Recommended Gear Archives - Page 3 of 3

Hiking sticks can be one of the most valuable additions avid young hikers possess. Their ability to allow kids to hike for longer periods of time and in more challenging environments and terrains are what makes them the ideal addition to any hiking trip with kids. Kids hiking sticks or poles come in various designs so it is important to know what you need to look for. There is nothing worse than spending money on something that won't or doesn't fit the purpose. What To Look For In A Kid's Hiking Pole Adjustable LengthThe first priority in a kid's hiking pole is ensuring that the pole is adjustable. Children grow rapidly and one size fits all is not going to work in this case. Most adjustable hiking poles are telescoping so you can get the height of the pole near perfect. As your child grows, the pole can grow with them and allow it to last more than just one hiking season before becoming obsolete. MaterialThe material that the hiking pole is constructed out of is going to play a part in the weight of the hiking pole as well as the durability. Aluminium poles are at the lower end of the cost spectrum and can be good if you are just starting out and not ready to invest a lot of money until you are sure it will be worthwhile. Aluminium is lightweight but is also less durable and can bend easily, it can however be bent back into shape without too much effort. At the higher end of the scale is carbon fibre hiking poles. Carbon fibre is also a very lightweight metal but unlike aluminium it is made to last and is rather difficult to break. CompactnessIt is unusual to find a kids hiking pole that doesn't collapse down in some way. You are going to want to look for a hiking stick that can easily collapse to a size that is either small enough put inside a backpack or attach to the outside of a backpack with out hindering their walking or being unnecessarily irritating by digging in to their back or hitting their legs as they walk. StabilityIn this area you want to see how stable the hiking pole is. The main idea behind hiking poles is to add an extra layer of stability. First look at how secure the locking mechanism is when you adjust the height of the hiking pole. It will need to withstand a decent amount of stress on it without buckling or collapsing under the pressure. Based on research and experience the most reliable locking mechanisms are ones with metal pins. Next look at the foot of the hiking pole. It should have a decent size foot to allow for that extra stability. How Long Should A Hiking Pole Be? A hiking pole should be at a 90 degree angle to your arms. Put your arms out, elbows bent and parallel to the ground. A hiking stick or pole should sit firmly on the ground when grasped in your hands. This is the correctheight for most general hiking and walking. However you can increase your stability if you are hiking up a significant incline or down and tricky decline. When you are hiking up a hard incline you may want to decrease the hiking poles height by around 5-10cm. For younger kids it would likely be closer to 5cm than 10cm. Decreasing the height of the hiking poles on a steep incline can provide more stability but it can also reduce the strain on the body from over reaching to plant the poles. When hiking downhill you will want to do the opposite. Increase the length of the hiking pole by 5-10cm. This will also provide more stability and less exertion. When hiking down hill you don't want to be reaching too far and it is more vital to keep all your points of stability closer to your body. Our Favourite Hiking Poles For kids Highstream Kids Hiking Poles These are a great entry point for hiking poles. Their reasonable price makes them affordable to try out without a huge investment. The age range they are suited for is under 12. They are only made of aluminium however but if they are just being used for young kids this shouldn't be an issue. Trail Buddy Lightweight Trekking Poles What we really like about these kids hiking sticks is that they come with a range of accessories which make them very customisable. They use aircraft grade aluminium which holds up far superior than standard aluminium giving you peace of mind in regards to their stability. The cork handles are also perfect to wicking away moisture ensuring that you always have a good grip. The do however have a latch locking mechanism which is the only thing that would hold us back on this purchase. Cascade Mountain Tech Hiking Poles These are in our opinion the ideal hiking pole for avid young hikers. Constructed from high grade carbon fiber there is no doubt that these hiking poles are of superior quality and strength. The weight of these kids hiking poles is remarkable coming in at LESS THAN A POUND! This means they add next to no weight to what is likely an already heavy pack. The accessories that are included are ideal for customising for the terrain. Different feet can be added depending on the type of stability needed making these trekking poles incredibly adaptable. The price however is a significantly higher than the options previously presented. Cascade Mountain is a reputable brand that you can have faith in. It is an American company establish in the PNW by avid hikers. A good company will aways stand behind their product. We also like to support businesses that are dedicated and knowledgeable about hiking. Pros And Cons Of Hiking Poles Pros Hiking poles create an increased level of stability. This can be a huge game changer for kids and young people just starting out on their hiking journey. Building their confidence is a sure way to increase their love of an activity. Constant tripping or scrambling on rocks can decrease enthusiasm which will definitely put a dampener on your hiking trip. There is less fatigue on the body when hiking poles are used. This because extra stability means less exertion is required from the body to maintain stability require on its own. It can be hard to motivate ourselves to keep going when we are physically spent but every harder to motivate a child. The less energy expended the better in this case.The added distraction hiking poles add, can sometimes be priceless when hiking with kids. Kids will often pick up any stick along the side of the path and use it as a walking stick. Our kids really enjoy hiking sticks because it gives them a focus. Instead of just walking they are now assessing the surroundings and finding good places to plant those walking sticks. Increased endurance is another one of the added benefits of hiking poles. Less strain on the body and less exertion means that it become easier to do more and go further. The ability to tackle more rugged and difficult terrain. Hiking poles for kids can help you move beyond the traditional family hikes and head out into more adventurous and exciting places. I think as adults we love to share our hobbies and things that bring us joy with our kids. Personally I have been elated once my kids were beyond the simple loop tracks that could be done in 30 mins. We have enjoyed hiking incredible places together. Delicate Arch was definitely a highlight with our then 2, 4 and 6 year olds. Angels Landing in Zion is right at the top of the bucket list once we can travel internationally again! Cons Hiking poles can be just one more thing to carry. They absolutely have their uses but they can also become cumbersome and just an added nuisance if they aren't utilised. If this is a concern for you, we would recommend purchasing a cheap set of walking poles to try out first. There is a very real possibility that the novelty could wear off with some kids. What was once an exciting new accessory is now just something else for mum and dad to carry. This is where the light weight, and collapsable features really come in handy. Easy storage is going to be vital if you feel like this is something that could happen on your trip.Under utilised. If you are not avid hikers and you are happy to stick to short family friendly hikes then there is a high chance that hiking sticks and poles aren't for you. They will likely end up collecting dust in the garage somewhere. Just stick to the random branches lying on the trail instead. Tips For Using Hiking Poles Start out at home. Get yourself and your kids familiar with your new hiking poles. Make sure that they are adjusted to the correct height and go for a walk around the neighbourhood...or backyard if you don't want people looking at you strangely. Never put your full weight on your hiking poles. They are there to provide stability and balance but never rely on them solely for your safety. It can be all too easy to become overly reliant on them which could result in a nasty injury if they were to break or not able to break a fall. Keep your hiking poles and sticks in good condition. The best way to do this is by simply keeping them clean and dry when you are storing them. Moisture is not your friend and can cause the metal, and in particular the locking mechanisms to deteriorate. It is as simple as wiping them down with a dry cloth or towel before putting them away. Be sure to give them a quick once over before your next hike to be sure they are still in good working order. Start out easy. Hiking sticks require a bit of practice to perfect, and to get the most benefit from. Head out on an easier trail the first time using them to get the feel for how they work. A common failure when it comes to hiking sticks and poles is using too much arm motion. This can easily cause fatigue. Instead try to use your shoulders to help move forward. This will also give you a lot more control of your body and movements. If your hiking sticks come with different feet use them. Some feet are wider and can offer better coverage in certain terrains, others can have more shock absorbency which can make for a more comfortable hike.Add some rubber tips to the bottom of the hiking poles. Rubber tips are very inexpensive but offers several benefits. The first being that it protects the hiking pole itself. We always recommend caring for your equipment in the best possible way to ensure a long life. The second benefit is that it offers less friction and extra grip. Using a rubber tip in a river crossing for example is going to give you a far superior grip on the river bed than without a tip. Lastly it reduces the noise of mental banging on rocks etc. This one is more personal, you may not be bothered by the tap tap tapping of the hiking poles but we really like to reduce it if possible. In short, rubber tips are a cheap purchase for a decent payoff. Hiking sticks for kids are a great investment if you hike a lot or if you are wanting to get out and enjoy nature more with your kids. They offer unparalleled stability that you just can't get any other way. It is like having an extra set of feet and arms. Equipping your kids with hiking sticks could mean being able to access trails that you thought you would be waiting until they were much older to tackle. There are so many options available to you but or recommendations are to look for the things that you feel would be a priority to you. For us that is a reputable company dedicated to the great outdoors, sturdy workmanship and light weight construction.