It is a foldable walking stick, super light, so we doubt its ability to lift or handle shocks. To do Nordic walking sticks it takes 2 but is it necessary to have them like this, ie as small, too light, too adjustable? I find that Nordic walking sticks requires appropriate for everyone, really solid, with a contoured shape, and without the constraints implied by the fragility of folding into 5 pieces. For me it straight stick to its place in the backpack of a walker by its smallness and lightness. During a strenuous climb, a delicate stony crossing ankles or down with a painful knee, it must then unsheathe nimbly out of its cover as a backup, and store away from the trouble. Whatever anyone says, we must see the moves taken by aluminum poles to understand that this ingenious folding stick may not last long. So we must spare the using it as a very valuable but fragile timely support. I found that this object is very efficient in that limit employment.