Hiking Poles in murren and gimmelwald

I take trekking poles on any walk/hike with uneven footing. Lots of other people never take poles on any hike. It really depends on your needs.

I am going to second the response above. Hiking poles are a great idea on almost any hike.

I have a pair that split apart into 3 sections for packing and they take up little space in my bag. I do end up checking my bag when I have hiking poles due to TSA requirements, but that has not really been an issue.

Would you be willing to share the brand name of your folding hiking poles?

The easy trails there are more like well-groomed walking paths, not technical climbing hikes. From Mürren to Gimmelwald, for example, is a pleasant 15-20 minute stroll on a paved and gravel pathway. I had a walking stick and didn't use it there. You'll find trail maps at hotels, and around town there, that describe all the trails and the difficulty level. Cant say for the more moderate trails, but we crossed paths with a lot of families and elderly people speeding along.

I do usually take a collapsible walking stick (rubber tip, not pointed) on most trips. Its a Hammer and not that expensive.

I think most brands of trekking poles have versions that fold/collapse. It depends on how much you want to spend--the really lightweight ones are more expensive. I bought my most recent ones at LLBean, but it looks like they don't carry that brand at the moment. It's probably a good idea to go to store with knowledgeable people to find the right length for you.

I bought my collapsible poles on AMZN for $60 and have been very pleased. Look for cork grips, they mold to your hands and absorb sweat.

My poles are the Montem brand I have the ultra Z version ( $79)

https://montemlife.com/

You can rent the poles in Murren or Lauterbrunnen if you don't want to pack them.

It's probably a good idea to go to store with knowledgeable people to find the right length for you.

Some sound advice on poles:
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/trekking-poles-hiking-staffs.html

Trekking Poles: Sold as a pair and used in tandem, trekking poles
enhance your stability and can reduce force on your knees while hiking
and backpacking.

Hiking Staff: Sometimes called a walking staff or travel staff, this
is a single pole that's most effective when used on relatively flat
terrain and with little or no load on your back.

I prefer adjustable poles, with Back Diamond's "flick-lock" mechanism my preference. I like to so slightly shorter on the ascents and longer on the descents.

Thanks to all for good information

I use hiking poles here in Colorado pretty regularly. Nearly all European hikers I met on the Dolomite trails we hiked recently used them as well. I actually regretted not bringing my poles on this trip as we were carryon only. Fortunately, the hotel we were staying at had loaners.

Costco now has a great pair of poles for $30. I just bought several pair to keep for friends and family to use at our mountain home. If you are checking a bag, I would not hesitate to bring these.

Thanks to everyone for your replies about pole brands. I need them for stability and help with knees so thanks Edgar for the information you provided. Also nice to know about rentable poles in Murren!!