The Best Hiking Pole for Travel
When we think of hiking poles, we think of long rugged trails and strenuous hikes that explore mountains and difficult-to-reach vistas. Hiking can often be considered a strength training sport, for the young and fit. Yet, hiking poles are not just for mountaineering and climbing Mt. Everest.
Consider this: Hiking is now one of the top recreational activities for seniors, baby boomers, and empty nesters. Perhaps it is the freedom and beauty that is experienced when exploring national parks and trails. Not to mention the health benefits of long, steady, and challenging exercise like hikes. You can vary your speed, and enjoy the scenery, making fitness fun. In fact, a typical 2-hour hike with a gentle grade can see over 750 calories burned.(1) That is a lot of potential for weight loss, heart strengthening, and other health benefits.
But even when travelling; whether to Peru’s Maccu Picchu, or our own Grand Canyon or Smoky Mountains national parks, or “backpacking” Europe, hiking is an essential activity for travel.
Your legs, knees, lower back and upper body need a companion. That is where hiking poles come in. We looked at the elements that make for the best hiking pole for travel. It turns out that they are also the same elements that would make the best hiking pole for seniors. Ranked in order, here is what you need to look for:
1. Strength under heavy weight - hiking poles provide added strength for your body. But their strength is tested when you go up and down stairs, and steps and steep trails. This is a key benefit of hiking poles. Not only do they have the potential to save your knees, but they need to be willing to endure added weight when you are going up or down a hill or incline. Choose a pole more for its strength, rather than its lightweightness. Thick and ultra strong foldable hiking poles match that need.
2. Portability - Traditional wood and solid hiking sticks are difficult to carry and are too long to pack in luggage and travel gear. The best hiking poles for travel will be able to collapse when not in use. Two major ways they do that are either through a telescoping mechanism, or foldable design.
3. Simplicity - Stay away from hiking poles that have all of the latest gadgets like locks, and measure marks and ice picks. Foldable poles tend to be simpler, with some adjustment to height, while eliminating the frustration of guessing the equal height of each pole that usually has to be performed with telescoping poles. Pick a pole that can instantly set up, and fold back down quickly. It should be for hiking; . . . not your all-in-one life tool. Then you will use it more, and gain the benefits of having a hiking pole for travel and trips.
Overall, if you consider yourself an active senior, grab yourself some hiking poles (preferably two), and go explore what this natural world has to offer. Whether beaches, big cities, national parks, or even mountain tops, you can enjoy the prime of your life, with hiking poles to bring you there.
Mike Cutler writes on active senior lifestyles and is a healthy lifestyle Blogger as well as product tester for earth trek gear. He lives with his family in Reno NV and enjoys going to the Sierra Nevada mountains for hiking and family activities.
