Doratheexplorer-13
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Portuguese Nov 2013
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One definitely needs to carry a second set of rubber tips as it doesnt take long to wear them out. I would also recommend keeping an eye on your poles if you put them down. I stopped at Manjarin for about 10 mins in May this year, only to find someone had walked off with my poles and a broken pair behind, tied up with string. The hospitalero told me that a German couple had taken them about 5 minutes earlier, so I set off in hot pursuit and caught up with them 2 kms down the road. when I accosted him, he said that he had made a mistake (mine were blue and new and his were red and broken!). He said that if I was a lady, I would have brought his broken pair with me to give to him and he was most annoyed that he now had to walk 2kms back up the hill to retrieve his broken pair!
It is advisable between Ponte de Lima and Rubiaes when you walk in the rough natureDo I really need a walking stick for the Porto to Santiago route. I have hiked/ backpacked many times over the years and never used a walking stick.
Advice ..?
It may be because you do not use trekking poles.if you find that you are having more aches and pains
It may be because you do not use trekking poles.They not only help in preventing injuries, but they help retard the deterioration of stress points, hips, knees, and ankles specifically. Use poles in your thirties, and you may still be using them in your eighties. Wear out those knees in your thirties, you may be in an easy chair in your sixties. Just sayin'.
. There is a list of reasons for using trekking poles here, which is similar to other such lists. None of the 10 reasons are about age. The benefits of reducing the load on ankle, knee and hip joints are the same irrespective of age, although those of us a bit older might appreciate these more for our somewhat older bones.poles are age related
I like them. Helps me keep my balance, helps me going up hill, and helps me going down steep hills. Mine fold down and fit inside my pack.Do I really need a walking stick for the Porto to Santiago route. I have hiked/ backpacked many times over the years and never used a walking stick.
Advice ..?
I used two and found that I really liked them, though my friend did not. They're not necessary I don't think, but often they are a help through overhanging plants or to give you a push, or to help your balance uphill and downhill. They saved me from a tumble once or twice! I'd use them again.Do I really need a walking stick for the Porto to Santiago route. I have hiked/ backpacked many times over the years and never used a walking stick.
Advice ..?
For someone that is used to hiking and never used a stick or poles I would suggest that you continue as you always have. The purpose of using these other things is to aid in the walking in order to reduce fatigue. If you find you don't need them in the past, it is probably something that is not needed now.
Well said...I agree totallyIt's one thing to be "used to hiking" and another thing to walk the Camino. I was "used to hiking" when I did the Camino this fall, but I was not used to walking 15 to 20 miles, every day, for a month. Unless one trains by walking similar distances, every day, the Camino may come as a bit of a shock to the body.
As far as fatigue goes, although it may be true that walking with poles uses more energy than walking without, this misses the point, which is that walking with poles spreads out the load and allows you to take some of the stress off the back, hips and knees, and do some of the work with your upper body, rather than just your legs. I am definitely in better shape after a long day of hiking with poles than after a long day of hiking without.
Not everyone needs poles, I suppose, but I can't imagine doing the Camino without them.
Karl
Hi , I do use poles now (I'm 70) and I like them a lot especially for downhill slippery sections But I did walk the Camino Frances twice (SJPP-Santiago & Finisterre) without them and didn't miss them since I wasn't used to them. Nor did I have any obvious (to me at least) issues with joints or anything.Do I really need a walking stick for the Porto to Santiago route. ..
So true, upper body toning is one of the great benefits of regular pole use. It won't make you Mr/Mrs Universe, but it does wonders for those aunty arms.One benefit I noticed this year after walking 1200km with them was how much stronger my upper body was when I was done - and yes the wobbly under arms were significantly improved! That alone made them worth it
The scientific studies that I have seen on reductions of ground reaction force and vertical knee loading do not support the suggestion you will reduce knee pressure by 30%. The studies that I have seen vary from no benefit at worst, through to about 7.5% decrease of knee loading at best. Do you have a source for the 30% figure?We only had the benefits of using the poles. 30% less pressure at your knees, more balance.
Unlike @FooteK, I use my walking poles pretty much continually when I am walking, and without the downside effects described in her post. The benefits in reduced lower joint loading arise just as easily in city and urban areas as in the country. I also find using poles when carrying a pack aids my posture, reducing the tendency to lean forward to bring one's overall centre of gravity in line with one's hips.My experience with walking poles:
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5. I did not use them when I didn't need them. In towns and cities, on relatively flat sidewalks, smooth mountain paths, etc. I believe that using them when you don't need them throws your body alignment off just a touch. No problem in the short run, but do it for days/weeks on end and I think your body will feel negative effects. IMHO.
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9. I found that if I tried to use them when I didn't need them, they threw my pace off and ate up too much energy. I needed them on slippery sections, slender bridges over water/heights, and often going downhill especially where it was rocky. For power, I used them going up hills and even stairs when I needed an extra boost. The improvement was instant.
So true, upper body toning is one of the great benefits of regular pole use. It won't make you Mr/Mrs Universe, but it does wonders for those aunty arms.
ps having just seen a criticism that antipodean jokes are difficult for our US cousins to understand, link here for an explanation. I am sure there will be similar colloquialisms for this phenomena in other English dialects.
The outdoorshop we bought them was our source . Anyway we walked about 1000 kms with the poles and benefitted us both in walking, climbing steep hills , decending steep hills and as being said They kept us from being bitten in the calves by quadruped terrors with sharp teeth.The scientific studies that I have seen on reductions of ground reaction force and vertical knee loading do not support the suggestion you will reduce knee pressure by 30%. The studies that I have seen vary from no benefit at worst, through to about 7.5% decrease of knee loading at best. Do you have a source for the 30% figure?
Regards,
I agree that there are benefits, just not anywhere near the level that you claimed earlier. The available evidence does not support the sales pitch you appear to have been given.The outdoorshop we bought them was our source . Anyway we walked about 1000 kms with the poles and benefitted us both in walking, climbing steep hills , decending steep hills and as being said They kept us from being bitten in the calves by quadruped terrors with sharp teeth.
I had the same problem on my 1st camino with my hands. When i got back and started looking at the forum properly I saw Falcon had posted something on it and it was to do with hands being in a maintained downward position and blood circulation....If I remember correctly.
I am sorry I cannot help you out. We must believe what has been told to us. But I do not doubt about what you say .and I know in outdoor shops there is not allways the knowledge available.I agree that there are benefits, just not anywhere near the level that you claimed earlier. The available evidence does not support the sales pitch you appear to have been given.
Regards
I very rarely believe what I have been told, especially by sales people, without checking with other sources. Here are links to a couple of abstracts of scientific papers on the effects of walking poles that might give you a better picture of the benefits: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11194099 and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24041585.I am sorry I cannot help you out. We must believe what has been told to us. But I do not doubt about what you say .and I know in outdoor shops there is not allways the knowledge available.
I was before becoming a pensionado, just an international salesman,selling trailers for heavy transport up to 120 tons payload. That was more my thing.
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