[Evans, Marv]

Everything beneficial that's been said is true. I used to look at people with trekking poles & wonder why they used them & what the benefit was that justified the extra gear. Then I came upon a pair someone had left behind at a remote trailhead. I tried them out & then wondered why I hadn't gotten a pair before. I also use them to help as I'm going uphill. I figure they help with circulation in your arms & shoulders (that sort of goes by the wayside during a long day) and exercise your arms at the same time, since they would otherwise just dangle pretty motionless. I've carried a pack on long days that were pretty cold at the end of the day, and not realizing my arms were cold with the circulation cut off and had to shrug my way out of the straps to get the pack off. With springs or without doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned.