Walking sticks/poles

Our relatively inexpensive European-bought collapsable walking sticks that were too long to fit in our luggage (not collapsible enough even for checked luggage) caused no end of trouble in packing etc. I would have discarded ours after we really needed them in the Dolomites if I had thought about it more. If you are only doing carry-on you will have the same problem on your return that we did IF you keep the poles. Or check out poles at European sites and have them delivered to your first hotel. Find a way to get a cheaper pair that you will feel less bad about donating to the next people at the last hotel.

We do some serious hiking in Europe ( Alps and Dolomites) and I always bring my trekking poles. They are a-poles and collapse small enough to fit in my roller bag. I check that because of the poles.

On one occasion I packed the poles (less expensive ones I had prior to the z-poles) in a separate small duffel which I checked. Then I carried on my regular bag instead of checking. On arrival, the duffel folded up and stayed in my luggage until I needed it for the trip home. This might be an option for you.

Or if you have Amazon Prime, you can order them on Amazon.it and have them delivered to your first hotel as suggested above. I have had items delivered to us in Europe in London and Venice ( apartments not hotels), and have also ordered gifts for friends and had them delivered in those countries plus France. The one issue is I haven’t figured out how to change the website to English, but between my husband and myself we can work out the Italian or French. You can enter “trekking poles” in the search box and it will ask if you want Levi or carbon poles. This is the Lexi page, with poles down to,€59 a pair.

https://www.amazon.it/s?k=trekking+poles+leki&__mk_it_IT=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&crid=3HXGVX4A2OVJR&sprefix=Trekking+poles%2Caps%2C295&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_14

Buying them there is also possible—-you need a sports or outdoor store, and I don’t know of one in Varenna, but there are plenty in Milan. They will probably be sold in your Dolomites hotel town as well.

There is an Intersport at the south end of Lake Como in Lecco - in Meridiana Shopping Center, Centro Commerciale Meridiana - which has poles. Also a number of Decathlon stores nearby but none convenient to the lake, several in Milan for example.

We brought them on our RS Greece tour. We just checked them in a duffle bag. The duffle bag was soft enough to stuff in our carry-on one we landed. Alternatively, if the tour uses a bus most days, the duffle can stay in deep storage on the bus for the duration. We found the poles handy, especially when we were going downhill. I would bet that RIck Steves used hiking pole on his latest hike - it would be interesting to know if he brought them or purchased them once he got there.

On my Best of Italy in 17 days trip, I bought a pair of sort of collapsible trekking poles at a little store near the gondola going up to Alpe de Suisi. They were having a sale and they cost Euro 20. I left them at the hotel for someone to use. This was an extremely wise purchase as I am not sure how I would have done the downhill hike back to the hotel without them.

After that, I bought Hunger Hiker Carbon fiber collapsible poles. I have traveled both to Turkey and to Iceland with ONE pole. I put the rubber tip on the end and use it like a cane walking up to security. I put it on the belt to go through the X-ray machine and pick it up on the other side. On the flight from Cleveland to MSP a TSA agent started to question me about it, but her colleague said to her, "Let it go" and off I went. On the way back from Iceland, I didn't even pretend it was a cane. I put it under my cinching straps on my Osprey porter. Security in Iceland didn't blink.

My next trip will be all city walking. I will again take one pole with me. I find one pole is enough for me and less awkward than 2. If I lose the pole at security, then I do. I do have arthritic knees, but I can do city walking without the pole, but I definitely can walk further and handle more stairs with one.

In addition to great suggestions up thread I recalled several discussions over the years on the forum. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/portable-walking-stick

I've been on 6 RS tours, and I have always checked a 22" bag, and most of the time my collapsible trekking poles have been along.

Thanks, Nigel—-that is helpful. And inspired me to look in Milan in case they do not want to get off the train in Lecco. Turns out there is a Montagna Sport alpine shop just 2 blocks from the Milano Centrale station, at Via Mauro Macchi 13. Turn left out of the station.

https://lamontagnasport.it/

Thank you all for your thoughtful help and suggestions. As I was discussing this with my wife, she said, “Wouldn’t it be great if the RS tour could somehow offer/organize a walking stick exchange, use or rental at the beginning of their tours since they seem to be a common need?” Like the temporary use of the handheld listening device we use while listening to our local guides, these could be offered at the beginning of the tour and checked back in at the end (perhaps for a small fee) - and alleviate the hassle of taking them on the plane either way. Or maybe it’s not so much of an issue and we’ll just need to handle it independently. Though it would be nice to not have to have checked in luggage, in order to streamline our travel. 🙂

If you don't want to check a bag then just buy cheap ones after your arrival if you need them.

Jon,
I think that is a great idea, at least for the Alps related tours.

Rick Steves has been posting on his Facebook page about his recent hiking expedition, so I asked how he handled his trekking poles. Stefanie from his company responded that for this trip he checked a bag going over so he could take his poles.

Hi all - I would agree with the others that the two best/easiest options for Poles are:
1. Buy the ones you like at home and check a small bag with any other heavy items like spare street or tennis shoes etc (I always wear your hiking boots onto the plane vs checking since you want good reliable worn in boots and socks for hiking. On the way home you can check if needed). Its good to practice at home.

1. Just buy some in EU - any resort town has sport and mountain shops (private or chain stores). They are not always cheap but may also be something you want keep (check a small bag on the way home with any other clothes to make room for souvenirs in your carry on). One small bag to check on way home with boots or extra shoes/books is not too much of a burden. if thats all you plan to send home - you can always POSTAL Mail it home (if you get the Z collapsable ones - measure and bring a good folded small box from home).

You can find cheap or expensive ones - so lots of options. (...Id recommend dont be too cheap like Rick was this summer and by $30 poles unless you only need for a couple of 1-2 days and plan to donate!). I like the idea of ordering on Amazon.IT - and send to your hotel. Just let them know you expect a package and put "Guest At Hotel... June 1st etc: in one of the lines maybe!

Semi-related question -- why do walking poles help? Just curious

Phred- This is a good article on trekking poles.
https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/expert-advice/ten-reasons-for-trekking-poles
Hope this helps.

Interesting, thanks.

Sounds like they work best on trails.

I've probably just been lucky, but I packed one or two tri-fold hiking poles in my international carry-on on two European trips involving 11 flights in 2018 and 2019. I checked with our TSA in Tucson and was told that would be okay so long as there were rubber tips and I had a doctor's note saying that I needed them for balance and stability on my trip. I carried the original note and translations in my paperwork and had copies of those in the bag with the poles. I was never questioned.

What the article says about moving faster using poles is applicable to paved surfaces as well as to rougher ones. That's especially true if you are trying to keep up with a Rick Steves tour group or going down a steep hill.

There have been many situations in Europe where I wished I had both my poles. They've run the gamut from steep paved streets or cobblestone pedestrian areas in cities and towns to steep fields, park trails, and clodded, rough plowed cow pastures in rural locations. I particularly needed them for going down and up the hill for the truffle hunt on the RS Village Italy tour. It's described as being in a field. Yeah, one with about a 10% grade and very rough terrain.

One of the things that influenced me to try taking them carry-on was a very short man on the air side of SeaTac Airport who was using a tri-fold hiking pole as a medical device, which it truely is for some of us.

I've found it odd that people can take canes loose into the plane, but not rubber tipped hiking poles folded up in their own bag inside a carry-on bag stored in the bins over the seats. If someone wanted an easily accessible weapon, those loose canes would be gone in a minute.

I walk with a walking stick - it’s a medical necessity for me for any significant distance. But it looks just like what is often called a walking pole or trekking stick on this site. The one key thing is that it has a rubber tip - I find metal tips slippery. I never check a bag and I store my stick on the side of my American Tourister bag. It collapses down to under 20 inches and I slide it under a little handle on the side.

I don’t typically use it in an airport so it just goes through security attached to the outside of my bag. It’s been through dozens of airports and I’ve never been questioned - including Tel Aviv, Amman, Paris, Nice, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Cancun and more.

I use a Leki brand stick. Here’s a similar one: https://www.amazon.com/LEKI-Wanderfreund-High-Fives-Walking.

I use a collapsible monopod as a walking stick. This way I also have the ability to quickly mount and stabilize my camera. With an adapter it is also an ersatz selfie stick.