How We Created Our Walking Poles

The Keenfit Factor…

Creating a pair of good quality; durable; light-weight,
sturdy; rattle-free Walking Poles that are not only
comfortable & easy to adjust but also affordable
& something we could stand behind,
warranty without difficulty
& be proud of – was our quest…

These were some of the factors, along with many more, that we made extremely important when we started Keenfit – the Pole Walking Co.

Here’s the story of how our Keenfit Walking Poles were created…

I, Sheri Simson, aka The Pole Lady, discovered Pole Walking almost 10 years ago on a trip to Denmark where my Mother-in-law ended up giving me a pair of poles someone had just given her. I didn’t know at the time but they were a very crude pair of trekking poles – they had ski-pole handles & straps with hard-rubber trail-feet – I was so excited to get them that I didn’t mind that they weren’t very comfortable & that they clunked, rattled & vibrated with every step.

A couple of years later, after I fell in love with Pole Walking & it changed my life [click here to read my whole life-changing story] – I started my search to find the best walking poles out there – poles that were good quality & well priced – that I could proudly represent & have available for people to use during my clinics & affordable for them to buy if they wanted them for themselves.

Well – it was not a simple task – In the end I had bought & walked with almost a dozen different pairs of Walking Poles & to no avail – I couldn’t find anything I felt good about. They were either: too expensive; too cheap; too noisy; too clunky or too uncomfortable! I was so frustrated & disappointed – I nearly gave up.

Thankfully my husband suggested that I design my own… & that was the true beginning of Keenfit – the Pole Walking Co. – I didn’t even know where to begin when it came to having them manufactured [my husband took care of that] but I did know what I liked & what I didn’t like about all the poles I had been Walking with over the last thousands of kms/miles.

It took probably 4 to 5 goes at it before we finally got it to where we have them today – working on everything from the materials; to the finishes; to the sizing, to the design of the locking mechanism, the handles & straps.

WE are proud to say that since March 2004:

  • We have sold tens of thousands of pairs of Keenfit Walking Poles
  • We WON the 2012 About.com Readers’ Choice Award for BEST WALKING POLES

…All while maintaining a less than 0.3% Return/Warranty Rate!

“Walking Poles should not only be light-weight, sturdy & rattle-free
but to help ensure that you’ll use them – they should also be
easy to adjust & comfortable… I Guarantee ours are!”

Please continue-on & get all your questions answered
so you can get the right Walking Poles for YOU…

The Keenfit Walking Poles have given me more Freedom

I am writing to share my experience with KeenFit Walking Poles. They have changed my life due to your knowledgeable... View Article

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The Keenfit Walking Poles have given me more Freedom

I am writing to share my experience with KeenFit Walking Poles. They have changed my life due to your knowledgeable staff. Your staff person, Rosie, sent the KeenFit Walking Poles to me. She recognized the benefits that I could gain from using the Keenfit Walking Poles – and they changed my life.

I have a diagnosis of Spastic Cerebral Palsy and have used some form of a cane or crutch for the past 25 years. Last October I started to develop pain in my hands, arms and shoulders, all of which resulted from overuse of the canes/crutches. To treat the problem, Doctors had me switch walking devices. I was using Canadian Crutches and they were not working for me. They were heavy and cumbersome and I was prone to falls with them.

As part of ongoing treatment, I have also been working with a personal fitness trainer who has been working with me on strengthening, stretching, resistance training and a range of flexibility exercises. The gains from the training were not carrying over when I was using the Canadian Crutches. When I used the KeenFit Walking Poles, results from the personal training carried over.

For example, I am using my legs more than my arms to stand and move with the Walking Poles. The pressure on my arms, hands and shoulders is less. I can stand easily with the Walking Poles. I have better posture and can pick up my feet better. When I took the Walking Poles to my personal trainer, he said, ‘I want you using these Walking Poles full time.’ The KeenFit Walking Poles have given me more freedom. They have been tools that have improved my gait and have allowed me to do what I have never done before. All of this resulted from Rosie and her skills to recognize a Client’s needs. I thank you for this excellent product and want to recognize Rosie for her awareness, knowledge and first-rate service.

Watch Kerry’s Gait from all angles here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rp38V6_9os

Hi. I wanted to share the latest in the Botox / Leg treatment saga. Today, March 22, I hit another milestone. I walked on a treadmill. Those who knew me before these treatments, know that a treadmill would have been a nightmare with my balance issues. I would have ended up on my nose. Today, I felt like I was in a marching band. I was picking up my feet and knees. I am over the moon once again. Of course, the trainer was riding my tail the entire time…. and the time on the treadmill was not 30 seconds, it was 20 minutes. This new element will become a part of the ongoing routine of strength training and swimming. Sometimes, gifts come in the smallest packages. Will keep you posted! Kerry