Poles

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Originally Posted by Mike T

.... assuming this is a conversation, was my comment really that out of line - if it was I don't understand the rules!

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Not wishing to de-rail the thread but, if the question asked had been "should I use poles?", then your comment would have been relevant. However, the question asked was very specific about which brand of poles to use. As I said on the compression shorts thread prime examples of this irritating trend on this forum are people asking what GPS to buy and some numpty chipping in with the classic "what's wrong with a map and compass" comment or someone asking a question about what brand of energy gels to use and getting the "what's wrong with a pork pie" comment. It just always comes across as a bit churlish, unhelpful and niggly.

I have got some of these, lovely and light! http://www.titaniumgoat.com/poles.html
My only problem with poles is how to hold your map and compass when I have a pole in each hand! I therefore only use them when I don't need to navigate. I tend to use them as a tent pole more that walking poles, but it means you don't need to carry both!

There was some discussion on the UTMB 2010 thread here:

http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...9348-Utmb-2010

Starts at post #7 then comes and goes!

Speaking personally, in the dreadful conditions I had for the CCC last year, they were very useful indeed.

I plan to use them again this year, from around 70 kms onwards (Trient), on the uphills, once tiredness sets in. :wink:

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Originally Posted by Alexandra

with mention of Mountain King and at least one other brand

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Think I tried a pair of these after snapping a pair of Raid Lights (it happens).

Didn't get on with them; the straight up and down grip gave me bad wrist pain; seems that the tilted grip of the RLs suit me better.

Would be prepared to part with them, if I can find them in the cellar. Used maybe twice. Long version. 120/125 cms?

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Originally Posted by jhb0510

My only problem with poles is how to hold your map and compass when I have a pole in each hand!

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Indeed. This is a problem, as I found out in a white out at dusk on the summit of Meall nan Tarmichan; compass smashed through continuous bashing against pole. (after descending the clouds cleared and I was able to use the stars).

resolved this on later trips by stashing the compass under the elasticated wrist of my sleeve and the map down the front of my troos.

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Originally Posted by MorganW

gave me bad wrist pain;

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apologies if you know this, but perhaps useful for others.
Straps should be positioned so that most of the weight goes through the strap to the heel of the hand and on to the back of the wrist, you barely need to hold the handle.
see here
http://www.mountainkingpoles.co.uk/a...ing_Poles.html

most people I see do not have the strap positioned correctly

"most people I see do not have the strap positioned correctly"

Agreed. Ski pole straps should be used the same way - otherwise if you fall your poles don't hang from your wrists and you are likely to land with your hand on top of the pole, thus injuring it - and as the strap may come off altogether it means there is the potential for skewering your body with the pole - you cannot do this if it is still attached to your wrist.

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Originally Posted by andy k

apologies if you know this, but perhaps useful for others.
Straps should be positioned so that most of the weight goes through the strap to the heel of the hand and on to the back of the wrist, you barely need to hold the handle.
see here
http://www.mountainkingpoles.co.uk/a...ing_Poles.html

most people I see do not have the strap positioned correctly

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Andy

Sorted this one some time ago.

I guess swapping brands during CCC prep wasn't wise, but Likeys didn't have the RLs when I needed them.

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Originally Posted by andy k

Straps should be positioned so that most of the weight goes through the strap to the heel of the hand and on to the back of the wrist, you barely need to hold the handle.

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Agreed, but walking today with my beloved Leki poles in Calderdale I had of course to keep on taking off my gloves to open gates. Getting my big warm gloves out of the loops is a big struggle, so I found myself using the poles for at least half of the day without benefit of loops, knowing there was another gate coming soon.

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Originally Posted by Alexandra

Agreed, but walking today with my beloved Leki poles in Calderdale I had of course to keep on taking off my gloves to open gates. Getting my big warm gloves out of the loops is a big struggle, so I found myself using the poles for at least half of the day without benefit of loops, knowing there was another gate coming soon.

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...er .... no comment?