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Walking Poles Information Distant Hills Guest House (2)

Walking Poles – are they for you? The Benefits…

Distant Hills Guest House B&B Spean Bridge

The use of walking poles is often a topic of conversation during our walking holiday weeks. Typically, we get a 70:30 split of people using them on our guided walks. There is a widespread misconception that walking poles are just for old people. I was guilty of believing this during my earlier hiking years, however, there are several benefits of using them and both Cameron and I wouldn’t be without ours now.

The Benefits

Below are some of reasons why we love hiking with poles, they:

  • Increase confidence and walking speed, especially when walking downhill
  • Improve stability, especially on uneven ground and tricky terrain
  • Absorb some of the shock and remove some of the pressure and impact on your body, especially your knees and lower back
  • They can prevent your fingers from swelling after long periods of walking
  • Increase both power and endurance when walking uphill
  • Aid both balance, stability and water depth perception when crossing any water channels
  • Help you to walk in a more upright position

They are not for everyone though. Some people can feel they are cumbersome, disrupt normal gait, and get in the way; some prefer to walk with their hands free.

Buying Walking Poles

All high street outdoor shops will sell walking poles. Prices vary between £20 – £120. The lighter the poles, the more expensive they are likely to be. Poles vary in length, collapsibility and grip so we suggest speaking to a sales assistant when choosing poles for the first time.

If you would like to try walking with poles before buying a pair, we would have a few pairs at Distant Hills Guest House and we would be more than happy to loan them to you free of charge during your walking holiday.

Dani Mackinnon

Hi, I’m Dani, the author of this blog and the lucky co-owner of Distant Hills Guest House in the glorious Scottish Highlands. I love sharing my passion for life, the mountains and the great outdoors.

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