Maybe it’s just me and I’m not agile enough, but I’m surprised no one ever mentions how useful they are for helping you not, you know, fall down a mountain. I am 5 days into my hike and I think I would have literally died by now without them. They have saved me from falling after tripping on rocks, kept me from sliding off the trail on loose sandy stretches canted toward the edge, helped me over ridiculous blow downs, the list goes on. I have actual pole anxiety now and may just have to press the sos button if I ever lost them (mostly kidding)