Hiking Poles Or a Hiker's Pole are Important Gear To Take Along

Hiking poles, walking sticks or whatever you want to call them, serve a useful purpose and they aren't just for show.

A properly sized hiking pole made of lightweight fiberglass or aluminum can be a useful safety item for any hiker to take along, either on a multi - day trek or just a day hike.

Carrying a hiking pole is sort of like having an extra limb when you need it, to help you balance on uneven ground. If you think about it, there is a reason that nature gave more than two legs to mountain goats.

On steep decents you can extend an adjustable hiking pole so that you can place it out in front of you so as to prevent a fall.

A good hiking pole should be as lightweight as possible and also collapsible so that you can attach it to the outside of a backpack, or fit it inside your pack when it is not needed.

A proper hiking pole should be made of aircraft quality aluminum or fiberglass and have a lanyard that you can slip over your wrist so that if you slip, it does not go bouncing down the mountain.

Some models of hiking poles have a compass on top, which although is not for serious navigation, but they can help keep you on a rough course. Some hiking poles may include a thermometer as well. These are helpful when hypothermia or heat exhaustion are a danger.

Models of hiking poles that offer an "anti shock" feature have a type of pneumatic cylinder or some other means of dissipating shock from rocky surfaces. Having this feature in a hiking pole can actually make a big difference in comfort when it comes to the impact on your wrist on long hikes.

A good hiking pole should have a durable tip of hardened steel or tire quality rubber.

Consider using a hiking pole for your next trek. They are used by experienced hikers of all ages, not just the old folks.