Pacer poles/walking sticks

[bigjbear]

Went for a short hike today. It was drizzling, muddy, and there were a lot of leaves on the trail, perfect set up for a slip and fall, especially when you take into account the amount of exposed granite around here.

I managed to stay up right but it got me thinking about something to keep my balance. I just had my little day pack, but I could see it being a real problem if I was hauling my big pack out there today.

So do you guys use poles or anything like that when backpacking? Is the weight/hastle worth it? I've never used them, probably the closest I've come is picking up something on the side of the trail during a long hike. If you do use them is there anything to consider when purchasing a pair?

And because we all like pictures:
Got to love a mid week, rainy day, this is at the trail head and not a soul to be seen. I saw as many animals as I did people today.

 

[TSGB]

If you're going to buy, I'd think something light, tightly collapsible, and with a TOUGH basket on the end. If you need a third (or fourth) point of contact, you need something with fingers to grab, not a needle to punch into the mud.

I just pick up sticks.

Don't go with bamboo sticks, the end splinters terribly and jams or picks up ground, and that's not exactly the goal.

 

[Greg Ducato]

I have a 6 foot cedar pole with a leather loop at the end I use when I take my dogs out for a hike, it's good for balance and I have given a snake a beat down when the need arose.

 

[cabledawg]

I used collasible poles last year and I'll gladly trade them for fixed length poles. One was fine but the clamp on the other was junk so any amount of weight and it would shrink. They are lightweight and very easy on the hands plus they strap to a bag nicely when not in use. Just need better clamps or I need to quit being a cheapskate and buy better quality

 

[eel757]

I just find a good limb and make one

 

[bigjbear]

Was talking with the wife and she reminded me that she had gotten a set of Eddie Bauer walking poles as a gift about a year ago, and that they were adjustable. So I checked and they were plenty long enough for me to use.

I tried them out today. Just for reference I weigh ~200lbs and my pack weighed 18lbs today. The conditions were ice, snow and a little sleet that changed over to hail somewhere along the way. Under the ice the ground was saturated from rain all day yesterday. So I'd say this is about as extreme as I care to get on purpose.

They held up great, the adjustment did not move at all from start to finish. The extra points of contact were really nice on hills and anything smooth, and ice covered. There were a couple places that were mud holes and that is where they did not do so well. The disk above the the spike needs to be a larger diameter. I would imagine the same issue would present itself in deep snow.

So I'd say the EB poles work if you are mostly walking on slippery rocks or hard packed dirt. If you see a lot of deep snow or mud there is probably something better out there for you.
These are what I used, I've seen them as low as $25, but this site has a good discription.
http://www.campingmaxx.com/a-pair-of-eddie-bauer-hiking-poles.html