Hiking Poles & Nordic Walking - Rambling Style Files

Rambling essentials from fashion to recipes to gear and everything in between. Style Files is the creation of Jill Cohen Morris, an avid rambler, mother of two from Toronto, Canada with a remarkable zest for life, a fabulous sense of humor and remarkable style (of course).

Hey, Sole Sisters!

It's time for my rambling style files, where I discuss all things rambling, from fashion to recipes to gear and everything in between.

My husband and I have been coming to Arizona for years. It is our sanctuary… our place to recharge and reconnect. This is our no-brainer holiday. We do the same thing every year: We stay for five days at the same hotel. We hike in the morning, lounge by the pool in the afternoon, and enjoy dinner and margaritas at our favorite restaurants. The one variable is our rambles; we rarely do the same hike twice.  

We love exploring the area. This year, we decided to invest in walking poles.

I have used poles in the past. In the winter, I snowshoe up a mountain, and I use my ski poles; however, I have never used walking poles on a trail. 

After doing my research, I went to a local sporting goods store and spent some time with the salesperson before buying my poles. 

Going in, I knew I had 2 criteria . . .

1. They needed to fold so I could travel with them 
2. I did not want to break the bank because I wasn’t convinced I would use them. 

I chose an introductory model, which cost roughly $30 USD. What I learned was the more money you spend, the lighter they are, the folding and locking mechanisms are better quality, and the material is more durable.

It all makes sense… the more you pay, the better the pole.

Another difference, which I liked but wasn’t willing to pay more for, is a longer grip, which allows you to move your hand up and down depending on the terrain without stopping to change the length of your pole.

Here I am in Arizona, ready to give my new poles a whirl. 

Day One

The trail was flat and paved so no need for poles.

Day Two

We ventured further to a trail in the mountains that was quite rocky with rolling ascents and descents. Not knowing ahead of time the actual terrain, other than it was deemed a moderate hike, I decided not to bring my poles. My biggest concern was that I would not need them, and they would be a pain to carry. Big mistake! The hike we did would have been perfect for poles. 

Day Three

Time to christen my new poles. Verdict … I absolutely loved them! 

My chiropractor has been suggesting I use walking poles for years. According to him (he is into extreme sports), walking poles give one a full-body workout, excellent for stability, balance, and strengthening core muscles. I'm not sure why it took so long for me to take the plunge, but I am now hooked. 

I see myself using these when hiking on rocky terrain and in the winter for balance and stability, especially when it is icy out. I’m also game with anything that will strengthen my core. 

All in all, I am super happy with my purchase, and for the foreseeable future, the baseline model is perfect for my needs. 

Happy Rambling!! 

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