Besides the requirement for proper attire during your running, trail, or hiking sessions, it's essential to choose your accessories wisely. Walking poles are among the foremost accessories.
The choice of these poles depends on the sporting activity you engage in. Depending on your favorite sport, the models vary and adapt. There are different types of poles; they can be foldable, telescopic, equipped with a single or multiple sections.
Also, they are made from various materials: aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon, for example.
How to choose your walking poles?
Like all hiking accessories, walking poles come in a wide variety of models and prices. To choose your walking poles wisely, it's important to consider several parameters:
- Prices: let's immediately recall an obvious fact: high prices are not necessarily a guarantee of quality. You can find walking poles at reasonable rates that are still of good quality. Also, prices tend to increase as the poles become lighter. They also become more expensive when equipped with additional options like shock absorption or sophisticated grips. Before making any purchase, it's preferable to compare; especially since some poles are sold individually, others in pairs.
- Weight: the weight of walking poles differs significantly between models. While it's comfortable to walk with very light poles, it's recommended to avoid those that are ultra-light. Indeed, their excessive lightness makes them fragile, and thus, they break easily.
- Storage: it should be noted that multi-section poles are the easiest to store. Preferably opt for poles with 4 sections if you want to easily store them in your bag. Single-section poles are not foldable, so you won't be able to store them once you no longer need them. Poles of 1m20 clumsily attached to your bag are not only uncomfortable but dangerous for you and your walking colleagues.
During the hiking sales on i-Run, take advantage of reduced prices to purchase high-quality walking poles. These promotional periods are ideal for finding poles suited to your needs and enhancing your outdoor walking experience while saving money.
Which type of poles to prefer?
There are as many walking poles as there are brands behind their design. Each brand opts for a different deployment system. Broadly speaking, three main types can be noted. According to your preferences, opt for poles:
- Screw-lock: with this type, you need to adjust your poles to the desired length and then secure them using a screw. To store them, simply unscrew them so that the sections nest into each other.
- Clip-lock: the same principle as the previous model except that here the screws are replaced by a clipping system. If you want to store them in your bag, just unclip them.
- Z-folding: in this model, the sections are joined using an elastic cord. For any use, pull on the handle and the first section. For deployment, a release button is provided for this purpose. Simply activate it for a Z-fold.
