Europeans and adventure racers have long recognized and enlisted the benefits of poles or “sticks” as they are known overseas. For long courses with arduous climbs trekking poles are leg savers, allowing the user to distribute some of the exertion to the upper body, and Black Diamond’s Ultra Distance Trekking Poles ($150), made of superlight carbon fiber put a twist on the standard package by allowing for push-button breakdown, allowing the user to pack them away when not needed. http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com
