Yeah! That's a great deal on the bag.

I use trekking poles and find them very helpful. I never liked a walking stick/pole. They help tremendously with balance and with the stress on the knees when walking up or down a slope. I equalte walking up a steep slope using trekking poles to what it must feel like for a spider to have all of those legs to help get up and over a slope. You can really dig in. I also find that I like my hands/arms being occupied - where as in the past they were either hanging down or up holding on to my load lifter straps.