Trekking poles have become standard equipment for hikers, backpackers, trekkers, and snowshoers. The reason is simple; they enhance your balance and support.
When shopping for trekking poles, you should consider price, weight, grip, and shock absorbsion and pole material. Here’s the way to choose what’s right for you.
Why Use Trekking Poles?
Trekking poles offer many advantages:
- They help you maintain your balance and footing.
- On downhill descents especially, they take stress off your knees and joints. I can attest to this.
- On uphill ascents, by using your arms, shoulders and back, they help relieve fatigue from your legs and help thrust you up.
- They make crossing streams, loose rocks, ice and snow, easier and safer.
- They help create a walking rhythm when hiking.
- They can help push back vegetation and check soggy terrain for holes and boggy spots.
- They can knock down spider webs.
Trekking poles are helpful to people with weak or damaged knees. They can reduce compressive force on the knees up to 25%! This can literally save tons of weight that your knees won’t have to support over the course of a normal hike.
You will expend the same amount of energy but it will be distributed between your arms and legs. You will have more endurance because of the trekking poles.
Trekking Pole Types
To begin shopping, you must consider the health and strength of your ankles, knees and hips. Also, how much weight will you be carrying? Is the terrain rough or relatively flat?
You’ll find Trekking poles in 5 categories:
Anti-shock Poles
Anti-shock poles have internal springs that help absorb shock when you are hiking downhill. They help relieve stress to your ankles, knees and hips. The feature can be turned off when you’re hiking uphill. They cost a little more than regular trekking poles. If you have weak or damaged ankles, knees or hips, I recommend these.
Standard Poles
Standard poles do not have the antishock feature and are lighter and less expensive as a result. They do help with your balance and support. They don’t absorb as much shock when going downhill as the antishock trekking poles.
Compact Poles
Women’s or compact poles are shorter and have smaller grips for smaller hands. They are easier to swing because they are lighter and they are also easy to pack. Kid’s poles are also available.
Hiking Staff
Hiking staff is a single pole used primarily on flat terrain and when you are carrying little or no load on your back. They are adjustable and can also have the antishock feature. Some even come with a camera mount above the handle.
Nordic Walking Poles
Nordic walking poles have been around for a long time in Europe. They are not used for hiking but instead for walking and exercise. They are becoming more popular in the US but they may be hard to find. They are a modified version of trekking poles.
Considerations
Price and Weight
These two go hand in hand. The lighter a pole weighs, the more it costs. Also it makes it easier to swing the poles when hiking and less fatigue. Lighter poles are easier to pack.
Materials
Shaft materials determine its price and weight.
7075-T6 or 7075 (High-grade aluminum) is stronger and the more economical choice. It is usually between 18 and 22 ounces per pair in weight and the gauge of the pole ranges from 12 to 16mm. They can bend but are not likely to break.
Carbon fiber is lighter and more expensive and these poles average between 13 and 18 ounces per pair. They are strong and reduce vibration but can break or splinter under high stress. Keep this in mind if you are going to be in remote places with rugged terrain.
Locking Mechanisms
Trekking pole adjustability, which typically ranges between 24 to 55 inches, is for your height and the terrain you’ll be hiking on. If you are very tall or short, make sure the model you’re looking at fits your body size. Their interlocking sections identify these poles.
The majority of poles have a twist-and-lock system that you adjust to your height and then turn to lock in place. 4 popular types:
- DuoLock is a trademarked feature on several REI and Komperdell poles that apply even pressure when locked.
- FlickLock is a Black Diamond brand feature that uses a clamp-like lever system that is strong and easy to adjust even while wearing gloves.
- Super Lock System is Leki’s system that uses an expander and screw that is strong and dependable.
- Stop Lock is a Komperdell system that doesn’t adjust pole length but keeps the poles from coming apart.
Grips
Grips can vary from brand to brand so you may want to try out different models. The grips can be angled or shaped for an ergonomically neutral angle. Some have grips that extend lower for hiking up hills. Also, many brands designate left-hand or right-hand on the grips or straps, so look out for this.
Many different materials are used:
- Cork resists moisture from sweaty hands, reduces vibration and conforms to the shape of your hand.
- Foam also resists moisture from sweaty hands and is the softest to the touch.
- Rubber is good for cold, shock and vibration so it’s good in cold weather. It is not so good for warm weather because it can chafe or blister sweaty hands.
As noted earlier, extended grips are good for hiking up steep trails and you don’t have to stop to adjust your poles.
Other Considerations
Wrist straps on most models are adjustable to get a comfortable fit and if you buy poles with padded or lined straps, you may prevent chafing.
Baskets are usually fitted on the ends of trekking poles and are removable. Larger baskets can be added for snow or soft, muddy ground.
Pole tips are made out of carbide or steel and are designed for traction on most surfaces, even ice. Most poles have rubber covering the tips to protect them and your gear when packed. These tips help protect the ground and sensitive areas. There are angled walking tips for asphalt and hard surfaces available as an accessory.
Using Trekking Poles
Adjusting Poles and Sizing
Trekking poles usually adjust in size from about 24″ to 55″. All poles have numbers on the shafts to make it easy to adjust and they shouldn’t come loose once locked in place. Compact poles usually go up to 49″ in length.
To adjust the pole, loosen it and slide the sections to the desired length. There should be a 90-degree angle at your elbow. Keep the poles at even lengths and don’t extend them to the very end of the pole. This can stress the poles and there should be a warning stop on each pole to tell you that you’ve gone too far.
If the poles will not lock, pull them completely apart. Unwind the expander nut as far as you can while still being able to insert it back into the pole. Once inserted, twist the pole until it locks.
The terrain will determine proper pole length:
- When hiking uphill, shorten the poles a few inches to increase load-bearing pressure.
- When going downhill, extend the poles a few inches to keep balance and control.
- On level ground your forearms should be parallel with the ground, with the tips on the ground.
- On traverses, the downhill pole should be longer than the uphill pole (or use the extended grip if you have it).
Using Pole Straps
Put your hand through the straps from the bottom, not the top, and make sure they fit snug. It’s important to use them correctly because they bear much of the load.
Turning Off the Antishock System
The antishock system should be turned off when not going downhill or when you’re on level ground. With most models, you just press down and turn the pole to lock it. See your owner’s manual for specific details.
Pole Maintenance
The most common complaint about trekking poles is that they don’t stay locked in place. Regular cleaning and drying of the poles can avoid this. This will also prevent corrosion.
Check your manufacturer’s manual first but here is the general procedure for most poles:
- Unlock and completely pull the pole sections apart.
- Once apart, clean and remove any moisture and dirt at the expander nut and also from the seams of the pole sections.
- Use a soft cloth to dry the sections and inside as far as you can. If needed, use a soft nylon brush to clean inside the sections. Don’t use any alcohol or lubricants because these can lead to corrosion.
- Inspect the expander pieces for damage and replace if necessary.
- Allow the poles to air dry for several hours before reassembling them.
FAQs about Trekking Poles
Can trek poles be used for backcountry skiing?
In most cases, it’s best to use a pole made for skiing and not hiking.
Do trekking poles affect trails negatively?
Hiking poles can do some environmental damage to trails. They can scratch rocks, erode trails and harm vegetation alongside a trail.
Here are some things to do to avoid this:
- Keep pole tips on the trail and not in the trailside vegetation.
- To minimize soil damage, consider only using your trekking poles for uphill and downhill sections of the trail and not flat sections.
- Using rubber pole tip protectors and pole baskets can help reduce trail impact in some areas.
- In areas where pole baskets can snag and damage vegetation, remove them.
Are there downsides to using antishock poles?
The antishock feature is primarily for those with joint problems. If you do not have these, this feature will add weight and cost so you’ll be better off without this feature.
Do trekking poles have any other uses?
Yes, trekking poles have these other secondary functions:
- Backpackers frequently wrap duct tape around their poles for emergency repairs.
- Ultralight Backpackers will use their trekking poles in place of tent poles for their tarp.
- When confronting a water hazard, hikers can use their poles for a probe.
- Trekking poles can be used as a crutch or makeshift splint, if you injure your ankle or knee.
My favorite trekking poles are aluminum with 3 sections that lock by twisting them. I have to admit; these are my first and only hiking poles. I got them when an old hiking friend told me he was going to buy some at a great discount. So I told him to get me some too. Well, I can’t even tell you what I paid for them since it was so long ago, but I’m sure it wasn’t too much.
They have held up well over the years except I lost one of the rubber tip protectors going across a wooden boardwalk over wetlands here in Florida. I could not find that rubber tip to save my life! But that’s OK. They still work well and if I decide to buy a new pair of trekking poles, I may try some of the anti-shock poles. I have had problems with my knees (especially the left one) when going down mountains. These are made for that problem.