Cost of equipment

[Mada]

I would like to know what the current cost for walking sticks or poles is in Ponferrada. I have slight balance problems and would not walk without the poles. If anyone could give me an idea I would appreciate it.

 

[Felipe]

Well, difficult to say unless you are in the city. Prices at the big Decathlon shop can be seen here. Unfortunately, those shops are always in the suburbs (3 km from the castle), but its prices could be an indicative.

 

[willydp]

Some more info:
http://www.ofertia.com/catalogo#brochure/view/id/1840377893/page/18
Can be found here: http://www.ofertia.com/Ponferrada/intersport/catalogos-r-844727#brochure/view/page/1 (800m NW from castle)

https://www.sprinter.es/general?search=bastones
Can be found here: https://www.sprinter.es/tienda-sprinter-ponferrada (1.5km NW from castle, just next to Decathlon)

 

[dougfitz]

Well, difficult to say unless you are in the city. Prices at the big Decathlon shop can be seen here. Unfortunately, those shops are always in the suburbs (3 km from the castle), but its prices could be an indicative.

I visited the Decathalon in Ponferrada this year, and it wasn't anywhere like 3 km from the Templar Castle or even from the albergue. Even if you didn't want to walk it, it wouldn't be a particularly long taxi ride if you wanted to get something from them.

 

[Anniesantiago]

You can also pick up one locally made wooden walking stick, or two short ones, for under 10 Euros. Those can be found all the way along the route. I've seen people walking quite successfully with them and the added bonus is if you leave it at an albergue or cafe, you can just buy another in the next village.
I've seen them for as little as 4-6 Euros each.

 

[Mada]

Well, difficult to say unless you are in the city. Prices at the big Decathlon shop can be seen here. Unfortunately, those shops are always in the suburbs (3 km from the castle), but its prices could be an indicative.

Thank you for the information.

 

[Mada]

Some more info:
http://www.ofertia.com/catalogo#brochure/view/id/1840377893/page/18
Can be found here: http://www.ofertia.com/Ponferrada/intersport/catalogos-r-844727#brochure/view/page/1 (800m NW from castle)

https://www.sprinter.es/general?search=bastones
Can be found here: https://www.sprinter.es/tienda-sprinter-ponferrada (1.5km NW from castle, just next to Decathlon)

Thank you willydp. This is a great help.

 

[Mada]

I visited the Decathalon in Ponferrada this year, and it wasn't anywhere like 3 km from the Templar Castle or even from the albergue. Even if you didn't want to walk it, it wouldn't be a particularly long taxi ride if you wanted to get something from them.

Thank you dougfitz. Reading your other posts on the forum has given me a lot of answers. Appreciated.

 

[Mada]

You can also pick up one locally made wooden walking stick, or two short ones, for under 10 Euros. Those can be found all the way along the route. I've seen people walking quite successfully with them and the added bonus is if you leave it at an albergue or cafe, you can just buy another in the next village.
I've seen them for as little as 4-6 Euros each.

Dear Annie, this was exactly what I wanted to hear thank you. I do not want to buy expensive poles but just need some for balance. I am very tall but I presume that you get the wooden ones in different lengths?

 

[Bradypus]

I like to walk with a single stick or trekking pole. I also like to travel by plane with cabin baggage only. For my last three caminos I have brought a couple of rubber walking stick ferrules with me from home and bought a wooden broom handle from a supermarket, ferreteria or China bazaar on arrival. Most are sold with a hanging loop at one end and I make a wrist strap from a short length of woven tape or my spare bootlaces. The rubber tip makes it very quiet and less inclined to slip on rocky surfaces. I rarely have any problem in recognising my own stick in the forest of poles stored in the albergue's hallway

 

[Bradypus]

I visited the Decathalon in Ponferrada this year, and it wasn't anywhere like 3 km from the Templar Castle or even from the albergue. Even if you didn't want to walk it, it wouldn't be a particularly long taxi ride if you wanted to get something from them.

I must have too much time on my hands today. I've just checked on Google Maps: according to Google Decathlon is 1.5km from the Templar castle, 850m from the autobus station, and 700m from the railway station. I can't help feeling that anyone who is daunted by those distances might want to rethink their decision to walk the Camino Frances.

 

[kenny21]

Thanks for informing...

 

[Anniesantiago]

Dear Annie, this was exactly what I wanted to hear thank you. I do not want to buy expensive poles but just need some for balance. I am very tall but I presume that you get the wooden ones in different lengths?

Yes, and if you can't, it should not be difficult to find someone to cut them off.
Joe did that on his Autumn walk because his ankle was acting up.
But I have seen them in all different lengths, and nearly every village has someone selling them along the way.