THE HISTORY OF PACERPOLE?
For a brief history of Pacerpole please click here. WHY USE POLES?Even after evolving to become bipeds, your arms will automatically switch to walking-mode when they haven’t anything to do; but if they dangle for too long your hands become stiff, swollen and uncomfortable. They need to be used. Power from the familiar arm-swing above your legs represents a natural-walking-resource as it thrusts back against the air. Until now, the problem has been one of inefficient control of this extra power during transmission between your arm, the pole and the ground, resulting in inferior performance. This gives grounds for the stigma often attached to poles of all kinds - that they’re a means of "last resort". WHY USE TWO POLES?With each stride the top half of your body twists on the bottom half – so the right hand comes forward with the left leg, then the left hand and right leg move through. This means that the thrust from each arm/leg combination balances the other to improve overall performance. Using two poles can improve your dynamic stability (safety benefit) as there is always a minimum of one foot + one pole on the ground making it easier to establish a well balanced stride rhythm especially over rough ground, variable terrain and long distances. WHY LEFT + RIGHT HANDLES?(See Shaping the Future page.) Your forearms pronate too which is why hand specific handles are needed set at an angle to the shaft for optimum leverage – with the handles themselves contoured in 3 dimensions for avoiding joint abuse and maximising control of power transmission between your arm, the pole and the ground ....... so your effort isn’t partly being wasted in trying to control the pole itself - but is directed into thrusting you forward so you stride-out to enjoy the great outdoors hour after hour. WHY NO THICK WRIST STRAP?(See Shaping the Future page.) WHY NO SHAFT SPRINGS?(See Reviews page: Chris Townsend/The Backpacker’s Handbook.) SINGLE POLE USE?Using a single pole instead of none can still increase stability over rough ground, reducing the chances of a fall. If for some reason only one Pacerpole can be used, then set it’s height a little lower than elbow height to reduce its range of elbow extension thrust (be aware that excessive thrust from one side only, can twist the trunk causing an imbalance). As a general guide – use the opposite hand to the weaker leg. The left hand moves forward with the right leg and vice versa. POLE / HANDLE WEIGHT?
The one objectively-founded negative comment about Pacerpole is their weight - generally understood to be a consequence of the handle design. WEIGHT v EFFORT?In practical terms weight is not just a question of gms or ozs - but more importantly, how much effort is required to move it. Why does carrying a pack by hand take more effort (is more tiring) than carrying it on your back - even though it's exactly the same weight? 1. Where the weight is has a significant impact on performance - and when applied to poles - where the weight is distributed along its length as it integrates with the arm (its weighting) will influence how much effort is needed to move it. WHY ARE THE PACERPOLE BASKETS THREADED?The baskets are threaded so you can exchange the smaller baskets for the wider snow baskets just by pulling-and-twisting firmly to remove, and then pushing-and-twisting firmly to replace. It's easier to do if you wrap a piece of rubber/latex glove around the tapered shaft section for a better grip whilst twisting the baskets. All baskets should be finally positioned with their top touching the top rim of the plastic tip housing and be able to rotate independently of the shaft; this avoids the shaft twisting and loosening the expanding bolts which can happen if the basket is fixed/stuck between rocks, deep bog or snow and you twist to free it. To retrieve, remember to twist in the direction as if you were tightening the expanders and not undoing them! In snow - putting a smear of grease such as Vaseline at the top part of the tip housing above the threaded section, can help avoid the plastic basket binding to the plastic of the housing, reducing the chance of them becoming frozen together in very low temperatures.
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