Walking poles or no walking poles on the Camino de Santiago?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Ivar Rekve — 10 Comments ↓

The question was:

I really can’t decide. I appreciate that they make your life easier but will they make they walkers lot MUCH easier. I’ve used them before and I just feel slightly uncomfortable.

Read all the good walking pole advice on the Camino de Santiago.

Tagged with: Poles, Walking poles, walking stick
Posted in From the Camino de Santiago forum

Jose

Better nordic walking poles.
Ingecheatham

Definitely poles. Could not have climbed some of these hills, nor descended, without them.
Hill Jenny177

the poles make all the difference – the joy of the collapsible nordic poles is that they are so easy to stow when not needed. Also, I recommend 2 – you can always stow one, but walking down steep scree in the wet is so much safer and easier on the joints with 2.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=666114919 María Dos Mellegatti

I dint use them, but I agree with the rest of comments.
Better to have them, they can make a real difference in you way.
One pilgrim borrowed me his poles when I was suffering a big pain in my legs, and they really help me.
If they are not heavy, is better to carry them;)
mary Wilson

I bought a wooden pole from a local on my first day. Only 3 Euros and was really helpful. Lost it 2 days outside of Santiago and so I grabbed one from the woods to finish up my walk. Really did make a difference. You should get one. A little bit of a hassle bringing it from home, unless it is colasped you have to check it. But there are plenty of places there to buy one.
Clara

They reduce the wear on your feet, legs and hips by up to 30%. If you want to stay injury-free on the Camino, that’s a no-brainer. I loved mine!
catalina

Dios solo nos dio dos palos. Son las peirnas.
peter

I got me a real pilgrimstaf!
kim

I didn’t have them and ended up with two stress fractures. I wonder if that would have helped prevent them. I will definitely use them on my next Camino.
http://twitter.com/RentaPen Phil Kleingeld

Use the sticks! It will help to relieve pain from hips, back and knees! Specially by going downhill. Like you I felt somewhat
uncomfortable bit after a few days I did not want to part from them. Make sure to take poles with changable rubber or nylon tips! Specially while walking on streets, you can do without the noise and slippery metal tips. The last onces are fine on roads with a softer surface. Buen Camino!

Walking poles or no walking poles on the Camino de Santiago?

Camino Frances

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