Trekking poles (and staffs) offer a number of practical advantages:
They provide better balance and footing.
On downhill hikes especially, they decrease the amount of stress on your legs and joints.
On uphill climbs, poles transfer some of your weight to your shoulders, arms and back, which can reduce leg fatigue and add thrust to your ascents.
They make crossing streams, loose rocks and slippery surfaces such as ice and snow patches easier and safer.
They help you establish a walking rhythm.
They can push back overhanging vegetation from the trail and probe soggy terrain for holes and boggy spots.
Trekking poles are most helpful to those with weak or damaged knees or ankles, particularly when going downhill, because the poles absorb some of the impact that your body would normally sustain. These are made from some bamboo that I thought looked pretty neat. It has some rounded, almost ball shaped sections that I thought were interesting. These are about 48" tall with cocobolo pieces to make arounded handle. I burned dragon designs on each with the symbols for fire and river. I injured an arm a month or so ago and have found it easier to walk using a taller stick. I haven't worked my courage up to use 2 at the same time! Thanks for looking!
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