Review what you need to know before getting Walking Poles…
You’ve done your research & decided Pole Walking looks like a lot of fun & you’re excited about all the benefits that come along with it.
Now you need to get a pair of Walking Poles so you can get started.
- Where do you start?
- What do you look for?
- How do you know you’re getting a good deal?
- What’s a good price?
These are all key questions to ask – with the most significant one being “What to look for?” – Once you know what to look for, you’ll know what you are looking at when you are comparing & you’ll know whether or not you are getting a good deal & paying a good price. Remember Walking Poles are used to turn a walk around the block into an efficient, effective, aerobic total-body workout – you want them to be able to hold-strong & support your weight as you push yourself forward off the ground. All while being comfortable both in the way they fit your hand to how they feel as they strike whatever type of ground you may choose to walk on.
Key Walking Poles Features
Important Elements:
Comfort
Whether you take up Pole Walking as casual activity you’re going to do only once & awhile or it’s something you really get into & are going to do it on a more regular basis – to get fit & healthy with. Your Walking Poles have got to be comfortable [when I have my Poles set right I don’t even know I have them on].
Adjustability
In the Height – To ensure comfort & maximized benefits it’s vital that your Poles are set correctly, not too high & not too low, you want to be able easily adjust the height for a custom-fit. [See Step 1- ‘How to set your Walking Poles’ to the correct height for you]
In the Palm-Strap – Walking Poles must be easy to adjust [both in the strap around the hand & the height of where your hand sits on the handle] so that you can fine-tune them to fit you just right. The Palm-Straps must be adjustable – so that the pressure you put on your Poles is in the palm/heal of your hand when you push-down or pull-back – in turn allowing you to relax the grip of your hand on the Pole handle itself. [See Step 1- ‘How to set your Walking Poles’ for how to set your Palm-Straps]
Quietness & Sturdiness
In the Pole Shaft – One of the most common issues with lesser-quality / lower-priced poles is the racket they make [there is nothing worse than being out on a walk & having your poles disturbing the peace & sending a constant vibration up your arms!] You want Walking Poles to make a soft, gentle sound as they strike the ground with no vibration at all.
Vital Components:
Handles
The Handles of good Walking Poles are best to be nub & groove free – with Cork being best for absorbing moisture, being warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer & comfortable to grip. [I have had to nurse more blisters then I’d care to remember from using poles with traditional ski-pole handles]
Palm Straps
The Palm-Straps must be designed so that they can be easily adjusted for a custom-fit – so that the pressure you put on your Poles is in the palm/heal of your hand when you push-down or pull-back – in turn allowing you to relax the grip of your hand on the Pole handle itself. [See Step 1- ‘How to set your Walking Poles’ for to how to set your Palm-Straps]
Locking Mechanism
Adjustable Walking Poles should allow for a custom-fit without giving–up safety or security [Keenfit Walking Poles Locking Mechanism is guaranteed to support up to 250lbs of pressure.] One of the most common issues with lesser-quality / lower-priced poles is the strength of their Locking Mechanism [there is nothing worse than walking along & having one or both your poles become shorter & shorter with every step or having one of them completely give-out & collapse on you!]
Shaft Material
Aluminum-alloy Walking Pole Shafts are known to be light-weight so that they aren’t a burden to lift from step to step – yet strong enough to support your weight as you push yourself forward off the ground.
Quietness & Sturdiness
In the Pole Shaft – One of the most common issues with lesser-quality / lower-priced poles is the racket they make [there is nothing worse than being out on a walk & having your poles disturbing the peace & sending a constant vibration up your arms!] You want Walking Poles to make a soft, gentle sound as they strike the ground with no vibration at all.