Trekking poles

[Remi & Jen]

My poles have carbide tips, but I bought some rubber tips to fit over them.
They are grippy so I found they worked equally well on both paved and
unpaved surfaces.  When you go through villages without rubber tips it can
be awfully loud.  The first time I went on the Camino I went without rubber
tips and I always felt that perhaps it was irritating to people because of
the constant "king king king" sound (in fact I'm sure it was, but they
helped me so much I couldn't give them up).  I searched high and low in
Spain and didn't find those darned rubber tips.  However, this time around I
made sure to get some before I left.  I was super happy with the rubber tips
because even though they (my poles) are spring loaded, it was still jarring
with just metal tips.  In any case, since they are easy to put on and take
off, if you are going through a mountain pass or the like you can just take
them off.

Good luck
Jennifer

-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU]On
Behalf Of Jilek, Glenn
Sent: July 31, 2003 2:27 PM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: Trekking poles


I have used poles for several hundred miles of walking/hiking and I really
like them. As was said, it really helps out your knees.  The ones I own have
the option of rubber tips for walking on paved surfaces or carbide tips for
off road use.  I have found the rubber tips are not good "off road" and the
carbide tips not very good on paved surfaces.  I will not be walking the
Camino for several months, but I read that there are mixed surfaces (paved
and unpaved)...From my experience with poles, this would be problematic.

Jennifer what kind of tips do your poles have?

Glenn Jilek


-----Original Message-----
From: remjenatelus.net
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 11:58 AM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: Trekking poles


Hi David,
I took two leki poles on both my camino trips.  I have finished the camino
only a month ago,  and I said several times... this is the best investment I
have ever made... EVER.  It sounds silly, but BOTH my poles first of all
gave me serious acceleration, and aided me on the downhills (my knees didn't
take such a beating).  I would never go on long hikes without both my poles.
As I said they ease pressure on your knees, give you stability and keep the
blood from pooling in your hands (at least in my experience).  Normally I
have a difficult time keeping up to my boyfriend, but the poles definitely
help you kick it up.  My poles are super light, so they were never ever a
burden.  I think the important thing is technique, I saw a lot of people
using their poles incorrectly so I can understand why for some it feels
inefficient, but if you use them as you would cross country ski poles, and
just let them fall naturally with every step... awesome (they will be your
best friends).

Anyway, this is my experience with my poles.  Good luck, and buen camino.

Jennifer Bruce

-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU]On
Behalf Of David Newton
Sent: July 31, 2003 3:24 AM
To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU
Subject: Re: Trekking poles


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>I have two lightweight trekking poles. Do subscribers think that one or
both of them will be of sufficient value to compensate for their weight on
the camino in October, November? Replies will be appreciated. Thank you.
David Newton.
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