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A trekking pole (also known as a hiking pole) is basically a ski pole with a handle that you use when hiking. Trekking poles are almost always used in pairs. There is also something called a hiking staff (also known as a hiking stick) that is a single pole. Most hikers go with two trekking poles over a hiking staff.
Parts of Trekking Poles
Grip: Grips come in different sizes, shapes, and materials. Since this is where your body meets the pole, it's important to find a grip that fits and works for you. The grip of your trekking pole should feel comfortable immediately, without causing any undue pressure or pinching. Ergonomic grips have a slight forward lean for a more natural hand position. Some grips have raised ridges, and these ridges don't necessarily match every hiker's hand. You'll know in a second if the grip is too large, or has ridges that don't work for you. Hikers with smaller hands, like children and women, should consider poles with smaller grips. Grips are made of various materials, including rubbers, foams, cork compositions, and plastics, which have different levels of grippiness. A grip should provide a comfortable hold, despite perspiration and rain.
Strap: Trekking poles typically are equipped with adjustable wrist straps at the top of the grip. Properly adjusted straps offer support, so you don't have to grip the pole too tightly and fatigue your hand. Many hikers feel that straps should always be worn as they offer support, are useful in maintaining a good cadence, and make the trekking poles harder to drop. Some hikers dislike the confining feeling the straps give them though, and either cut them off or just don't use them. If the consequences of falling on a pole would be worse than the consequences of falling without their stabilizing assistance, they may be a temporary hindrance.
Shaft Segments: Segments adjust for height and collapse for travel and storage. The shaft segments of a trekking pole are made from a variety of materials, including aluminum and carbon fiber. Most telescoping trekking poles, aluminum and carbon alike, have three segments, each slightly narrower than the one above. The segments slide into each other and are held together by a variety of locking mechanisms. A few models available, often specifically designed for snowshoeing, have only two shaft segments. Two-segment poles don't collapse as well as three-segment poles, making them harder to travel with or stuff into a pack during a rock scramble. Compact and junior length poles are available for those who don't need as much pole length. Tall individuals will want the longest poles available.
Locking Mechanisms: Internal vs. External:A crucial and differentiating feature between trekking poles is the locking mechanism, which allows hikers to adjust the length of the trekking pole and holds the segments of the pole together. Until recently, internal locking mechanisms were the most common. Internal locks rely on friction to stay secure. A common internal locking mechanism is an "expansion joint," essentially a plastic widget that expands inside the trekking pole when the shaft is twisted, keeping the pole at the desired length and preventing it from collapsing. External locking mechanisms are indeed easier to operate with gloves, and can be easier to tighten than their internal counterparts. Many hikers believe that they are more reliable and less prone to collapsing. But, some longtime hikers question their durability over time.
Shock Absorbers: The advent of shock absorbing technology separates trekking poles from their ancestors, walking sticks. Shock absorbers are springs or pieces of elastic material that, according to Fisher, "soften the initial impact of the pole striking the ground." As with many features on gear, shock absorbers have both their detractors and their devotees. On the up side, hikers with arthritis or other issues in the wrist, shoulder, or elbow may appreciate the cushion that shock absorbers provide. On the down side, shock absorbers add weight and complexity to trekking poles, and sometimes squeak
Baskets: Slots on the body of tips allow hikers to add baskets, little discs of plastic like those commonly found on ski poles. Baskets come in various sizes and shapes - from low-profile circles or cones to wide snow baskets for powder - and prevent the tips of the poles from plunging too deeply. Whereas larger baskets are best for snow, smaller baskets are best for muddy conditions and can prevent pole tips from getting wedged between roots and rocks. Be aware that accessory baskets from one trekking pole brand may not be compatible with another brand's poles.
Tip: The tip is where the pole interacts with the ground, and is typically made with a body and a point. The body is usually plastic and the point is often hardened steel. Hardened steel is harder than rock, so it bites into rock or ice to offer additionally stability.
Advantages of Trekking Poles
Trekking Poles Take Stress off Your Joints
The biggest advantage of hiking with trekking poles is that they absorb some of the shock your joints take when you step – especially on ascents and descents. Have you ever felt pain in your knees while hiking a steep downhill trail? Try using trekking poles to take some of the pressure off of your knees and relieve pain.
Give Your Arms Something to Do!
Every day is leg day on hiking trails. Unless your hike includes boulder scrambles or bushwhacking, you may not be engaging your arms much at all. Trekking poles give your arms some exercise and can help to keep your hands from swelling while you're gaining elevation. Dangling your arms at your sides while you ascend can lead to poor circulation which can cause your fingers, hands, and wrists to swell up. Keeping your arms elevated, combined with the pumping action used with trekking poles, promotes better circulation and can prevent swelling.
Maintaining Balance
You know what's better than two legs? Four legs. Trekking poles act as another set of limbs to give you more stability when tackling tricky terrain. Poles can help you keep your balance when crossing swiftly moving water, traversing snowfields and ice patches, trekking along narrow ridgelines, and when going up or down hill on loose ground like sand or scree. We have also on more than one occasion used trekking poles to remain upright while battling high winds.
Trekking Poles Can Help You Maintain a Good Pace
Using trekking poles can get you walking in a smooth rhythm – foot, pole, foot, pole – and can help you sustain a good hiking pace for longer periods of time. We've noticed that we tend to hike a little faster when using trekking poles and the repetitive motion can be somewhat meditative while we hike.
Poles Can be Used to Test Ice Strength and Water Depth
It can be hard to determine how deep a water crossing is or how thick the ice on a frozen stream is. Trekking poles can take the guesswork out of it and help you cross hazards safely.
Trekking Poles Can Help Keep Wild Animals at Bay
It's always important to stay aware of your surroundings when in the backcountry. Do what you can to avoid sneaking up on wild animals or encroaching on their territory. Despite our best efforts, sometimes animal encounters are inevitable. If you find yourself too close for comfort to a large animal such as a bear, banging your poles together or against trees and rocks makes a harsh sound that will often scare the animal away. You can also wave trekking poles above your head to make yourself appear larger, which can discourage animals from approaching you.
Leave the Tent Poles at Home
We love multipurpose items – some ultralight tents ditch the tent poles and use trekking poles to hold the structure instead.
Trekking Poles Can Help You Get a Hitch into Town
Whenever we need to catch a ride from trail to town or vise versa, we always keep our trekking poles out. Poles signal to drivers that you are a hiker needing to get somewhere, and in our experience they have increased the likelihood of a quicker pick-up.
Uses For Trekking Poles Besides Hiking
Shelter
With the increased popularity and supply of shelters that are trekking pole-supported, this function is almost a no brainer for the lightweight backpacker. Trekking pole-based tents today are beyond the basic flat tarp and can be a single wall, a double wall or even four season tents.
Path Clearing
Spider webs, branches, ferns: they all trying to take the space in front of you and can surprise by covering or smacking your face. As you are hiking, think of the pole as an extension of your arm, allowing you to carefully, respectfully and comfortably clear the path in front of you. There is nothing more annoying than walking face first into a spider web; use our hiking poles to clear your path.
Probe
Water or snow can be surprising in how deep they are, so a trekking pole is the best accessory to assess the depth of unknown areas. Checking snow, mud or water before wading in can make a big difference between the feeling of an easy cross and a messy, wet and uncomfortable cross.
Protection
No, I don't mean that you should start thinking of your trekking poles as a weapon, but many times the main reason we get attacked by wild animals is that we surprise them, nothing else. Bashing your poles against each other to make a strong noise as you turn a corner will change a potential bear encounter to yet another beautiful section of trail.
First Aid
If somehow you find yourself in a need for a splint or a stretcher, your trekking poles are the best solution out there: straight, stable and length adjustable, trekking poles make a great splint. Double up the length of a trekking pole with some fabric in between (like your tarp) and you have a solid, lightweight stretcher. Last, your trekking poles support you, and when extended with some fabric at the top or foam can be used as crutches.
Snow/Sand Anchor
Setting anchors in snow or sand is hard - you need wide, big surfaced pegs. If by any chance you came unprepared for pitching your tent on sand or snow, dig a long trench, about 5" deep, and lay your poles inside. cover the edges, leaving the center exposed to tie the guy line to. Once the shelter is setup, cover the rest of the poles.
Tips for Using Trekking Poles
Set Correct Height & Posture
When the pole is touching the ground, adjust the height so arms are bent at approximately 90 degrees when holding the handle. Keep elbows close to your sides when walking, and keep your shoulders down and relaxed.
Get a Grip
Put your hand through the strap and adjust it securely around your wrist. Place fingers along the grips and hold loosely - no death grips!
Choose the Correct Tip
The rubber tip that comes with poles should be used on paved surfaces. When you're on dirt or snow, you can remove them for better stability with the metal, pointed tip.
Maintain a Steady Pattern
There are three movement patterns you can use:
Alternate arm and leg - the pole goes forward at the same time as your opposite leg steps forward. This is best for balance.
Parallel legs – pole moves forward with the same-side leg. This offers the most relief for legs and fatigue.
Double – both poles move forward at the same time. This is most helpful for stepping up or down.
Practice Your Technique
Walking with poles doesn't come naturally like regular walking. Practice your pole walking technique near home in a park or on a paved road, getting used to the natural rhythm of pushing forward with the poles, then letting the poles drag behind you until you lift and plant them again.
Use Your Arms
Make sure to put some of the load onto your shoulders in order to relieve stress to your legs. Your arms should feel like they're working, not just dragging the poles along.
Shaft Materials
Most trekking pole shafts are made of carbon fiber, aluminum, or a combination of the two. Carbon fiber is generally considered the better tool for the job, as it weighs significantly less and is stiffer. However, carbon has some distinct drawbacks. Most notably, carbon poles are more expensive across the board than aluminum, and they also are more brittle. When carbon is stressed, it snaps, whereas aluminum might just bend or dent (we experienced this firsthand when we accidentally sat on our carbon pole). Those who prioritize shedding weight will be willing to put up with the price increase and fragility of the carbon option, while most casual hikers will opt for the durability and cost savings of the aluminum design. In the end, it's important to consider your priorities and hiking goals.
Grip Materials
There are three main types of materials for trekking pole grips: cork, foam, and rubber. Cork tends to be the highest-performing, as it's very comfortable and wicks sweat extremely well. We've also found that cork conforms nicely to the hand over time, almost like breaking in a shoe, and is an excellent shock absorber (minimizing vibration on the hands). Next in line is foam, which is another comfortable option that offers a decent amount of shock absorption. However, unlike cork, foam absorbs (rather than wicks) sweat and is not as durable or premium of a material. As a grip material, rubber can be useful in wet or winter climates for shedding rain and snow, but it doesn't offer the same comfort or sweat absorption as cork or foam. Rubber grips also tend to chafe and blister hands in warmer climates.
Grip Shape
The shape of your trekking pole grip can add comfort or performance, but it largely comes down to a matter of personal preference. Some poles have an ergonomic shape, which is essentially a 15-degree tilt designed to match the natural resting place of the hand. You'll also notice that many trekking pole grips are shaped to match the contours of the hand, whereas others are smoother and more uniform. In the end, it all comes down to what feels best-if the ergonomic or contoured grips feel awkward for you, you have other options (and vice versa).
Wrist Straps
Wrist straps are another feature that can help add stability and power to your poles while requiring less squeeze from your hands. The proper way to enter wrist straps is by sliding up through the bottom, then pressing the strap into the grip with your palm. This creates a stable point of contact around your wrist, allowing you to lean onto your poles without having to death-grip the handles (most straps are adjustable too). Wrist straps are constructed out of everything from foam padding to simple nylon webbing, and we recommend trying out multiple kinds to see what feels best. If something is uncomfortable after a few strides, it will be agony 10 miles down the trail.
Choosing the Right Length
Once you determine the pole style, materials, and grips that are right for you, it's time to consider what length of trekking pole you need. To measure your size, hold a pole (or straight stick) in your hand like you would a trekking pole, resting your arm at your side with your elbow at 90 degrees. The length from your hand to the ground will indicate your pole length. Keep in mind you'll likely want to choke up on the pole for steep uphill sections or lengthen it on the downhill. Thankfully, most poles have at least some range of adjustment, allowing a fair amount of wiggle room for various trail needs.
Weight and Packed Size
Weight and packed size are two critical factors when shopping for trekking poles. In terms of weight, we've been amazed at how much difference just a few ounces in the hand can make on our level of fatigue, especially during long-mileage days or multi-day treks. But keep in mind that the lighter a pole is, the less durability and adjustability you can expect (and in general, the higher the price tag).
Ultimate FAQ Guide to Trekking Poles
Q: How to use trekking poles on hills?
Q: How to use poles on stairs?
Q: How to adjust the strap?
Q: Is it better to use one trekking pole or two?
Q: Are there different types of trekking poles?
The classic trekking stick consists of two or three telescoping sections, the extension of which is controlled with an (internal/external) locking mechanism. Generally, the external designs (lever lock style mechanisms – springed ferules and levering clamps) are more reliable. Telescoping poles can be easily fine-tuned for an extended uphill or they can be dramatically resized for an entirely different user or application. Keep in mind that two-shaft poles are less adjustable than the more common three-shaft poles. Moreover, they are not as compact and are more difficult to pack and carry on a hiking backpack. However, two-shaft poles have the strongest and stiffest design with minimum moving parts that can break, which makes them more suitable for traveling on snow.
Foldable Trekking Poles
Foldable trekking sticks are similar to tent poles (no surprise that some call them "tent pole style") as they are usually made of three sections connected and tightened with an inner tension cord. Their biggest advantage over telescoping poles is that they pack down small and can be quick to deploy. That's why foldable poles are popular for ultra-running. They are often lighter due to the fact that the manufacturers use thinner and weaker shafts so most foldable poles hardly can be called "durable".
Fixed-Length Trekking Poles
Fixed-length trekking sticks consist of fewer parts and are stiffer and lighter. They are popular among ultralighters and those who only need them for one activity and need a certain length. Fixed-length poles are less packable, which makes them more difficult to carry and easier to be damaged when transported.
Q: How tall should my trekking poles be?
Q: Can I use trekking poles in snow?
Q: How do I clean my trekking poles?
Q: How to use trekking poles to maintain balance?
Q: What is the difference between carbon and aluminum trekking poles?
Q: Can trekking poles help knee pain?
Q: How to properly grip a trekking pole?
Q: Can a trekking pole be used as a weapon?
Q: Are trekking poles necessary for all hikers?
Q: How do I adjust the length of my trekking poles?
Q: Can I use trekking poles while walking downhill?
Q: Can I use trekking poles for backpacking?
Q: Do trekking poles help with balance?
Q: How do I maintain and clean my trekking poles?
Q: Do I need to replace trekking pole tips?
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