Wear Trekking Gloves

When you use trekking poles, your hands are constantly exposed. Wind, cold, sun, mosquitos, sandflies, midges… They used to torment my hands, until I began wearing trekking gloves.

That’s when I discovered gloves also make trekking poles more comfortable. Yes, even Leki trekking poles. Leki’s Aergon grips are excellent, but I find trekking gloves add a little cushioning, reduce friction, wick away sweat, give the poles a more secure feeling in my hands, and allow me to hold them with less effort.

“Trekking gloves,” however, don’t really exist. You’ll find them disguised as inexpensive cycling gloves. Look for cycling gloves that have minimal padding. The Pearl Izumi Select gloves are a good example. Men’s and women’s versions are available at MEC for $29, and at REI for $22.

I prefer fingerless trekking gloves, because they serve me in almost all conditions. I wear them when it’s hot or cool. Only when it’s cold or the wind is biting, do I swap my fingerless gloves for full-coverage gloves.

Try them. It won’t cost much. If you find you don’t like trekking gloves, you can use them for cycling. Kathy, by the way, who always uses trekking poles, never wears trekking gloves. When it’s warm, she’s gloveless. But her hands are easily chilled, so she usually wears full-fingered, lightweight wool or synthetic glove liners, and she often switches to insulated gloves.

Don’t Hike Empty-Handed

Hiking season is here. Got trekking poles? If not, buy them now. They’ll help ensure you cover more ground—more efficiently and comfortably—every precious day you spend hiking this summer. And they’ll add years to your hiking life by significantly reducing impact to your joints.

In 1994, when Kath and I began working on Don’t Waste Your Time in the North Cascades, The Opinionated Hiking Guide (now titled Hiking From Here to WOW: North Cascades), we hiked without poles every day for a month. We both developed knee pain. The next summer we used Leki trekking poles every day for three months and our knees were never strained. We felt like four-legged animals. We were more sure-footed. Our speed and endurance increased. Since then, we’ve considered trekking poles required equipment—nearly as important as our boots and packs.

The Benefits of Trekking Poles

Studies show that during a typical 8-hour hike you’ll transfer more than 250 tons of pressure to a pair of trekking poles. When going downhill, poles significantly reduce stress to your knees, as well as your lower back, heel and forefoot. They alleviate knee strain when you’re going uphill too, because you’re climbing with your arms and shoulders, not just your legs. Poles also improve your posture. They keep you more upright, which gives you greater lung capacity and allows more efficient breathing.

The heavier your pack, the more you’ll appreciate the support of trekking poles. You’ll find them especially helpful for crossing unbridged streams, traversing steep slopes, and negotiating snowfields or muddy, rooty, rough stretches of trail. Poles prevent ankle sprains—a common hiking injury. By making you more stable, they actually help you relax, boosting your sense of security and confidence.

Don’t carry one of those big, heavy, gnarled, wooden staffs, unless you’re going to a costume party dressed as Gandalf. They’re more burden than benefit. If you can’t afford trekking poles, make do with a pair of old ski poles. They’re not as effective or comfortable as poles designed specifically for trekking, but they’re better than hiking empty handed. If possible, invest in a pair of true trekking poles.

Even the best trekking poles are not expensive: under $140 per pair. The leading brands are Komperdell, Black Diamond, and Leki. We’ve never found Komperdell poles appealing, so we haven’t used them and cannot comment on them. But we know Leki trekking poles intimately. And we’ve tested Black Diamond’s newest trekking poles.

Black Diamond vs. Leki

Leki trekking poles (various models) have been our constant companions for 17 years. We can recommend them without hesitation. Their durability has been astonishing. And their Aergon grips are by far the most comfortable available. In particular, we suggest the Leki Thermolite Aergon Antishock for men, and the Leki Thermolite Shiva Aergon Antishock for women.

Our only complaint about Leki poles is that the twist-lock mechanisms require too much effort. To lengthen or shorten the poles in response to varying terrain, you must unlock, adjust, then re-lock the poles. It’s just difficult enough that we often don’t do it. We just continue hiking with the poles at a less-than-optimal length: either slightly too long or short.

All trekking poles made by Black Diamond have flick locks instead of twist locks. Leki, too, has begun offering flick-lock trekking poles. Many people prefer flick locks, because they’re very easy to operate, and they lock more securely. We don’t like flick locks because they give poles a heavier swing weight, making them more awkward and cumbersome. And flick locks are bulky. Most flick-lock trekking poles have two flick locks per pole, which makes them look like orthopedic devices.

We prefer the streamlined twist locks, even if they’re not as easy to operate. You swing your poles with every stride. You adjust your poles only occasionally. So it’s logical that “quick” trekking poles with an optimal swing weight would be preferable to poles that feel heavy and slow but are easy to adjust.

You now have another option, however: Black Diamond’s “Z Poles.” One model of Z Pole is the “Distance FL.” It has no locking mechanisms on the two lower sections of each pole. Instead, there’s just one flick lock located high on the shaft, just below the grip, where it has no effect on swing weight. The lower sections of the Distance FL engage and disengage much the same way as tent poles.

These new BD poles seemed like a significant improvement, so we purchased a pair for each of us. We’ve been testing them recently. Here are our conclusions:

• The BD poles feel as reliably sturdy as our Leki poles.

• On steep ascents and descents, we don’t hesitate to adjust the length of the BD poles, because the flick lock works quickly, easily and perfectly every time.

• The BD’s single flick lock (located high on the shaft, near the grip) has almost no affect on swing weight. The BDs feel nearly as light and quick as our Leki poles. Not quite, but nearly.

• The BD poles, however, are stiffer than the Leki poles. And the BD shafts do not taper as narrowly near the tip as the Leki shafts do. This means the BD poles transfer more shock and vibration up the shaft to our hands and wrists. With each pole plant, the BDs land with a jarring thud. This is annoying and uncomfortable, especially on sustained, steep descents. The Leki shafts flex slightly, so they absorb shock. Even Leki poles without shock absorbers are more forgiving and comfortable than the BDs.

• The grips on the Distance FL poles are not ergonomic. They’re cylindrical. They’re also very slender. And they’re virtually straight. This makes them far less comfortable than the sculpted, more substantial, positive-angle, Leki Aergon grips. You should rarely hold trekking poles tightly. You should hold them loosely, with your wrists cradled in the straps. Yet the size and shape of the grips significantly influence how comfortable your trekking poles are. Leki poles are supremely comfortable. BD poles are markedly less comfortable.

• The tops of the BD grips are small, about the size of a quarter. The tops of the Leki grips are elongated and bulbous. On extremely steep descents, it’s often helpful to place the palms of your hands on top of the grips. You can do this comfortably with the Leki grips. On the BD grips, it’s awkward and soon hurts.

• The BD straps are nearly as comfortable as the Leki straps. (Nearly, but not quite.) The BD straps, however, are attached to the grip with a small loop of thin nylon cord. To us, this appears to be a weak point in the design. How long will that cord last? We’re skeptical. But we know our Leki straps have never failed us.

• The tips of both the BD and Leki poles are carbide. But the BD tips screw into a plastic receiver. The Leki tips are permanently embedded in a plastic receiver. Carbide tips eventually wear out, but it takes a long time. When a Leki tip wears out, you simply replace the entire receiver/tip. The BD tips are intended to be installed and removed by hand, but you’ll likely need a pair of pliers. Even with pliers, it’s not possible to completely tighten the BD tips. They remain somewhat loose in the receiver. Perhaps that’s okay, but it appears the BD tips could loosen, unscrew, and fall out.

• One advantage of the BD poles is that they come with two pairs of interchangeable tips: one pair of carbide tips, one pair of hard plastic tips. Presumably the plastic tips would be ideal on canyon-country slickrock. Another advantage of the BD poles is that the tips, because they’re separate from the receivers, are less expensive than the Leki tips.

Final Analysis

The BD poles are much easier to adjust, and they lock more securely. We like the interchangeable tips for use on different terrain. For traveling, the BD poles are more convenient. When you break a BD pole down into three sections, the sections remain loosely linked together. Assembling the pole is as easy as connecting the bungee-cord-linked sections of a tent pole.

But the BD poles, despite their sophisticated innovations, do not compete with the sophisticated feel of the Leki poles. For us, feel is everything. Our trekking poles are not a mere accessory we use only occasionally. They’re essential equipment that we hold in our hands and use constantly, all day, every day we hike. After marveling at the ingenious design of the BD poles, we were soon frustrated with them on the trail, wishing we had our trusted Leki poles in hand.

The Black Diamond Distance FL “Z” poles are intriguing and impressive. They’re easier to assemble, adjust, and disassemble. They’re more convenient to transport. But the Leki Thermolite Aergon Antishock trekking poles are vastly superior where it counts: while you’re striding along the trail.

We’ll continue recommending Leki trekking poles. Meanwhile, we suspect Leki will introduce new poles with design improvements similar to, perhaps superior to, those now available on the BD poles. So check Leki.com occasionally.

Whichever brand of trekking pole you prefer, buy a pair soon so you’ll have them all summer. At the moment, you’ll find Leki Thermolite Aergon and Leki Luau Aergon trekking poles on sale at www.sierratradingpost.com for $86.37, which is 30% off the regular price of $124.78. These poles don’t have the anti-shock feature, but they’re otherwise excellent.

This is the first we’ve heard of the Koch brothers. Read the article. Your opinion?

http://www.utne.com/Wild-Green/Get-the-Koch-Brothers-Out-of-Your-Gear.aspx

Kathy carrying her 35-liter daypack in Sawcut Gorge, South Island, New Zealand

How big a pack do you need for dayhiking?

You need a 28- to 35-liter daypack to carry the clothing, food, and emergency gear necessary for all contingencies.

When dayhiking, people we pass sometimes ask us, “Where are you camping tonight?” They assume we’re backpacking, because our daypacks are large. What they don’t know is that their daypacks are too small.

Most hikers give more thought to going light than they do to all the circumstances they might encounter when hiking in the wilderness.

Being prepared means carrying enough gear to comfortably adapt to an abrupt change in the weather, to competently handle an injury, or to survive an unexpected night in the wilds due to a navigational error.

It’s not possible to go ultralight, carrying only a tiny daypack, and still take full responsibility for yourself in the backcountry. That’s true even in the desert, where the need to carry water more than offsets the additional clothing layers you can sometimes leave behind.

Your pack doesn’t have to be heavy, but it needs to be big enough to accommodate much more than a water bottle, lunch, and a fleece.

Don’t think ultralight. Think real light. It means going as light as possible—realistically.

That’s our opinion. What’s yours?

We recently found what we believe might be the ideal camp shoes for backpacking.

Until now, we’ve tried all sorts of cheap flipflops, imitation Crocs, etc. They’re light enough that they’re not burdensome in a backpack. And they’re adequate, allowing us to get out of our boots and walk around backcountry campsites without hurting our feet on rocks. But they’re not sufficiently protective to allow us to stray far beyond the tent, onto rougher terrain. And they don’t fit snugly, so they’re not useful for fording unbridged creeks. Flipflops have the added drawback of not easily accommodating socks, which means your feet always get dirty and can get cold.

A while back we discovered the plastic shoes made by Lizard (www.lizardfootwear.com). The Lizard “Agile 500” looked good: durable, with a snug fit. But we couldn’t find Lizard shoes in North America. Besides, $98 for a pair of camp shoes is just too extravagant. And at 13 oz per pair, they’re not all that light.

Then we looked into competitive racing shoes. Known as “racing flats,” or “spikeless cross-country racing shoes,” we realized they’re everything we want in a backpacking camp shoe:

• lighter than the cheapest imitation Crocs

• complete foot coverage, thus more protective than flipflops

• laces allow a snug fit so they’ll stay on our feet when fording creeks

I bought the men’s Nike Air Zoom Streak XC 2. The MSRP is $70, but I found them for $56 at runningwarehouse.com. They weigh only 5.4 oz (size 9).

Kath bought the women’s Nike Jana Star Waffle IV. The MSRP is $45, but she found them for $40 at runningwarehouse.com. They weigh only 5.6 oz (size 8).

We’ll be taking them on our upcoming Grand Canyon backpack trip. Afterward, we’ll let you know if we still recommend them as backpacking camp shoes.

FOLLOW-UP: We recently completed a three-day backpack trip in the Grand Canyon. Hiked down the Hermit Trail, camped at Monument Creek. Hiked west across the Tonto Platform and camped at Boucher Creek. Then hiked up and out the Boucher trail. We used our racing-flat camp shoes extensively at both campsites, and we love them. They are by far the lightest and most comfortable camp shoes we’ve ever worn. We highly recommend them. The only drawback is having to lace the shoes and tie them when you get out of the tent to pee in the middle of the night. But lacing and tying them is what makes them comfortable and secure. By the way, we also enthusiastically recommend that three-day itinerary in the Grand. Both of us have backpacked in the Grand about a half dozen times, and this was our most rewarding trip yet.

Backpacking Boots: Salomon “Cosmic 4D GTX” vs. Asolo “Synchro GTX”

Dayhiking Boots: La Sportiva “Thunder II GTX” vs. Asolo “Spyre GV”

A couple years ago, having worn numerous brands and models of hiking boots, I settled on Asolo. I’d worn several models of Asolos and all met my essential criteria: light yet rigid. Light boots contribute to endurance. Rigid boots prevent tired feet.* Unfortunately, light-yet-rigid is a rare combination. So I’ve continued hiking in Asolos.**

Here are a few more reasons why I wear and recommend Asolo boots:

• Asolo has a huge and growing range of boots to choose from. This ensures almost anyone can find a pair of Asolos that fits them well and matches their needs as well as their budget. So far, my favourite Asolo model is the “Synchro.” That said, feet are like fingerprints. Mine are unique. So are yours. Personal experience is the only way to be sure which boots are best for you.

• All my Asolo boots have maintained much of their original rigidity throughout their life.

• Save for one model, which Asolo no longer manufacturers***, all my Asolo boots have been very durable. They pack out before they wear out, which is good. Boots are “packed out” when their ability to cushion your feet has deteriorated to an unacceptable level. The uppers and even the soles might appear to be in fine condition, but if your boots no longer cushion they’re transferring too much impact pressure to your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and lower back. There’s a limit to how long even a high-quality boot can go before it packs out. But if a boot’s uppers wear out before the soles are packed out, the materials are inferior, the workmanship was shoddy, or you’ve subjected them to inordinately rough use

• Most of my Asolos have had Gore-Tex liners. They’ve been highly water resistant but not waterproof. No reasonably light Gore-Tex boot is waterproof, regardless of the manufacturer’s claims. I’ve learned this by hiking in many different brands of boots. None has been waterproof. My Asolos have been no more or less waterproof than any other boot I’ve worn. If you’re hiking in constant rain, through wet vegetation, Gore-Tex simply delays the inevitable: wet feet. (Perhaps if you wear heavy, full-leather “backpacking” boots, you’ll find them waterproof, but I’m unwilling to sacrifice lightweight for a dubious assurance of dry feet.) It helps if you treat your boots with Nikwax or Grangers, but eventually water will still seep in. So until I discover a genuinely waterproof boot, I won’t consider waterproofness an essential criterion. I’ll simply keep hiking in Asolo boots lined with Gore-Tex and occasionally treat them, temporarily boosting their ability to keep my feet dry.

So I’m committed to Asolo hiking boots. Yet I’ve recently had the opportunity to compare my Asolos with two other justifiably popular brands of hiking boots: Salomon and La Sportiva. Before settling on Asolo, I used to purchase various brands of hiking boots whenever I found them significantly discounted. While hiking in Arizona the past couple months, the Asolo “Synchros” I’d been wearing since last year finally packed out. I didn’t have other Asolos with me because I’d forgotten to bring a spare pair when departing Canada. But I did have access to new pairs of La Sportivas and Salomons that I’d previously stashed at my parents’ home in Arizona. So until I could buy another pair of Asolos, I thought I might as well test my loyalty. Here are the results.

Backpacking Boots

Salomon “Cosmic 4D GTX”
gender: men’s only
retail price: $250
weight: 3 lbs 3 oz (depending on size)
shaft: 6 in

commentary: The Cosmic is an all-synthetic boot, so it’s ideal for hiking in water, for example the Zion Narrows, Paria Canyon, or Aravaipa Canyon. It’s the best “water walker” I know of. (Constantly submerging leather or leather/fabric boots in water undermines their integrity.) The Cosmic is light enough for dayhiking yet substantial enough for backpacking. I like the Contagrip sole because it provides reliable traction. I also like the Cosmic’s high shaft, which protects against ankle injuries. The boot is reasonably waterproof. But for most hiking conditions, I find the shank too flexible. Also, the Cosmic is not as heavily cushioned as I prefer; I can feel small rocks underfoot. Finally, because the Cosmic’s synthetic uppers are very thin, the laces cut into my feet when I pull them tight for a snug fit.

bottom line: good boot for hiking or backpacking in wet canyons but not optimal for most hiking conditions

Asolo “Synchro GTX”
gender: men’s only, see below for comparable women’s models
retail price: $225
weight: 2 lbs 14 oz (depending on size)
shaft: 5.5 in.

commentary: After two pairs of Synchros, I have no criticism of them. They’re superb boots. The Synchro is light enough for dayhiking yet substantial enough for backpacking. It’s rigid and retains its rigidity. It’s well cushioned. It’s quite durable. The proprietary Asolo soles have never failed me: traction is excellent. The Synchro’s shafts are high enough that they feel secure and protect against ankle injury but not so high that they restrict movement. The Synchro is as waterproof as can reasonably be expected. If the Synchro interests you but you’re unable to find it, consider these similar Asolo models for men: “Flame GTX” or “Revenge GTX.” For women, Asolo makes two boots comparable to the Synchro: “Atlantis GTX” and “Attiva GTX.”

bottom line: The Synchro remains my favourite hiking boot, and I confidently recommend it.

Dayhiking Boots

La Sportiva “Thunder II GTX”
gender: available in men’s and women’s models
retail price: $155 to $160
weight: 3 lbs 2 oz (depending on size)
shaft: 5 in

commentary: The Thunder is an adequate boot for most conditions: reasonably rigid, moderately durable, fairly water resistant. For the price, it’s a good value. It is, however, a slightly heavy boot. Too heavy for dayhiking. I also find the Thunder’s shaft a bit too low. Too low for backpacking. It doesn’t feel as if it’s providing adequate protection against ankle injury. Cushioning was initially very good but seems to diminish quickly. The toe cap is substantial, perhaps a bit too big, which adds to the boot’s weight. Achieving a snug fit in the Thunder is difficult. I have to pull the laces extremely tight, which is uncomfortable. And the eyelets are so wide (far apart from one another) that it’s impossible to adjust the fit near the toes. Half the time the boot is securely tight but slightly painful. The rest of the time, the boot is pain-free but so loose it feels sloppy. And twice the laces on these boots broke, which is partly due to La Sportiva’s cheap laces, and partly due to the boot’s wide eyelets. For dayhiking, I’d prefer a lighter boot. For backpacking, I’d prefer a higher-shafted boot.

bottom line: I could live with this boot if necessary, but I feel no enthusiasm for it.

Asolo “Spyre GV”
gender: available in men’s and women’s models
retail price: $124 to $195
weight: 2 lbs 12 oz (depending on size)
shaft: 5.5 in

commentary: The Spyre is very light. I feel fast wearing it. Yet it’s quite rigid. The sole isn’t plush, but cushioning is sufficient. It’s easy to adjust the fit on this boot. I can tug the laces tight, achieving a sense of security, without feeling any discomfort. In terms of waterproofness, the Spyre is typical of all Gore-Tex/leather/fabric boots. The shaft of the Spyre is high enough to protect against ankle injury, so while this boot is clearly intended for dayhiking, I would wear it on an ultralight, one-night backpack trip. For multi-night backpack trips, however, I’d prefer a slightly beefier boot. My primary criticism of the Spyre is that it’s not the most durable boot. Lacking a substantial toe cap, the toes of this boot soon get nicked and scraped. Bear in mind the Asolo “Temple GV” (available in men’s and women’s) is very similar to the Spyre but has a full toe cap. The lack of toe protection, however, doesn’t bother me, because I’ll pack these boots out long before the toe wears out.

bottom line: A superior dayhiker. Carrying a heavy daypack, I’ve hiked 18 miles in them without once thinking about my feet, which means these boots were up to the task. Wearing my Asolo “Spryes” I recently dayhiked about 14 miles in the Grand Canyon: down the South Kaibab Trail, across the West Tonto Trail, then up and out the Bright Angel Trail. I’m still completely happy with these boots.

*Most people have not hiked extensively enough to know what’s necessary in a hiking boot. Few retail salespeople have the training or experience to properly advice customers on what’s necessary in a hiking boot. What sells is what feels good in the store. Flexible boots feel great in the store. And manufacturers produce what sells. So most boots are flexible, not rigid. But your next pair of hiking boots should be rigid.

Rigid boots decrease how much your foot flexes on the trail. The more your feet flex, the faster they tire and the more sore they’ll become. You don’t want to hike with tired, sore feet. To prevent that, you need rigid boots. So next time you’re boot shopping, hold a boot with the heel in one hand, the toe in the other. If it bends easily, it’s very flexible. Don’t buy it. And if you think a boot is too rigid, bear in mind that it will soon become less so once you’ve hiked in it. All hiking boots quickly lose some of their original rigidity.

**Asolo manufactures several lines of boots. The Asolo boots I’ve worn are from their “Matrix,” “Energy,” and “Fsn” lines. Last year, Asolo began marketing a “Power Lite” line, which in my opinion is too flexible. “Radiant” is Asolo’s latest line of boots, which I’ve yet to see in person.

***Asolo gladly replaced those boots. That’s my only experience with their return policy, but it would appear to be excellent. Previously, I’d been disappointed with the Fascist return policy of companies like Vasque.

CONCLUSION: I’ll never again leave home without a new, or nearly new, pair of Asolo hiking boots. Anyone want to buy a pair of lightly used Salomons or La Sportivas?

I just posted 29 items for sale on the MEC Co-op Online Gear Swap. It’s all high-quality clothing and equipment made by Patagonia, the North Face, Lowe Alpine, Royal Robbins, Smith, C.A.M.P., Ibex, Valhalla Pure, Granite Gear, etc. And I bet all of it will be gone—purchased and in use by someone else—before Christmas.

I’m not telling you this so you’ll check out the stuff Kath and I are selling, though please feel free to do so. I’m telling you because the MEC Gear Swap is a brilliant service, and I strongly recommend it.

When you sell your un-used gear, you’re not simply recyling it. You’re doing something much better than that: You’re making sure it gets re-used.

All those recyclables that you and we take to our local recycling bins each week? How much good is that really doing? I have no idea. But ensuring that a perfectly useful item continues being used via the MEC Gear Swap is certainly worthwhile compared to keeping it in a closet until it’s so outdated nobody wants it and you end up having to drop it in a recycling bin.

Gear swapping is especially worthwhile if you price your items reasonably, making them affordable for people who might otherwise have difficulty purchasing a comparable new item. By doing so, you make the outdoors just a little more accessible to others, enabling them to get out there and hike, ski, mountain bike, road cycle, climb—whatever—with clothing and equipment that increases their safety, comfort and enjoyment. The more people who appreciate the outdoors, the more voices in the conservation chorus.

Another benefit of the MEC Gear Swap is that it can enrich your life—not just monetarily but socially, by introducing you to some good people. The prospects who contact you about the items you’re selling will probably be a lot like you: enthusiastic about the outdoors. They might be very different from you: perhaps living in a distant corner of our vast country. Either way, you’ll almost certainly find you can trust them.

Over the years, I’ve sold hundreds of items on the MEC Gear Swap. Only once was I disappointed. It happened when I sent an item C.O.D., and the person declined to accept it, which meant I paid the expensive cost of sending the item C.O.D. plus the return postage. In every other case, the people I’ve sold gear to trusted me completely and were themselves completely trustworthy. As a result, the MEC Gear Swap constantly bolsters my faith in humanity—or at least in the outdoor-oriented portion of humanity.

Gear and clothing that Kath and I were no longer using is now being used by people in numerous states, all ten provinces, and two territories. We’ve yet to sell anything to someone in Nunavut, but that’ll happen eventually. Today, someone emailed me about the SteriPen water purifier I’m selling. Guess where he’s from? Walkerton, Ontario.

Gear that Kath and I have purchased via the MEC Gear Swap has logged hundreds of kilometres with us on trails all over the world. Some of it was new in every respect other than a 50%-or-greater price reduction. (Attention frugal shoppers: Christmas is fast approaching.)

If you’ve never used the MEC Gear Swap, you should try it. Here’s the link:

http://www.mec.ca/Apps/outdoorGearSwap/gearswap_main.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396038596

MEC continues earning my patronage for many reasons, and their online Gear Swap is one of them.

As guidebook authors logging up to 1,000 miles each summer, we began using Leki trekking poles way back when poles were a rarity on North American trails. Having never seen poles, other hikers frequently commented on them. Each assumed his quip was oh so witty. But it was almost verbatim what everyone else said: “Hey, you forgot your skis!” We tolerated this tedious sarcasm for years. But eventually the fatuous comments slowly decreased, while the number of other hikers using poles increased. It was as if we were observing the evolution of the hiker, from cretinous bipeds to astute quadrupeds. What a relief. We could stop wincing. And our faith in the intelligence of our fellow hikers was gradually restored. So thank you, Leki, for refining trekking poles into precision instruments and for popularizing them. You’ve made hiking easier, safer, and more enjoyable for all of us. And you’ve saved some poor fool—the guy who would have said “Hey, you forgot your skis!” once more than we could endure—from getting whacked with a trekking pole.

Beeline for treeline, Tararua Range, New Zealand

Because we publish hiking guidebooks, whenever we enter an outdoor gear shop we notice if it carries guidebooks. If it does, we always take a few minutes to examine how the books are merchandised. We just visited Yeti, an outdoor gear shop in Montreal, Quebec. Yeti carries few guidebooks and displays them behind the sales counter where customers cannot reach them. Our intention here is not to criticize Yeti in particular. It’s an otherwise well-stocked gear shop. The salesperson we spoke with (regarding waterproof gloves) was knowledgeable and helpful. Our point is that how Yeti handles guidebooks is typical of nearly every outdoor shop we’ve ever visited. They seem to believe guidebooks are peripheral to their business and of scant interest to customers. With the exception of MEC*, the big chain stores are no different. For example, every REI store we’ve visited in the U.S. has only a small, token bookshelf virtually hidden where customer traffic is minimal. This is a mistake. Outdoor gear shops are overlooking the fact that hiking guidebooks ARE gear. Guidebooks are essential to hikers’ enjoyment and safety. Besides, guidebooks drive experience. Experience then drives interest in gear. If outdoor shops recognized this truth and acted on it by stocking more guidebooks and merchandising them more effectively, they’d boost clothing and equipment sales. (Case in point: us. We took interest in Yeti’s extensive selection of gloves because of our experiences hiking with wet, cold hands.) Outdoor gear shops, wake up! You’re ignoring a significant revenue stream. You’re failing to serve an important customer need. And you’re falling short of what must have been your original goal: help more people enjoy the outdoors.

*Mountain Equipment Co-op stores in Canada do a superior job of stocking and merchandising hiking guidebooks. Way to go MEC!