I'm from the old school of trekking hence I would be looking for comfortable shoes that can also double as walking shoes on the trail itself. This is on the premise that to keep weight down we only pack the absolute minimum rather then multiple pairs of foot ware.

If for some reason your main pair of boots or shoes fail you will need a backup. at any point on the trail you are a long long way from the nearest shoe repair shop.

My regular treking partner had a beautiful pair of Salomon boots until, with no warning, the sole separated from the boot and left him hopping.

I usual take a good pair of runners, they are light and comfortable but will do the distance if required. Also spare laces for your boots is handy,

Ross
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Hi Tilly

Walking poles are very much a personal choice based on a couple of factors , what may be right for one person may not suit another.

The pole supplied by ktl is a great keep sake and will definitely get you over the trail but you will not be able to practice with it until you get there. it is also heavier then a modern walking pole.

Things to keep in mind when looking at walking poles are the ease at which they extend or contract, when you walk up hill you need a shorter pole than going down hill. Look for a non slip tip on the pole so it will grab on slippery rocks and smooth surfaces. Ideally you want to be able to set the pole at an optimum length for your height so it will require minimal length adjustment when you are on the trail.

Look very closely at the ergonomics of the handle, the reputable and experienced manufacturers put a lot of time into designing a handle that will adapt for every wrist position depending on how you need to grip the pole for the particular obstacle you need to get over.

Your wrist is going to be doing all the work with the pole, having a handle that is designed to help pull up a hill but can also quickly adapt to bracing you when going down a hill is a tremendous advantage.

I have a pretty basic leki pole that I have had for years But I bought my wile the Leki makalu that "phantom" mentoned in his post and she swear by it for all of the above reasons. We are both experienced walkers and have done Kokoda twice.

We both only use one pole but as I said before it is a personal choice. Start with one and see how you go.

Also a tip – you can use the pole to steady your camera when the light levels are low.

Good luck
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