In the past, I wasn't a big fan of trekking poles. Of course, I had never tried them, but that is beside the point, or two points, in the case of trekking poles. But as I have gotten a little older, and my body is not exactly what it once was, I thought I would give trekking poles a try and see if they helped out. And guess what? They did! Now I am kicking myself for not trying them sooner.

Using trekking poles can provide these benefits:

• They are a great aid when climbing up or down steep trails. Four legs are better than two.
  
   
• Instead of playing hopscotch from rock to rock when fording streams, hoping that a slippery rock won't be your downfall, trekking poles help you to keep your balance.
  
   
• The poles are great to move brush (with thorns) out of your way so your hands or legs don't get scratched.
  
   
• Trekking poles help to reduce the wear and tear on your legs, especially your knees. While you may not feel an immediate benefit while walking, you will at the end of the day when the accumulated activity catches up with you. You will feel less muscle pain and less fatigued.

While there are many different trekking poles available, the Ultralite TI Air Ergo trekking poles from LEKI are world class and make using trekking poles a pleasure, rather than a pain. Here are some of the reasons why I like these trekking poles:

• They are very lightweight, weighing only about 9 ounces each, which is less than most trekking poles on the market. The lighter weight reduces the amount of work your arms have to do, and also allows you to swing them more easily in a very natural movement when walking.
  
   
• They are very adjustable, allowing them to fit most everybody, no matter what their size. They also collapse to a very short size, making them easier to pack. You adjust the poles by twisting them. The poles have three sections.
  
   
• The hand grips are angled at 15 degrees, which makes it easier for your hand to grip the poles with the least amount of stress. Also, the grips are made of cork and foam rubber (on top of the cork), which makes them very easy to grip. If your hands get sweaty, you don't have to worry about the grip getting slippery. Also, the grips are long, which can be very helpful.
  
  For example, when climbing up, or down, it is a good idea to change the length of the poles for the best support. When climbing up, the poles should be shorter. When climbing down, the poles should be longer. This is a good idea if you will be climbing up or down for long periods, as you can adjust your pole length as needed. But what if you are climbing up, then down, then flat, then up, then down, all in a short distance? In this case, changing the pole length is a pain. But the long grips of the pole make it easy to adjust your grip up or down the length of the pole's foam grip, as needed, which makes the poles more useful and more comfortable.
  
   
• Each of the grips have a leather strap that can be used to wrap around your wrists. This helps to distribute the load over your hand, wrist, and arm, and also makes it easier to hold and carry them. The straps are adjustable, and if you don't want to use them, you don't have to.
  
   
• The poles are partially made out of titanium, which provides both strength and contributes to their light weight. The poles are very strong. I can easily lean all my weight (about 200 pounds) on a single pole without it breaking.
  
   
• Built into the poles is an anti-shock system. Essentially, this is a spring-like action that is used to absorb some of the shock when they hit the ground. This helps to reduce some of the wear and tear on your arms and shoulders as you use them. When walking normally, I don't notice the anti-shock system. But when I am going up or down hills, I do. If you don't like the anti-shock system, it can be turned off.
  
   
• The tips of the poles are made of a carbide material, which makes them strong and long lasting. They grip the ground well, including solid rock. Rubber covers are included to protect the tips, and you, from their point. Also included at the end of the poles is a basket to keep you from sinking into soft ground or mud. You can replace this basket with an optional one that is designed for snow.

There is nothing to dislike about these poles. In fact, I wouldn't recommend that LEKI ever change them.

Using the LEKI Ultralite Trekking Poles in the Real World

If you have never used trekking poles before, they take a little while to get used to. But after a couple of hours, their use will become a natural expression of your hiking. Also, after using them from the first time, you arms and shoulders might be a little tired as they are not used to using them. But after a day or two, your arms and shoulders will feel fine.

When I first got these poles, I had a little trouble understanding the brief instructions that were included. But after a little trial and error, I had them figured out and working well.

When you first start out using the poles for foot travel, you will want to adjust them to your height, and also to adjust the hand straps to best fit the size of your hands. From that point on, the only adjustment you might make is if you begin climbing a steep ascent or descent, where it is worth the extra time to adjust them, otherwise, you can just adjust your grip on the pole to adjust their height.

Recommendation

If you have never used trekking poles before, you should give them a try. And if have been using them, and know their benefits, but are looking for a replacement pair, then look no further than the Ultralite TI Air Ergo trekking poles. I recommend them for all outdoor adventures.

Product Notes

These LEKI trekking poles are available in only one size (but are adjustable to fit everyone) and in one color, black. The manufacturer's suggested retail price is $149.95. LEKI also offers a variety of other trekking poles, although I have not tried any of them.