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A staff looks cool but trekking poles are much more practical in so many ways. Start with trekking poles. If you don't like them put them in your pack and buy a staff. Buen CaminoHi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
Why buy one on Ebay?Hi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
I believe there is a separate thread just for poles. Like so many others have said, it comes down to personal choice. I have a few Caminoite friends who love their staff. Would you have an opportunity to try both prior to your journey?Hi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
Nice post Andreo, though it only gives the plus uses for poles and none for staffs - as for the
"Contrary, and politely, as regards the poster above, you will not likely have to repel brigands or louts on the Way. In a VERY rare situation, you may have to repel an aggressive dog. But in three Caminos, I have never encountered a nasty dog. They want to follow you, but are usually unimpressed otherwise. To them, seeing peregrinos is a daily, ho-hum, thing..."
Andreo! I was clearly doing humour and romance - no one really expects to have to go quarter staff fighting you know!!
Re dogs - I have twice been attacked by dogs, once in France and once in Spain (and once by a big fat angry goose!) - a pole or staff is a great thing to have in such situations.
To me there are two downsides to a staff, the first is that it isn't telescopic, the second that it may be considerably heavier than an alloy pole. On the positive side, with holding the staff at a high point, higher than with the forearm parallel to the ground one gets into a lovely rhythm where one casts the staff forward and then sort of walks past it - I like them, but use a pole more often as they are telescopic.
As for one or two - I go with one, turning me into a tripod which is very stable (marsupials such as kangaroos have really mastered this), which gives me all the stability that I want or need and also leaves me with a free and empty hand. Having two to 'take off weight' or to be able to walk faster seems (to me) a pointless exercise - if one needs to take weight off the pack the best way to do that is to empty things out of the pack so that it is lighter, and I can see no reason whatsover for wanting to walk faster - it isn't a race but a pilgrimage.
Last thing about a staff, of any length - a pilgrim just looks so cool using one whereas a two poles pilgrim looks like either a cripple or a mis-shaped insect, especially with that horrendous click click click click - how can they live each day with that?
These are my personal opinions - I don't think that I am right and others wrong - Buen Camino
I still have the ash stick that I used on my walks in the British countryside when I was lucky enough to spend a couple of years in England many years ago. The metal tip has long ago been replaced by an ordinary rubber tip used on mobility aids, and I have bound a handgrip using kangaroo hide. It rests quietly with the beautiful Cuban walking cane I might use in my old age when I am imitating a Spanish gentleman in the Americas, or just coping with the osteoarthritis in my knee.I make my own - broom handle tapered to cone point and metal Swiss point fitted.
Hear, hear.Should the "romantic" in you win out, you'll love it. Should the pragmatic win, you'll love it.
I would love to have seen an equivalent of our forum in the 12th century :> ). Silly I know, but fun to think of what some of the verbiage might have been. Perhaps some of our poets here might give it a go??
Like you, I am an advocate of using two technical poles for any hiking. I have not used a wooden stick for the best part of 15 years. That said, if all our efforts advocating for technical poles and explaining the benefits do not sway some from walking with a wooden staff, we know that romance is not dead, and not everyone can be persuaded by the logic of our advice.I am firmly of the "two bastones" school of thought. I have done three Caminos so far, and I doubt I could have survived, let alone completed all three had I not had the walking poles. For me, it is a done deal.
I claim to be under-tall for my weight!We or the quadrapod variety may look strange, but we manage to stay vertical at almost all times. Folks like me who are height challenged, or stout of build (whatever) find the additional stability also helps our aching knees and ankles.
What would one do with an abacus on the camino?Abacus or iPhone?
What would one do with an abacus on the camino?
We usually bring along one pair of poles for two (or three) people. They're great for making speed adjustments - whoever is walking most slowly that day, or feeling pain somewhere, gets the poles, which speeds them up a little, and the others are happy not to have to wait all the time.
Re rubber tips wearing through: My spare rubber tips were in the bottom of my pack when a tip wore through near lunchtime one day. Instead of unpacking everything (I know, I know) I used the dinner knife and a piece of the cork from our wine bottle to carve a small plug to put inside the worn rubber tip, in essence lining it. It lasted for the rest of the walk (six days) without wearing through.
not quite sure how these work ....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Leki-Spar...598774?hash=item3abc244cf6:g:NBgAAOSwstxVWOT3
Susan, I think you are mis-interpreting David's remarks as a personal attack. He is not denying your experiences, but is hinting that suggesting something is causal rather than coincidental might not have revealed other reasons for an event, and those other reasons might have more explanatory power.I was just giving my experience and am offended by your personal attack. I will not argue my points as they are my experiences and not my imagination. This type of exchange is not in the spirit of the Camino. Checking out of this thread.
Apart from trying to inject humour
By 'trying out' I of course was meaning 'training with'. Once again.....in the end it comes down to individual preference.In my mind, "trying out" trekking poles or a staff might not be the best approach. If you've never used them, they can feel clumsy, an impediment rather than an aid. It's learning to walk again, but in a different way - some people may need to give it more time to allow their muscles and nervous system to adapt to the new movements and rhythms. I recommend using them for an extended training period before making a decision.
At first, my wife didn't like trekking poles at all, couldn't get into a rhythm, was always conscious of them hanging off her hands, sometimes getting in the way. With practice, she didn't need to give them as much attention, and eventually found that she actually liked them. Now she prefers to hike with them. She used them on the entire Camino, and in thinking about future Caminos saseys shtrtte trwouldn't attempt some of the more challenging grades without poles.
I've never tried a staff, so cannot comment on what they are like.
Such a nifty idea for drying clothes! With poles the length would be adjustable too.I've also seen staffs in use at albergues - for clothes drying between bunks. These staffs, of course, are the ones people left behind because they were so cumbersome and impractical...
Hi, yeah dogs can be a bother. I was glad to have my poles with me during my dog incident - one pole for each dog (lucky there weren't three of them!).I'm in the staff category. My home is in the Kenyan bush and that's what I use there. One of my rangers made me a new one for my camino, and I'm really looking forward to using it. I didn't think about the 'clacking' though, walking in the bush is just dirt. What do other staff users employ to stop the noise?
Now I'll just freak out a little though about the post above mentioning dogs...
Hi, yeah dogs can be a bother. I was glad to have my poles with me during my dog incident - one pole for each dog (lucky there weren't three of them!).
Hi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
Hi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
I felt exactly the same way. So I got a staff in SJPP. By the time I got to Pamplona my hands were calloused and very sore. It was justtoo big for my small hands. My son didn't have a problem with his - and in fact he took mine when I switched to poles. Bigger hands, less need for the support of poles.Hi! I could use advice on walking poles - I know poles are the norm but the romantic in me yearns for a traditional, knarled, wooden staff. I have my eye on one on eBay made by a local craftsman - sturdy and strong...
Of course, there is no shock absorption as with trekking poles but I understand there is a knack for using poles?
Cheers in advance for any advice!
Oh dear me, nothing as bad as that. I'm just talking about domestic guard dogs, ankle biters (in my experience). I only had the one encounter and used my poles to keep them away from my legs. You needn't worry, more of a nuisance than a danger. Buen camino.Hmmm. I don't like dogs and they don't like me much either. Are these wild dogs? How do you fend them off?
I'm in the staff category. My home is in the Kenyan bush and that's what I use there. One of my rangers made me a new one for my camino, and I'm really looking forward to using it. I didn't think about the 'clacking' though, walking in the bush is just dirt. What do other staff users employ to stop the noise?
Now I'll just freak out a little though about the post above mentioning dogs...
There are little tips you put on the bottom of your poles - rubber tips. They'll wear through after a while and must be replaced. I think I used 6 on my Camino. I imagine they have them for a staff as well. A staff will help with balance, I suppose - but it just cannot distribute weight and provide the same amount of support going downhill in the rain. Also - please don't freak about the dogs. We are talking about farm dogs who watch people walk by their territory all day every day. They might want to warn you to keep your distance, but that is about it. Just don't make eye contact and walk on by. If one actually approaches tell it NO in a commanding voice and keep walking. It is really not a concern.
Loving your training schedule Cyka!
Today I've not even left the hotel in Lisbon. I've spent most of it in the salon and spa, and napped and ordered dog dazers and headlamps in between!
What would one do with an abacus on the camino?
Such a nifty idea for drying clothes! With poles the length would be adjustable too.
Thanks for the guidance. Actually, I was forgetting that I have a sI use one of my adjustable length hiking poles, in the window frame.
I use two, long rubbish bin liner rubber bands to hang the pole from whatever curtain rod is in the window. A spare pair of shoe / boot laces tied in a loop would produce the same hanging ability as the long rubber bands.
Alternatively, I wash the hiking pole tip very well, then wedge the pole in the open window frame.
The result is a horizontal pole able to support hanging wet laundry.
As I carry 4 very, very light folding plastic hangers, I am able to hang all my laundry in the window, over the radiator, or nearly anywhere else to support faster drying.
My first choice is always outside hanging on a clothesline. However, it rains frequently in April and May when I like to do Camino. So, this rig is the next best thing to having an indoor hanging rack...I just made one from available bits...ah necessity, the mother of invention.
It took me three years of experimenting to get the right combination. But now I have my rubber-tipped poles, 2 long "can bands" bought in my local grocery where the trash bin liners are, and my folding plastic hangers. it works for me.
I hope this helps.
Thanks, yes. Actually, I was forgetting that I have a traveller's washing line with suction caps, which sometimes can be made to work indoors as well as out. The real trick is drying clothes as you walk, slung off your backpack. That's always a challenge.I use one of my adjustable length hiking poles, in the window frame.
I use two, long rubbish bin liner rubber bands to hang the pole from whatever curtain rod is in the window. A spare pair of shoe / boot laces tied in a loop would produce the same hanging ability as the long rubber bands.
Alternatively, I wash the hiking pole tip very well, then wedge the pole in the open window frame.
The result is a horizontal pole able to support hanging wet laundry.
As I carry 4 very, very light folding plastic hangers, I am able to hang all my laundry in the window, over the radiator, or nearly anywhere else to support faster drying.
My first choice is always outside hanging on a clothesline. However, it rains frequently in April and May when I like to do Camino. So, this rig is the next best thing to having an indoor hanging rack...I just made one from available bits...ah necessity, the mother of invention.
It took me three years of experimenting to get the right combination. But now I have my rubber-tipped poles, 2 long "can bands" bought in my local grocery where the trash bin liners are, and my folding plastic hangers. it works for me.
I hope this helps.
I think there is little to no chance of that. But plenty of people handle them without sticks!Thanks very much @Philip347 , @Chacharm , and @David for the reassurance.
I think this is the 'it's nearly here so let's get really nervous and read all the posts about dogs, willy waggers, attempted abductions, and the sad story of Denise'. I'm also realising I am exhausted (in the past 7 days I have been in the Kenyan bush, 5 hours drive to Nairobi where there was one very drunken night, overnight flight to Copenhagen, 2 nights heavily drinking in Copenhagen before flying to Lisbon at 0700 yesterday) and need to just get a lot of rest to mentally prepare for this. Hence the 6 nights slowly making my way to Porto by car.
@Chacharm , I will see if I can find the rubber thingies for my staff (we call it a fimbo in Kiswahili), but I can see your point on the weight distribution. I am so used to using a staff though, and I think my weight/gait is adjusted to that so much by now that poles might end up being too weird for me. Should I come across downhills in the rain, I'm just going to have to rely on my hiking shoes to to keep me from slipping. Fingers crossed I don't come across them though!
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