Comments on: Urban Hiking: Newest Trend or Weird Neighbors?

By: SmarterFitter Blog » Blog Archive » If the shoe fits…

SmarterFitter Blog » Blog Archive » If the shoe fits… — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:51:34 +0000

[...] Trail Running Shoes were incredible. They were waterproof, comfortable, and quite stylish (to an urban hiker like me). I wore those puppies into the ground. So when it came time to replace them, I decided to [...]

By: asithi

asithi — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:59:40 +0000

I am starting to see the walking poles at the stores here in the suburbs as well. I am all for burning more calories when I walk, but I do not want to look that out of place when I am walking around my neighborhood. However, I am considering a weighted vest. The extra weight will burn more calories without me feeling self conscious. I know I should not feel self conscious in the first place, but I do.

By: Kara from MamaSweat

Kara from MamaSweat — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 10:44:08 +0000

I know that walking poles are on the rise, but couldn’t remember what it was they did for you until reading Colleens comment. I spose it makes sense–makes your walk more like a xcountry ski? Haven’t seen this in the hood, but have around urban lakes and walking trails. Not for me, feel overcommitted already with dog leash and kids (one kid will likely crash their bike and I end up carrying kid and bike home). So I guess I burn extra calories, too.

By: Sagan

Sagan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:40:48 +0000

Heh, yes, it DOES seem somewhat unnecessary. Haven’t seen that much around where I live though! Mmmm walking.

By: tfh

tfh — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:55:27 +0000

I haven’t seen that, but I have to confess I did go through a Hiking Phase in which I really, really wanted a pair of poles.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:57:19 +0000

I read in a fitness magazine recently that using walking poles burns more calories than walking alone…because you’re engaging your upper body. Not sure if that’s what they’re doing or not…?

By: Merry

Merry — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:47:35 +0000

When I first moved up to Oregon, I saw someone go past my apartment on cross-country skis. Then again, it was the day after an ice storm, when the whole area was shut down. Still a bizarre sight.

Mizfit… she may have been Elated, but was she Lucid? ;)

By: Fit Bottomed Girls

Fit Bottomed Girls — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:29:32 +0000

That’s pretty funny. I definitely haven’t seen that in my neighborhood in the midwest. Although I do know that just walking poles (on hills or not) are growing in popularity.

Picturing it is kinda funny though. :)

By: Sassy

Sassy — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:26:44 +0000

Hahaha! Good ol’ Seattle. Sometimes I miss that particular brand of crazy…
:-)

By: monica

monica — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:11:38 +0000

Ok, this topic comes up a lot with my partner and I. We don’t wear packs or carry hiking poles, but we seem to be perpetually dressed for camping. It just so happens that hiking boots, woolen underlayers and waterproof outerwear are the perfect clothes for London. So we often tease eachother about being urban hikers. It gets worse when I DO bring a backpack with me, which is of course, a Khatmandu reflective camelback / daypack.

I confess, I’ve thought about carrying a heavy pack with me when I walk to train my body for doing long distance trekking (I’d like to do the pacific crest trail). The walking poles seem over the top though. =)