You Are Never Too Old to Master a New Sport

If you like to walk around your neighborhood or hike in the wilderness for exercise, you need a good trekking pole to take on your walks. A trekking pole has many uses, and one of those is self-defense. When you shop for a pole, look for features that make it a good self-defense weapon in case you ever need it. Here's how a self-defense trekking pole can be helpful.

Protection From Wildlife

Even if you live in the city, wildlife can be an issue when you're out walking. Coyotes are commonly seen in urban and suburban settings, and a self-defense trekking pole can be used to scare the animals away if they start to wander too close, especially when you're walking a small dog.

If you spent much time hiking in the woods with your family as a kid, your adventures may have started out by hunting for a strong stick to use to help you climb hills and to protect yourself from snakes and other small wildlife. You can use a trekking stick to poke leaf mounds and tap on old logs to make sure there are no snakes you might accidentally step on.

Protection From Loose Dogs

Loose dogs can be a danger in a city setting when you're out walking or biking. A family pet that's normally mild-mannered might become aggressive when you're on a bike. Some trekking sticks fold down so they're easy to carry in a pocket but they can be opened easily to use for protection against a dog that tries to bite or knock you off of a bike.

Protection From People

A self-defense trekking pole can be useful if you're attacked by a person. It might not be much use against a gun, but if the attacker gets close enough, you can use the stick to smack and poke. This might slow down the attacker enough that help will arrive before you're harmed.

It's important to choose a trekking pole that's strong so it won't break apart if you need to use it to strike a person or large wild animal. Some poles also come with pointed tips that may not be lethal, but they can cause pain and be used to ward off an attacker.

When you buy a self-defense trekking pole, practice using it so you can react quickly in an emergency. Being able to act quickly could save your small pet from being carried off by a large bird or being mauled by a coyote. Taking a trekking pole on your walks and hikes isn't a burden either since it can be used to help you balance your weight, stay steady on ice, and climb hills more easily.