asarkar,

I hiked for 40 years and two thirds or so of my first AT thru-hike without them. I thought they were an affectation. Then a young kid I'd been hiking with insisted that I had to try one of his. I played along...right into the next town and straight into the outfitter where I bought a pair of Lekis. I'm still using that pair regularly 16 years later. They're heavy and clunky by today's stanards, but they're still going strong. I wouldn't carry my pack to the corner store without them.

They are especially important going downhill with my old knees, and I'd hate to ford serious water without them. Plus, they hold up my poncho for shelter.

Best, jcp