- Time of past OR future Camino
- 23:Valença Var Espiritual Apr; Norte Cudillero Oct
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I got the courage from one of your recent poll responses about where it is we all come from or something like that.All I can say is that I admire your thread title and applaud your courage for starting a poll!
Polls are unfair.And here I was thinking I would be able to give a vote to Pacerpoles!!
Basic Walking
Trekking poles, Walking poles, Pacerpoles apply biomechanics to whole body movementwww.pacerpole.com
I guess it’s more about the rhythm. Lately, I see so many people walking with poles as if they were skiing. Never seen anyone go airborne, though.Neither! For roughly level ground I will have the length set so that my forearm slopes down slightly from the elbow. I walk often enough in the rain, and this ensures that when I am wearing a rain jacket, rain does not collect in the sleeve and pool in the elbow of the jacket. Of course, if I were truly well disciplined, I could always shake the water out before lifting my arm for some reason, but I'm not. You can imagine the thrill of remembering too late, about the time a stream of water is running down inside the jacket.
From that initial position, I will adjust the length when going up or down steeper slopes. I find this more important going downhill, where I will extend the pole length my as much as 20 cm for really steep slopes. My aim is to ensure that I am still walking upright, and not leaning forward to plant the pole tips well ahead of my feet going downhill. It is possible to maintain a normal or slightly faster pace going downhill doing this while using the poles to maintain balance and stability. If the track surface is even and doesn't have too many large rocks or other obstacles, it is possible to gain considerable speed on steeper slopes doing this while still maintaining good control.
Less often, I will shorten the poles going uphill, but not as regularly as I would going downhill. On less steep slopes, I find it just as easy to lift my hands up a little and plant the pole tip a little closer to the heel of my leading foot than the toe. Only if the slope gets steeper might I consider shortening the poles.
Over the years on the camino, I can only recall a couple of times where I have found it has been necessary to shorten my poles, but I have regularly lengthened them. What I don't ever recall doing on the camino in Spain and Portugal is differentially lengthening or shortening the pole on one side or the other to account for steeper side slopes. I have done that just once on a pilgrimage walk, in Norway. It was on a short section of the Gudbrandsdalsleden shortly after Kongsvoll. Those who have walked there might recall the quite savage sideslope for the first few kilometres where the walking track is further up the valley wall to avoid the E6.
Do you mean that they seem to have the poles planted somewhat behind their feet? It is true that if you plant them just behind the forward heel, as you move forward, the pole will generally be behind you (assuming level ground). I think this is more a function of where you place the pole, than of the angle of your elbow. At the time of planting, your elbow will be about 90 degrees. As you move forward, pushing, that angle will open up a little. (I think of it as opening to 135 degrees, rather than closing to 45, but that would be a different debate!)I see so many people walking with poles as if they were skiing.
No, but you have surely seen (or done) some face plants.Never seen anyone go airborne, though.
No they walk with the poles as if they were skiing. As in this cartoon but flat.Do you mean that they seem to have the poles planted somewhat behind their feet?
I guess it’s more about the rhythm. Lately, I see so many people walking with poles as if they were skiing. Never seen anyone go airborne, though.
That looks like the elbows are still at 90 degrees, though.No they walk with the poles as if they were skiing. As in this cartoon but flat.
If you super-impose a protractor it looks about 45 degrees to me. ?Tgat looks like the elbiws are still at 90 degrees, though.
When I use the poles they are not parallel to the ground, as in your illustration, but pushing on it. Parallel to the ground seems pretty useless, although I have witnessed a number of walkers using then that way, generally carried in one handNo they walk with the poles as if they were skiing. As in this cartoon but flat.
Oh please, MichelleElyn, you had to go there. I just bought collapsible poles to see if I can get away with it the way some Senior and perhaps moderator Peregrinas do. You know who you are, you , you!Trouble at the airport TSA with your walking pole? Wear dark sunglasses and paint your walking pole white…and put a tennis ball on the end.
Not unfair. They are very democratic, ask any dog.Polls are unfair.
Especially when they are about poles.When I get out my magnifying glass, I see that I was wrong. But the skier's arms look quite straight to me, which I would call 180 degrees. Maybe they don't have any elbows.
(Aren't polls fun!? )
Nice video. It might help if you did it in SLO-mo. He’s walking very fast.Here’s a video from this morning in my neighborhood.
ProbablyIs this one of those things that regardless how I use them (or if I do) there will be people quietly judging me and then posting on here about the ignorance of people doing it wrong?
He places the pole well behind his forward foot, his elbow starts at close to 90 degrees and then it opens out to 135. It clearly works for him, especially for that sort of even, level urban path.Here’s a video from this morning in my neighborhood
Ok, there is one who did not take my idea in the way in which it was intended. When you read it and giggle, let me know by leaving a .Oh please, MichelleElyn, you had to go there. I just bought collapsible poles to see if I can get away with it the way some Senior and perhaps moderator Peregrinas do. You know who you are, you , you!
Same !! I think it’s a result of being in a gym using ski machines maybe ? Or some other new evolutionary way for humans to propel themselves along. I still wish people would consider rubber tips to reduce the clack clack which is pure noise pollution starting from Sarria. !!! Or the worst offenders are the ones who just drag them behind as they walk. Or the stabbers. The angry walkers. Either way. It’s great people watchingOn all of my Caminos since 2019, I have used hiking poles. In the past year or two, I have noticed other Peregrinos using poles as if they were skiing.
Discussion will be appreciated. @davebugg et al
Thanks.
It is certainly an interesting video, although the presenter admits that he doesn't use the strap in the conventionally correct manner. I wouldn't be confident that this would work as well as the conventional method were one to start to slip or fall.Used to walk with one pole, saw lots of folk waving two poles around like wands, then saw this excellent YouTube clip about how to use two poles
What are 'stabbers'?Or the stabbers.
Soooo... they planted their pole, set the edges of their...shoes? and then turned around the walking stick? /sI have noticed other Peregrinos using poles as if they were skiing.
I prefer to do this, as well, on a steep uneven downhill. I just "feel" safer not to be tied up with my poles, although I can imagine there are good arguments both ways. I also like his modification of the way the straps wrap - both for getting out of them more easily and for the sake of my slightly arthritic thumbs.He also demonstrates a downhill technique where he completely removes the strap... I wouldn't be confident that this would work as well as the conventional method were one to start to slip or fall.
I use my trekking poles at 90, though they do slope some between steps. I really like my Leki poles, German-made and excellent poles. I have helped a number of seniors with balance problems also get poles, and for them I refer them to https://urbanpoling.com/ who have poles they call Activator poles. They are somewhat heavier, and a bit of a different design, but excellent. They have instructions which talk about the difference between the 90 degree angle and the Nordic poling method. Very instructive. I have knee problems and have for the last year used my Leki poles not only for long hikes, but even to walk to work .5 mile away. When I do, some of my knee problems do not occur. I also carry a pack with a laptop to work and using the poles then keeps me in good shape for the next camino I dream of doing!On all of my Caminos since 2019, I have used hiking poles. In the past year or two, I have noticed other Peregrinos using poles as if they were skiing.
Discussion will be appreciated. @davebugg et al
Thanks.
Bonnie, thank you! These videos are so instructive and give me words for what I was attempting to describe. They fully explains both techniques. They name it activator technique (more common apparent use on the Camino, personal observation) & Nordic walking! A real detailed eye opener. Thank you so much!I use my trekking poles at 90, though they do slope some between steps. I really like my Leki poles, German-made and excellent poles. I have helped a number of seniors with balance problems also get poles, and for them I refer them to https://urbanpoling.com/ who have poles they call Activator poles. They are somewhat heavier, and a bit of a different design, but excellent. They have instructions which talk about the difference between the 90 degree angle and the Nordic poling method. Very instructive. I have knee problems and have for the last year used my Leki poles not only for long hikes, but even to walk to work .5 mile away. When I do, some of my knee problems do not occur. I also carry a pack with a laptop to work and using the poles then keeps me in good shape for the next camino I dream of doing!
I have used poles for so long…bought my first pair of Leki poles in1987 in Austria. Have experimented myself…as well as initially observed others using them. What works for me…. I set the poles to accommodate circa a 90 degree elbow angle, never use the straps and adjust my hands depending upon the terrain. On a sustained or steeper downhill, I too may alternate hand positions including placing my hands over the top of the pole, depending upon how steep and long the downhill is. Works for me.He also demonstrates a downhill technique where he completely removes the strap, and places his hands over the top of the pole.
After watching the Activator and Nordic technique videos it looks like the difference is using a bent arm vs a straight arm.Bonnie, thank you! These videos are so instructive and give me words for what I was attempting to describe. They fully explains both techniques. They name it activator technique (more common apparent use on the Camino, personal observation) & Nordic walking! A real detailed eye opener. Thank you so much!
It's not just the angle of the arms; it's also the angle of the poles. The Activator technique plants the poles vertically while the Nordic technique as demonstrated plants the poles at a considerable angle. The result seems to be that the Nordic will propel you a lot more while the Activator will assist a lot more with balance issues.
No, that's not something that I have seen, or if it is, I'm not recognizing it in your description.Haven’t you seen stage angry walkers ? They hit the ground with their sticks so hard it’s like they are stabbing the ground beneath them as they go.
It appears to me the Activator technique will take more weight off one's lower joints, with almost all the force in the vertical, ie lifting, compared to the Nordic technique demonstrated with a far greater proportion pushing.The result seems to be that the Nordic will propel you a lot more while the Activator will assist a lot more with balance issues.
That should be interesting. I will watch with interest.The next obvious question is how to choose which technique and using a different pole pad for each. Lots to experiment with in the next few weeks.
That force can be applied smoothly as the pole tip contacts the ground. In contrast, the thing I think I see most is 'fairy tapping', when walkers are putting little or no downward force on their poles. I really don't see the point of doing that.
I have stopped wondering about why some users have them at low height and then daintily placing the on the ground as they go, being of absolutely no use at all...
This is at best partially true. If you are keeping your forearms level, it will help reduce oedema in the fingers. Whether, when you aren't putting some effort into pressing down on the poles, you will be able to react quickly enough if you trip, twist an ankle, etc is moot. I think it is unlikely, but equally, I am not prepared to test that!!The dainty fairy tapping type of pole use isn't completely useless as it should help prevent swelling of the hands and keeps the poles at the ready to restore balance or prevent injury in case of collaspe from a twisted ankle or a trick knee going on you.
Do you have a brand and model name?I have just completed the camino Francis and used my Nordic walking poles the entire way - I used them walking before and know they help me keep a balanced stride, keep my head up and shoulders back. The way you use them does require you to extend your arms. The ones I use are very light weight, collapsible and have a partial glove that clips into the top helping you use them the correct way as you do not really need to grip them tightly The “glove” also enabled me to let the poles dangle easily while taking pictures. So if you have not considered them as an option check them out!
So truly interesting.Used the Nordic poles on all terrain!
The ones I used on my Camino earlier this summer also had the partial glove (I don't have the brand or model name. They were the only ones in the Decathlon in Madrid I went to before starting my Camino.) It took me 5 weeks to figure out that they detached from the poles! Personally, I find the regular straps much more convenient in terms of flexibility and ability to use my hands with the poles dangling. I can see how these would be beneficial to someone who doesn't know how to use regular straps, but given a choice I would go with the regular straps every time, even after I figured out how to quickly attach and detach them.I have just completed the camino Frances and used my Nordic walking poles the entire way - I used them walking before and know they help me keep a balanced stride, keep my head up and shoulders back. The way you use them does require you to extend your arms. The ones I use are very light weight, collapsible and have a partial glove that clips into the top helping you use them the correct way as you do not really need to grip them tightly The “glove” also enabled me to let the poles dangle easily while taking pictures. So if you have not considered them as an option check them out!
Yes it is Nordix https://www.nordixx.com/products/nordixx-poles/Do you have a brand and model name?
Hmm! Looks more like a 90 degree angle to me. At 45 degrees, your hand would be almost level with your shoulder, and it isn't close to that.(I didn't slip in, thanks to the poles- looks like my elbows are at 45 degree angle here, anyway, it worked)
Of course! You're right, wasn't thinking. And I think 90 degree angle is generally correct answer for me, having looked at other photos.Hmm! Looks more like a 90 degree angle to me. At 45 degrees, your hand would be almost level with your shoulder, and it isn't close to that.