Andy Howell said:That's about right. Poles do make a big difference, especially when walking
hard or carrying heavy weights. It is amazing, though, how many people you
see using them in the wrong way. Too many people seem to use poles that are
too short to be effective.
I'd say it was more the other way round. Poles are just a variant
on a walking stick, after all, and very few people have them
shorter than a walking stick. I tend to use mine shorter than most
people seem to use. The horizontal forearm is a rule of thumb for
a place to start, but it's no more than that. Like a bike saddle,
the best way to find what works best for you is experiment empirically.
Quoted message said:As Fran said you need to alter the length occasionally, shorter when going
up hill and longer when coming down.
To be quite honest I can't be arsed with all the fiddling about.
Adjusting technique a little is much easier than stopping and
pratting about with them every time the gradient changes.
Quoted message said:They can be dangerous as well mind. Have them too short when descending and
they can pitch you forward too much.
How much is too much?
Most people, with poles or not, have weight well back when coming
down. And slip and fall on their backsides as a result...
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
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