Poles have failed - help!

[Sijmon]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

 

[SabsP]

City centre of Leon has lots of Bazars Chinos that are open today. You might find some cheap poles there.
I just did a google search and at least two are open. Less than one km walk from the cathedral.

Good luck.

 

[Anhalter]

Unless you can fix it somehow, one option would be to walk the two days to Astorga without poles (or just one) and buy some there. Not very hard terrain until there.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

I only ever walk with one hiking pole, I find the additional utility of a second pole to be of less value to me than the additional hassle of wrangling a second thing to remember to take with me and to juggle with in city situations when I am simply carrying the poles around with me.

If you are not used to walking with hiking poles then perhaps try walking with one pole before you buy another or another two.

 

[Sijmon]

City centre of Leon has lots of Bazars Chinos that are open today. You might find some cheap poles there.
I just did a google search and at least two are open. Less than one km walk from the cathedral.

Good luck.

Thankyou so much!! Will check it out

 

[Sijmon]

Unless you can fix it somehow, one option would be to walk the two days to Astorga without poles (or just one) and buy some there. Not very hard terrain until there.

Yes I did think about this as an option. Thanks so much for replying. Helps to feel less alone!

 

[gerardcarey]

my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
Suggest you approach a pilgrim with poles who presumeably will have more experience and ask for their assistance.
Alternatively, if you have internet access, search for help in utube videos.
Regards
Gerard

 

[JustOneGuy]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

I do not know your physical condition, but I found it much better to walk without poles on flat or slightly sloping terrain.

Don't worry, you can do it for a day (and it's less tiring - see below)! Actually, trekking poles are useful devices for distributing leg effort up or downhill at the expense of the arms, or for improving balance on difficult terrain. My point is that each arm still has to lift a few dozen grams with each step, which makes the overall effort and fatigue on flat terrain higher than it would be without them.

I add the conclusions of a review paper on the use of trekking poles. Bear in mind that 1) I am a nerdy scientist and 2) this includes in one paragraph the results of several studies on trekking poles used by different people in different conditions:

Are Trekking Poles Helping or Hindering Your Hiking Experience? A Review​

Conclusions​

Previous literature has illustrated that using trekking poles increases physiologic responses (O2, HR, ventilation, EE) while decreasing biomechanical responses (GRF, joint loading, joint moments) and subjective responses (RPE, DOMS). During free, unloaded walking, users should compare the cost versus benefit of using trekking poles. Although using poles decreases lower extremity loading and forces, cardiovascular demand is increased; thus, a decision should be made based on the individual’s current fitness level and whether any lower extremity conditions or pain are present. When carrying a large external load, the use of trekking poles may be beneficial, resulting in decreased lower extremity muscle activity and increased balance and stability, with no meaningful differences in metabolic expenditure. Future research should consider investigating the effect of trekking poles on lower extremity EE, as well as the effect of single versus double pole use on RPE and EE.

from Hawke AL et al., 2020

As I wrote, and as it is quite logical, the effort seems to be higher than without them, although there are several benefits to be considered.

 

[Sijmon]

I only ever walk with one hiking pole, I find the additional utility of a second pole to be if less value to me than the additional hassle of wrangling a second thing to remember to take with me and to juggle with in city situations when I am simply carrying the poles around with me.

If you are not used to walking with hiking poles then perhaps try walking with one pole before you buy another or another two.

Thanks! Sadly I am (my knees are) very used to/reliant on two poles .
But perhaps this is my chance to try something new!

 

[Sijmon]

my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
Suggest you approach a pilgrim with poles who presumeably will have more experience and ask for their assistance.
Alternatively, if you have internet access, search for help in utube videos.
Regards
Gerard

Also good advice, thanks Gerard!

 

[Sijmon]

Also good advice, thanks Gerard!

Gerard - YouTube of course!! Simple fix now done
Thanks everyone for your replies
So grateful

 

[dougfitz]

have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it

I have seen this happen with telescoping poles. If you are lucky, you have loosened the expanding collar at the top of the lower tube so much that it can no longer grip the inside of the upper tube. That is because it will then keep spinning, rather than binding against the walls of the upper tube, and the part that expands the collar won't be drawn down into the collar.

You can check whether this is happening by taking the two sections apart. Once apart, you can try winding the collar up and down the screw thread, and see whether it starts to expand. If it does, wind it back until the collar just fits into upper tube, and try tightening it again. You need some friction between the outside of the collar and the inside of the upper tube to make these work.

edit: it is possible, but rare in my experience, to strip the internal thread in the expanding collar by overtightening the pole. You only need to tighten it enough so that the sections don't slip when you are putting all your weight on the pole. More than that is unnecessary.

 

[Sijmon]

I have seen this happen with telescoping poles. If you are lucky, you have loosened the expanding collar at the top of the lower tube so much that it can no longer grip the inside of the upper tube. That is because ti will then keep spinning, rather than binding against the walls of the upper tube, and the part that expands the collar won't be drawn down into the collar.

You can check whether this is happening by taking the two sections apart. Once apart, you can try winding the collar up and down the screw thread, and see whether it starts to expand. If it does, wind it back until the collar just fits into upper tube, and try tightening it again. You need some friction between the outside of the collar and the inside of the upper tube to make these work.

Yes I think this is exactly what happened. Found super simple fix here:

Thanks for taking the time to reply

 

[Majella O'Neill]

For the future- the advice I’ve always been given by the very experienced people in my hiking club is that using one pole isn’t good for you. (Maybe skews your gait or something).
Two poles or none is recommended.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

This happened to me during one of my Camino Frances'. One essential item I always carry in my hiking "kit" is grey masking / furnace tape. Can use for many purposes. For the pole that was not sticking / remaining in place, I simply cut a piece of the furnace tape and wrapped around the faulty joint. Even a short piece of tape can wrap around the joint several times. This worked great and I was able to use both poles again. Interesting that later on, I decided to replace the tape, and tried out the poles and they were working well again! Bob

 

[Johnnyjenga]

The locking mechanism inside the pole has gotten smooth from use. Take the pole apart and use a knife or sandpaper to roughen the surface of the plastic piece that expands in the barrel. You should be good to go. Buen Camino.

 

[Varekai]

Ask around at the albergues and hostals if anyone has left behind or donated any walking poles.

 

[JerryStroebele]

I se

For the future- the advice I’ve always been given by the very experienced people in my hiking club is that using one pole isn’t good for you. (Maybe skews your gait or something).
Two poles or none is recommended.

I see lots of images of St James using just one staff. Just one has worked well for me as a third leg on steep, rocky, muddy, slippery terrain and crossing streams for over 50 years. Maybe that has skewed my mind and made me a Camino addict. Buen Camino

 

[TallSimon]

If you do decide to try something different to your normal walking style, do take care to listen to your body and not overdo it, especially early in the trip.

 

[Sijmon]

I do not know your physical condition, but I found it much better to walk without poles on flat or slightly sloping terrain.

Don't worry, you can do it for a day (and it's less tiring - see below)! Actually, trekking poles are useful devices for distributing leg effort up or downhill at the expense of the arms, or for improving balance on difficult terrain. My point is that each arm still has to lift a few dozen grams with each step, which makes the overall effort and fatigue on flat terrain higher than it would be without them.

I add the conclusions of a review paper on the use of trekking poles. Bear in mind that 1) I am a nerdy scientist and 2) this includes in one paragraph the results of several studies on trekking poles used by different people in different conditions:


from Hawke AL et al., 2020

As I wrote, and as it is quite logical, the effort seems to be higher than without them, although there are several benefits to be considered.

A meta analysis! yes please!!!
This I did not expect to receive
Yes I get it - the poles are an extra load in themselves. The reference to 'lower extremity conditions or pain' though certainly applies to me which is why I'm so glad to have it fixed. Using poles has been a game changer for me.
I love how Hawke et al suggest a decision should be made when weighing up the pros and cons for each individual - kinda supports the 'each to his own' advice and opinions coming through on the qualitative research (ie this thread)

 

[trecile]

Yes I think this is exactly what happened. Found super simple fix here:

I'm glad that you found the solution!

One essential item I always carry in my hiking "kit" is grey masking / furnace tape.

You mean duct tape?

 

[Anamiri]

Thanks! Sadly I am (my knees are) very used to/reliant on two poles .
But perhaps this is my chance to try something new!

I need two poles too, I'd see if someone can help you where you're staying..

 

[donalomahony]

@Sijmon is sorted. See post #11 above. The power of the village!!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

For the future- the advice I’ve always been given by the very experienced people in my hiking club is that using one pole isn’t good for you. (Maybe skews your gait or something).
Two poles or none is recommended.

I have used just one pole on all of my many Caminos and my gait is fine. I prefer the freedom of one completely free hand. I would never choose none on the Camino!

 

[gml]

I do not know your physical condition, but I found it much better to walk without poles on flat or slightly sloping terrain.

Don't worry, you can do it for a day (and it's less tiring - see below)! Actually, trekking poles are useful devices for distributing leg effort up or downhill at the expense of the arms, or for improving balance on difficult terrain. My point is that each arm still has to lift a few dozen grams with each step, which makes the overall effort and fatigue on flat terrain higher than it would be without them.

I add the conclusions of a review paper on the use of trekking poles. Bear in mind that 1) I am a nerdy scientist and 2) this includes in one paragraph the results of several studies on trekking poles used by different people in different conditions:


from Hawke AL et al., 2020

As I wrote, and as it is quite logical, the effort seems to be higher than without them, although there are several benefits to be considered.

As I interpret it, the report says that whether or not poles increased the effort or “metabolic expenditure” depended on whether the subject walked with a backpack (“external load”) or without one: when carrying a load, using poles didn’t measurably increase effort. I read somewhere that poles can shift about 25% of the stress from the legs to the arms. If so, that’s a big help on those days when it’s all you can do to take even one more step!

 

[goebel.travels]

Some of the albergues or larger hostels may have a "Left & Found." If you have time you might consider approaching the reception of one or two and asking about what poles they have (if you want to replace the one you can't fix) -- they may want to get rid of extra poles or they keep them for just this situation.

 

[dick bird]

If they extend but won´t tighten, I´d whack a load of superglue around the fastener, then chuck them when you get to a place you can buy new ones.

 

[patriciafross]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

Sometimes people like me donate their poles to an Albergue when they finish using them. Why not stop in an Albergue or two to see if they have any used poles?

 

[trecile]

Some of the albergues or larger hostels may have a "Left & Found." If you have time you might consider approaching the reception of one or two and asking about what poles they have (if you want to replace the one you can't fix) -- they may want to get rid of extra poles or they keep them for just this situation.

If they extend but won´t tighten, I´d whack a load of superglue around the fastener, then chuck them when you get to a place you can buy new ones.

Sometimes people like me donate their poles to an Albergue when they finish using them. Why not stop in an Albergue or two to see if they have any used poles?

I know that everyone wants to be helpful, but @Sijmon has solved the problem:

Gerard - YouTube of course!! Simple fix now done
Thanks everyone for your replies
So grateful

 

[dougfitz]

I do not know your physical condition, but I found it much better to walk without poles on flat or slightly sloping terrain.

Don't worry, you can do it for a day (and it's less tiring - see below)! Actually, trekking poles are useful devices for distributing leg effort up or downhill at the expense of the arms, or for improving balance on difficult terrain. My point is that each arm still has to lift a few dozen grams with each step, which makes the overall effort and fatigue on flat terrain higher than it would be without them.

I add the conclusions of a review paper on the use of trekking poles. Bear in mind that 1) I am a nerdy scientist and 2) this includes in one paragraph the results of several studies on trekking poles used by different people in different conditions:


from Hawke AL et al., 2020

As I wrote, and as it is quite logical, the effort seems to be higher than without, although there are several benefits to be considered.

Thank you for sharing the link to that paper. Unfortunately, I cannot access many of the papers that are referred to, and wasn't able to check whether the results were obtained in broadly equivalent conditions, nor what the conditions were for any particular study. However, it doesn't surprise me that it is common to find that one works a bit harder when using poles. Why? Well, whether one uses poles to speed up, as in Nordic walking, or to reduce the load on one's back, hips, knees, etc, this is all achieved by engaging the upper body in providing some motive or static force. That is all additional effort.

I was a little surprised by your observation that you found a noticeable difference walking without them on flat terrain, suggesting this was because one wasn't using one's arms to lift them. That is true, but the poles will still be carried somewhere, and my view is that they might as well be achieving some benefit as none. That said, I can see that in the circumstance where one isn't using the straps effectively, and continually having to clasp and unclasp the handgrip to exert any force along the pole, that would become tiring far more quickly than exerting the downward force through the strap.

My own view is that the full benefits of carrying modern, technical walking poles are achieved by using them in pairs, and using them from the moment you start walking each morning until you have reached your walking destination later that day.

 

[dougfitz]

My own view is that the full benefits of carrying modern, technical walking poles are achieved by using them in pairs, and using them from the moment you start walking each morning until you have reached your walking destination later that day.

As a postscript, if you either don't have the time or are unwilling to invest the small amount of time required to learn to use the straps correctly, consider getting Pacer poles. My view is that this is the one real advantage of Pacer poles over more conventional designs. I would rather see people using Pacer poles than the many instances I regularly see of ineffective adjustment and use of the pole straps.

 

[JustOneGuy]

I was a little surprised by your observation that you found a noticeable difference walking without them on flat terrain, suggesting this was because one wasn't using one's arms to lift them. That is true, but the poles will still be carried somewhere, and my view is that they might as well be achieving some benefit as none. That said, I can see that in the circumstance where one isn't using the straps effectively, and continually having to clasp and unclasp the handgrip to exert any force along the pole, that would become tiring far more quickly than exerting the downward force through the strap.

Certainly, as the article and logic says, a lot depends on the physical condition of the person we are talking about and the load on his shoulders.

When I wrote the comment in NERD MODE I did not know whether @Sijmon was young, old, in good or bad physical condition etc. In any case I wanted to share a study that I found interesting because I was surprised to read about his fear of walking for a day without hiking poles (and wrote it before he had found a solution).

I found it surprising because I have only recently (after joining this forum, actually) started using them even on level ground when walking (and not in the mountains, where I always use them... unless I forget them at home ). So for me the reverse problem - adapting to poles - arose, and I noticed that many miles on flat ground with poles fatigued my arms a little bit, also because I am not used to them, of course. Therefore, I thought that the problem was due to the fact that indeed the effort of lifting the poles by about ten cm tens of thousands of times (in 20 km you do 25000-30000 steps) was still not negligible. Doing a back-of-the-envelope account (I make no claim that this is a scientifically valid argument) it turned out that indeed, making some assumptions, the weight is felt (although some of it is recovered):



Note that this calculation, together with a number of assumption (I used the weight of my poles) does not include the effort of rotating the stick and carrying it forward but only the vertical component. This paper confirmed my impression.

On the other hand, when I was running, I had studied that it is best to try to swing no more than 5-10 cm vertically, which marathon runners do very well despite their very long strides (up to 2 meters).

To be honest, I am surprised that some people find this observation “curious.”, as a commenter wrote on another thread. It is clear that that extra half kg anyway represents “work” to be done with each stride, which benefits balance and also redistribution of effort but... still a work.

Finally, note that the paper talk about "large load", not just "a backpack". I do not know if 5-6 kg classifies as such.

 

[JustOneGuy]

As a postscript, if you either don't have the time or are unwilling to invest the small amount of time required to learn to use the straps correctly, consider getting Pacer poles. My view is that this is the one real advantage of Pacer poles over more conventional designs. I would rather see people using Pacer poles than the many instances I regularly see of ineffective adjustment and use of the pole straps.

Actually I found that a lot of people uses hiking pole incorrectly (and sometime in a dangerous way). There are a lot of nice videos on youtube explaining the correct technique: I encourage to look at a couple of them.

 

[ili]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

Our poles do that too. What we have done is pull the pole out (the bottom half is one that would not tighten) then reinsert it and try again. But, your poles maybe different than ours. You may need to work with it for a bit, but it should eventually work. First time it happened was several years ago and a fellow pilgrim fixed it for me. Maybe ask around and someone may have had the same situation. Good luck and buen camino!

 

[USSeneschal]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

Check any of the big albergues to see if anyone abandoned their poles. We were able to fix my wife’s the tightening mechanism by taking a screw from an abandoned pole. Or just adopt an abandoned pole en toto.

 

[Bill from Canada]

I do not know your physical condition, but I found it much better to walk without poles on flat or slightly sloping terrain.

Don't worry, you can do it for a day (and it's less tiring - see below)! Actually, trekking poles are useful devices for distributing leg effort up or downhill at the expense of the arms, or for improving balance on difficult terrain. My point is that each arm still has to lift a few dozen grams with each step, which makes the overall effort and fatigue on flat terrain higher than it would be without them.

I add the conclusions of a review paper on the use of trekking poles. Bear in mind that 1) I am a nerdy scientist and 2) this includes in one paragraph the results of several studies on trekking poles used by different people in different conditions:


from Hawke AL et al., 2020

As I wrote, and as it is quite logical, the effort seems to be higher than without them, although there are several benefits to be considered.

I disagree. When I carry a pack I can feel it on my back and the poles give me stability. And when it’s hot, my hands don’t swell up. When I go uphill, my arms and shoulders help me climb. When I go down, they help in braking. I am on the Portuguese Camiño now and it’s slippery on the coastal especially when there are rocks involved.
I like the idea of approaching another pilgrim with poles, I’m sure you can get help.

 

[Lurch]

For the future- the advice I’ve always been given by the very experienced people in my hiking club is that using one pole isn’t good for you. (Maybe skews your gait or something).
Two poles or none is recommended.

You might look in one of the albergues to see if someone left a pair. I stayed in the nunnery, and if I remember correctly (always a risk there), they had a can in the office with items, mine gave out in Rabanal and I picked up one someone else had left behind.

 

[JustOneGuy]

I disagree. When I carry a pack I can feel it on my back and the poles give me stability. And when it’s hot, my hands don’t swell up. When I go uphill, my arms and shoulders help me climb. When I go down, they help in braking. I am on the Portuguese Camiño now and it’s slippery on the coastal especially when there are rocks involved.
I like the idea of approaching another pilgrim with poles, I’m sure you can get help.

Hi @Bill, probably you would not disagree with me if you had paid a little more attention to what I wrote.

 

[Toreld]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

Just adapt to your challange. Have a later start and know that all is good. Be open to what the Camino provider you.
Buen Camino

 

[Bill from Canada]

Hi @Bill, probably you would not disagree with me if you had paid a little more attention to what I wrote.

Hi JustOneGuy,

I read and disagree but it’s like the Camino, everyone’s Camino is different, or personal. I have used poles since I was in my 30’s hiking in the mountains and I am over 70 now.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I se

I see lots of images of St James using just one staff. Just one has worked well for me as a third leg on steep, rocky, muddy, slippery terrain and crossing streams for over 50 years. Maybe that has skewed my mind and made me a Camino addict. Buen Camino

I thought St James travelled to Galicia by boat . . .

 

[WayWalker]

Hi everyone I have just arrived to Leon to start my walk tomorrow morning. Checked into accom and have found that one of my poles won't tighten when I extend it They are very basic telescopic ones you twist to open and close when extending or shortening.
It's Sunday and shops are closed....
Does anyone have any advice on a repair solution?
Otherwise will have to wait until shops open at 10 tomorrow meaning I miss my planned early start.
The first challenge greets me already!!
Any suggestions or ideas most appreciated

Duct tape!!!

 

[Bill from Canada]

Hi @Bill, probably you would not disagree with me if you had paid a little more attention to what I wrote.

You are theoretically totally correct, but in practice I still whole heartedly choose to disagree. But this stream is not about science, it’s about a pilgrim from Australia who has a broken pole. If I was near them, I could fix the pole because I have had ones like it.

 

[Flog]

For the future- the advice I’ve always been given by the very experienced people in my hiking club is that using one pole isn’t good for you. (Maybe skews your gait or something).
Two poles or none is recommended.

Not everyone would agree with that advice... like me, for instance.

I've always preferred to walk with just one stick.. for downhill stability especially when it's wet, crossing stepping stones, swiping at threatening dogs, snaffling the odd apple etc. I swap it from left to right maybe every half hour or so to help maintain some upper body exercise.