Walking Poles

My walking buddy showed me a pair of walking poles (like ski poles) she had bought on sale at Target for $17.95.  On the sleeve they came in it said that one would burn 45% more calories using the walking poles as compared to walking without them.  I rushed right over to Target (the sale was over I guess because I they were $19.95 when I got there)

Do any of you had any experience with walking poles?  Do they really burn 45% more calories (I'd even use them for 5% more)? 

I'm sure there'll be no negative consequences to using them - except possibly some strange looks when I walk in the mall and use them - But hey, better strange looks for using walking sticks than for being morbidly obese!

I had never heard of these so I looked them up.  I am interested in hearing how you do with them, I am tempted to go buy a set.  Do you think you can use them on a treadmill?

I wouldn't be able to use them with a treadmill because I have to hold on th the treadmill handles with both hands.  Since the belt you walk on moves, I would doubt you would be able to use the polse.  I am going to use them for the first time in just a little while from now when I go walk in the park.  (Do you suppose now all the weight I want to take off will disappear overnight LOL - Oh well, one can always dream!)

That's a Really really great price even for 19.95 for walking poles. When I go to Atlanta to visit my BFF each year we use her and her husbands walking poles and yes you get a great workout with them.  Her's came from an on line site that I can't remember the name of (old timers setting in lol) but I know that hers were almost 100.00. they were very light weight and easy to use. I'm going to order a pair for my next trip down so we can all go walking with them (we used them to climb Stone Mt and I was so thankful for them ) Now I may just get those at Target to see if they are just as good.
Thanks for the heads up on this....and I would say, they are well worth the investment. I walk indoors for the snowy winter months at my gym and NO i would not use them on a treadmill, to dangerous   IMHO

They also had a model for hiking ($34.95) that were the same as mine instead of having a rubber tip on the end they had little floppy "feet".  I didn't think they were as good as the ones I have but then I'm not a hiker.  I don't like what I call  a "nuts-and-berries"  walk.  Give me a sidewalk or asphalt amd I'm a happy walker.   Since you do hike, you might like that model better.

Oh I'm not a hiker, Stone Mt is just that a Stone Mt. I think it is funny as I live in the Granite State (NH) but I had to go to Georgia to climb a granite mountain...I do that only once a year though.  We mostly use the poles for walks on concrete walks
while taking her Irish Wolfhound Dog for a long walk. Of course when we could be using the poles to "Hike" up the hill of street she lives on, we had to drag the poles as we pushed her lazy dog back UP the street...it was very comical see this huge dog being both pulled and pushed up the hill. Thankfully her hubby came looking for us and after laughing at us and the dog, those two returned by car, BFF and i walked with the poles back to the house...I just wished we filmed it for AFHV...lol
So just so you know, I don't hike, here in NH hiking season means tons of bugs and bees...if you don't walk first think in the morning, you go to the gym to work out...

Have a great night and a good laugh...

I did. I can just imagine trying to get that dog uphill.  Kind of like pushing a wet noodle with your nose! 

This is an update and I don't know the proper way to do it.  I walked 2 miles in the park this afternoon with my new poles and I don't know whether they will really burn 45% more calories than walking alone, but I do believe they will really burn some more.  Also, I tend to slump and I think they will help me improve my posture and stay more upright.  After using them, I would say to attempt to use them on a treadmill would be too dangerous.  What fun, a brand new adventure!

Thank you all so much for the care and support.  It is making a giant difference in my ability to get back on track.  We truly are all in this together.  The success of one of us makes all the rest of us stronger.  WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER - YES WE CAN.

Happy weekend (Our group earns a 5-star rating in my opinion!)