While the human balancing mechanism can give two legs stability, some situations may call for more. Hiking and trekking especially among the elderly and medically unstable or feeble can benefit from a third or fourth leg. They are often referred to as fitness walking poles, Nordic poles or Exerstrider poles that are helpful in some walking exercise in streets and sidewalks. Trekking poles are a sturdier variant designed for used on hiking mountain trails or just uneven terrain.

Your 3rd and 4th legs using Fitness Poles

A walking staff or pole provides stability while relieving stress on you’re your muscles and joints. It can also provide a measure of security when your walking staff can be used as a weapon to fend off muggers.

While a solitary pole that acts as your third leg is often enough to provide walking stability, exercise buffs say that two sticks are superior to having just one. Using a pair of identical poles supports symmetric balance and absorbs the stress equally on either sides of the body. Exercise, hiking and trekking pole are one in providing these benefits. The hand grips and straps on these poles have been designed for assisting maneuverability with quick release features incase the poles get stuck along the trail.

It can take practice using poles but practice should be able to overcome any difficulty. They come with instructions with illustrations and even videos to guide first-time users get accustomed in using them.

These walking poles for exercise have specifications that make them suitable for the purpose. Some are just similar to walking canes to assist mobility impaired handicaps using rubber tips at the ends that contact the pavement of terrain. There are various types of tips depending on the terrain. One specially designed for walking in the sand, snow or soft terrain is the use of trekking baskets that prevent poles from sinking into the soft surface.

Shock-absorbing systems are also used like cork inside the pole top can reduces shock. Some uses springs inside. Regardless of the anti-shock mechanism used, walking poles benefits include increasing your comfort while using them.

Other features include adjustable height in some models. Single piece pole are generally lighter and offer the best choice for Nordic walking. Adjustable telescopic types are best suited for terrain trekking over hills and mountains so you can adjust the height when going uphill or downhill, allowing correct body incline when trekking. There are also collapsible poles that are handy with travelers and backpackers.