I am very impressed with these trekking poles....they DO bear a substantial amount of weight. The Leki ones have an option to palm the handle with a rounded head on the grips! This does wonders for me, since my hands are so bad. You can use the finger grips too. They functioned just about as well as crutches. They are not very tall, and I initially had them at the 120cm mark but ended up moving them down to 105cm mark They are not meant to be tall....they function exactly like a cane or low crutches. ( I did a good deal of comparison shopping on the net, and these were the best value, and the lowest price on this model, the Leki Diva with the spring loaded tip. One place offered free shipping and had the lowest price, $104). Careful if you get these....search the net for price. Also, these have a twist type feature for lengthening and shortening....it works fast and does hold, but, for serious weight bearing, this could give way. It didn't for me and I felt very secure.)

I suppose tomorrow my shoulders, biceps and fore arms will be sore....but, it helped my feet a lot! I got a good doggie walk in!

I highly recommend these for any one who has really sore feet, foot placement issues but still wants to walk on paths.

Now, I am sitting here, eating my warm fresh rhubarb sauce over vanilla ice cream.... and fresh asparagus....while my feet throb! AT least my tibias are not aching.

Simple pleasures Baby steps.