Hiking is great, what’s not great is learning about all the gear you should buy once you start taking it more seriously. But are trekking poles (often called hiking poles as well) really needed? Keep reading to learn when you actually need them and when you should save your cash.
Trekking Pole Benefits
Trekking poles give you more points of contact on the ground which makes them ideal for hiking in slippery conditions such as on snow, ice, loose rock, and more. They can also be helpful when going down steep slopes by giving you extra leverage to slow your descent.
Many people feel that hiking with poles helps reduce stress on their knees and joints as well by allowing the arms to help with the load. Finally, many hikers simply enjoy that hiking poles give their arms something to do.
Trekking Pole Cons
Trekking poles are certainly not without their detriments. First of all they add weight to your load and use more energy operating than if you let your hands hang by your side.
Another pretty significant problem with hiking poles is that they can be in the way when scrambling on rocks or holding onto chains and cables in a hike like Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park. Finally, they can be expensive and many don’t view them as a necessary expense.
Should You Use Trekking Poles?
I believe trekking poles can be useful, but it all depends on the kind of hike you are going on. For a hike on a very established trail like Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, I never used hiking poles. However, when I hiked Mount Shasta, a dominant volcano which required you to walk on crushed rock called scree, I did use trekking poles because they helped me get good traction up and down the mountain.
Overall, I prefer hiking without trekking poles unless absolutely necessary to save energy and feel better connected to the trail.
Study the trail you’re going to be hiking first to see if they would be useful. In my experience, hiking poles can be helpful, but are very seldom a necessity, so don’t feel like you have to run out and buy them if you’re getting into hiking. But if you want to get some for the unique benefits that we’ve already described, keep reading to find the best trekking poles for you!
Top Trekking Pole Recommendations
Look for aluminum or carbon fiber trekking poles for lightweight options. You’ll likely want telescoping or foldable poles to save space in case you need to attach them to your pack when not in use.
We also recommend getting hiking poles with cork or foam grips to work better with sweaty palms. Finally, trekking poles with a variety of tips can work well depending on what conditions you’re hiking in.
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How to Use Trekking Poles
While using hiking poles is usually pretty intuitive, here are some steps to guarantee you’ll set them at the right height for you.
- Stand up straight and hold the trekking pole in your hand with the tip resting on the ground.
- Adjust the height of the trekking pole until your forearm is parallel to the ground.
- When you grasp the grip of the trekking pole, your elbow should form a 90-degree angle.
- Make any necessary adjustments based on the terrain you’ll be trekking on. For example, if you’re going uphill, you may want to shorten the length of the trekking pole, while you may want to lengthen the pole when going downhill.
- Test out the trekking poles by taking a few steps to make sure they feel comfortable and provide adequate support.
Best Trekking Poles
If you’ve decided that hiking with poles is for you, here are our top picks!
TrailBuddy Trekking Poles (≈$40)
Image courtesy of don’twasteyourmoney.com
These TrailBuddy Trekking Poles really fit in the sweet spot of excellent features at a great price. They offer all the specs we recommend such as cork handles, telescoping design, and interchangeable tips. They are also made out of aircraft grade 7075 Aluminum and have proven to be very durable.
Unless you’re on an extremely tight budget, we don’t recommend spending less than this on hiking poles and unless you are a very serious hiker who wants the absolute best product, we don’t recommend spending more than you need to.
MSR DynaLock Ascent Foldable Carbon Trekking Poles (≈$150)
Carbon fiber trekking poles are ideal for those looking for the absolute lightest hiking poles available, but are slightly less durable and much more expensive than aluminum trekking poles. The MSR DynaLock Ascent is our top pick for Carbon Fiber walking poles due to their premium features at a decent price.
First of all, the DynaLock Ascent is made with Kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber that adds to the durability and features one of the best adjustment systems we’ve seen. The grip is made of foam and is very comfortable as well.
If you’re not too hard on your hiking poles and are looking for something a bit lighter than the TrailBuddys, this is a great option.
Helinox Passport TL130 Adjustable Trekking Poles (≈$180)
Finally, if you’re looking for the absolute most durable trekking poles, and don’t mind spending top dollar, the Helinox Passport series of Trekking poles is right for you. They are made from a DAC Alloy that is even stronger than 7075 Aluminum while still being lightweight. They are locked in place with a rock-solid tension lock system that is also very quick to assemble.
And just in case you do damage your Helinox trekking poles, they are backed by a 5 year warranty. These are a great buy if you’re willing to spend the money.
Conclusion
So while trekking poles might not be for everyone, many people enjoy the benefits of hiking with poles. I mostly hike without poles, but find them very useful on some terrain.
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