In June 2021, I set off on an adventure of a lifetime. I flew away from home with a large rucksack, packed with way too many things, off to Sweden to take on my first long distance hike. And wait for it, here’s the important factor: I had no walking sticks. Little did I know of the many benefits of walking sticks for hiking.
On my almost 2-month journey, I walked a total of roughly 700 km. And, for the first 300 I never touched a stick, I walked free hand! As I thought all normal hikers did. However, 300 km into ‘The King’s Trail‘ (my favourite long-distance hike in Sweden so far!) my curiosity gave way and I picked up two sizable, lightweight sticks, which I only discovered to my horror a few hundred km later were in fact there to guide cross country skiers in the winter…
My hands grasped each stick, and off I went humming and singing. The difference was astronomical. So without further ado, here are the top 3 benefits of walking sticks for hiking.
1. Stability
Imagine for a second you’re walking down a very steep mountain with unstable footing, annoying bulging, uneven rocks leaving you wobbly, with imminent death on your right-hand side, a looming hundred-metre drop, distracting you from your way down. You would want as much security and stability as possible, no? I’ve been in this situation and I learned that walking sticks are like having two extra legs, which step out in front of you, that’s two more points of contact with the ground, inevitably making you stable and safe on the trail. There were numerous occasions where I stumbled and would have and could have had a potentially nasty fall, but was saved easily by my sticks.
2. Speed
With an increase in stability comes an increase in speed and walking confidence and efficiency. When there’s an uneven path I’m trudging along, it takes a lot of focus to determine where you’re placing your feet, and actually I end up looking down most of the time. However, with sticks this problem is far less a thing, one can stride with confidence, without being bogged down with dodgy footpaths and obstructive logs. This makes the walking experience much freer and one’s eyes are fixed far less on the ground. And not to forget, having a bit of extra speed is immensely useful when running away from swarms of bloodthirsty mosquitoes.
3. Fun factor
After I picked up those sticks, my experience of the hike and the whole adventure changed. I was having much more fun, as less of my energy was focused on where my feet were going and trying not fall over. Falling over was near impossible.
In conclusion. Stability and therefore safety is provided through the use of walking sticks. Speed, and less focus on the ground and more on one’s surroundings. All around, leading to a more fulfilling, more enjoyable hiking experience. There you have the top 3 benefits of walking sticks for hiking! Thanks for reading, and I hope this was somewhat helpful. Happy hiking!
