John Hermanson was climbing a steep ridge in the North Cascades in the summer of 2017 when he discovered that a curved stick put a little extra spring in his step. Now, across thousands of miles and dozens of prototypes, he’s bringing his patent-pending spring-action “bows” to you.

Stick-poles dissipate your energy with every stabbing motion, but bows conserve that energy and lengthen your posture while providing balance and support. Users report a sense of buoyancy, upper body benefits, increased energy and stamina, and a renewed connection to the earth. Bows will return you to nature as a four-legged creature—intuitive, sensitive, propulsive, and indescribably limber.

The tip of your bow goes on ahead of you. Oar-stroke it, and its natural flexibility lightens your weight and softens your step as you pass. By the end of the stroke, your bow is gently pushing you forward. Lift it, and it swings ahead through a forward stroke, lightweight and responsive