpoles website- rather than continue the discussion with my soundbite level of input.