Walking poles ... do you lose them?

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Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Staceykate » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 1:08 pm

Hi everyone!
A friend said only get cheap walking poles because you'll lose them because you're not used to having them. Is that true?
I'm in the "buy good buy once" camp and don't want to buy something and then upgrade... but don't really want to lose $200 poles either...
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby jobell » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 1:24 pm

Nope, had the same pair now for about 13 years. Mind you, I cheated and bought three of the same originally and have basically used the third pole as spares over the years to mend the other two.


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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Dexter » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 1:38 pm

I've started using them this year, but not sure why you'd lose them?
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Moondog55 » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 2:00 pm

I use cheap S/H ski poles as walking aids and I've never lost one, I'm sure if I bought a set of $200- walking poles I'd be sure to lose them on day two. However my ski poles are about $200- to replace and so far not lost them
Ve are too soon old und too late schmart
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Staceykate » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 2:14 pm

So my friend said you lose them because you put them down and then forget to pick them up again...and leave them behind. Just because you aren't used to walking with them so you for forget to pick them up again
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Kickinghorse » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 2:39 pm

Stacey Kate
It’s like anything, you’ve just got to try remember to keep gear at hand. Advancing years not withstanding! Only times I’ve left poles behind is when seated in a cafe or pub. Never out bush though. Seem to have trouble with umbrellas and reading glasses though! Left a few pairs on planes and in airports. So I’m guilty but not to buy walking poles because you might lose them seems a little out there. :-)
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby stry » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 3:32 pm

I've walked away from my glasses a few times. Irrevocably only once.

Never left a pole or poles behind. Given how accustomed I am to using them, I don't think I could.

If they are carried and seldom, if ever, used (???) I suppose it's possible.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby johnw » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 4:00 pm

Single pole user, mostly. I've never lost one but I have occasionally walked off without it.
Fortunately always remembered and retrieved it before I got too far, or someone else noticed and told me.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Tortoise » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 4:58 pm

I had the same concern about poles. Then when I fractured my ankle, and it didn't heal up properly, poles became essential for me to get back into the bush. While I had to back track a few metres early on, I've never lost a pole. On a walk, anyway. Currently trying to figure out where I put my favourite pole after a recent walk... :roll:
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Eremophila » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 5:13 pm

Just need to develop the habit of looking around you, after you’ve had a break, before you start walking again. Much easier if there are two or more of you walking together.

A strip of fluoro-coloured tape around the pole can prevent it from blending into the background.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Staceykate » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 6:01 pm

Thanks all!! Sounds like I'm not crazy for wanting to buy a good pair the first time then :)
I'm generally a very responsible person and rarely lose things so if I'm conscious to pay attention hopefully it will be ok :D
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby north-north-west » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 6:28 pm

I am obviously the odd walker out in this. The wrist tendinitis plays a part.

One got blown off the southern end of Olympus (a sudden big gust that was the first wind that morning). One dropped into a deep hole between boulders on the southern side of Ossa. One went downstream whilst crossing Powena Creek in flood. My first got left behind at the Quamby carpark. The most recent was left at the Cardigan Creek carpark. After losing four Black Diamond Carbon Corks, I went to el cheapo carbon fibre poles, which tend to break (especially if you fall on them).
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby ribuck » Mon 08 Mar, 2021 6:53 pm

I used to stop for lunch then bound off full of energy and leave the poles behind. I never lost them, but it was a pain having to go back for them.

I solved the problem completely by making it a habit, whenever I stopped, of putting down the poles in the direction where I would be departing. Then, if I forgot to pick them up, I would trip over them. This cured the problem quickly.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby ChrisJHC » Tue 09 Mar, 2021 6:59 am

I make a habit of always putting my pack on then having a last look around where I stopped before stepping off.

It also helps if you keep things generally in the same area rather than spreading your gear around all over the place.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby stry » Tue 09 Mar, 2021 11:49 am

ChrisJHC wrote:I make a habit of always putting my pack on then having a last look around where I stopped before stepping off.

It also helps if you keep things generally in the same area rather than spreading your gear around all over the place.


Same here on both counts. Works for me.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Equivocator » Tue 09 Mar, 2021 6:25 pm

Never lost 'em, had the same cheap as chips pair for ~5 years and ~6,000km. Have had to replace the tips once at the ~2,500km mark.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby JohnnoMcJohnno » Wed 10 Mar, 2021 5:20 pm

ribuck wrote:I used to stop for lunch then bound off full of energy and leave the poles behind. I never lost them, but it was a pain having to go back for them.

I solved the problem completely by making it a habit, whenever I stopped, of putting down the poles in the direction where I would be departing. Then, if I forgot to pick them up, I would trip over them. This cured the problem quickly.


Excellent idea. Think I'll do this from now on.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby kelvinn » Fri 12 Mar, 2021 12:09 pm

Mine are getting on 10 years, and despite hating them, they just won't break, so can't get new ones.

As other have said, look around after all packed up. Put random items like poles ahead of you on the trail, not behind. And if you won't use them for a while, strap them to your bag.

Oh, and I've had enough close calls where they now have my mobile number written on them.
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby skibug » Thu 25 Mar, 2021 12:57 pm

I lose about one pole per year - I lead groups of students, usually I'll be busy answering questions, helping adjust packs, telling them to turn off the *&%$#! music! etc, and lose concentration. I think I should tie the wrist strap to my pack every time I stop, so it bangs my leg when I put my pack on.

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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby commando » Thu 25 Mar, 2021 1:34 pm

After getting way too many small needle hakea splinters i needed a walking pole / machete combination
$1.50 total
the colour means chance of loss is minimised
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Re: Walking poles ... do you lose them?

Postby Warin » Thu 25 Mar, 2021 4:36 pm

I have 'lost' the buckets off the ends of them, usually a small bit at a time.

I use the 'stow on the go' feature of the Osprey packs... works quite well stowing or retrieval.
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