My knee thanked me after I gave trekking poles a real shot
Most gear reviews say poles are extra weight for fit campers. I found they cut down on joint stress big time. My last hike was pain-free thanks to them.
Last fall in the Rockies, I finally caved and bought a pair of those fancy poles everyone makes fun of. Turns out they're basically crutches for people who hate admitting they're getting older. My buddy used to call them 'training wheels for hikers' until he tried them and now he won't shut up about how they free his mind. I guess sometimes you need a stick to stop thinking so much about where you put your feet... it's like meditation but with more aluminum.