Hiking is a great way to for families to share outdoor adventures. Outfitting your children with hiking poles can increase their endurance allowing them to trek farther, improve their balance so that they can navigate more difficult terrain and decrease the amount of stress placed on their developing knee joints, suggests the Hiking Dude. Consumer ratings have awarded five stars to the following hiking poles for kids.
Black Diamond
The Black Diamond First Strike Trekking poles have received an excellent rating for their ease of adjustability and strength to handle rigorous terrain. These poles are lightweight, weighing only 14 oz. as a pair and can collapse to a height of 25.6 inches. The FlickLock adjusting mechanism allows you, or your child, to easily change the poles from a minimum usable height of 26 inches to a maximum height of 43.3 inches. Each pole is outfitted with a replaceable basket and carbide tip. Black Diamond offers a one year warranty with the purchase of these poles, which typically sell for $40 to $60 as of 2010.
REI
Consumers at REI have expressed satisfaction with the REI Traverse Junior Trekking Poles for their strength, light weight and usability. These poles are adjustable and made of aluminum. These poles utilize a twist and lock technology that allows you to adjust the telescoping poles to the perfect height for your child. These poles weigh 13 oz. and are 28 inches in length when compacted and 47.2 inches when fully extended. The handles are ergonomically designed for comfort. The stainless steel tips are protected by a trekking disc. Tip protectors are provided for traveling purposes only, never for trekking. These poles cost between $30 and $50 as of 2010.
LEKI
A consumer review of the LEKI Pathfinder Jr. Trekking Poles conveyed appreciation for their ease of use and cleaning after a long day of hiking. These poles are comprised of two separate, aluminum shafts that come together via a Super Lock system. According to the product description, the Super Lock system provides the strongest hold and requires less torque than other hiking pole models for kids. These poles can be set between the heights of 31 1/2 to 43 inches. These poles weigh 14 oz. per pair, come in blue, black and silver, and are adorned with animal track graphics. The product description refers to the hand grips as being made of a soft, natural cork material and the tips are described as concave and cylindrical to provide a more secure grip. The interchangeable basket system allows you to use these poles for different purposes like snowshoeing. These poles are priced between $40 and $60 as of 2010.
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