How to use trekking poles | Kandoo Adventures

What are trekking poles?

Trekking poles are one of the few pieces of essential kit that you didn’t know you were missing until you use them. Once you have trekked up a mountain or on a long-distance hike with a decent pair of trekking poles, you’ll wonder what you were playing at not having used them before! Referred to as walking poles, walking sticks or hiking poles or hiking sticks, we use the term trekking poles most frequently as trekking is what we do.

Trekking poles might (wrongly!) seem the stuff of amateur walkers with all the gear and no idea to the untrained eye, or something you might see the elderly and infirm wielding unsteadily as they attempt to creep up a hill at snail’s pace. Whilst this might be true in some cases, it certainly isn’t the full picture. Look for any photos of renowned mountaineers taking on high peaks and you’ll see they have trekking poles dangling from their well-covered wrists or stashed conveniently down the side of their pack, easily accessible.

For those in the know, and the team at Kandoo Adventures HQ definitely consider themselves in that category, a good pair of trekking poles should accompany you on every trekking trip whether you’re tackling something short and sweet or a getting to grips with a more challenging adventure.

what are trekking poles for?

Used when out walking, trekking poles are carried as a pair with one in each hand and used to improve stability, navigate tricky terrain and provide support. Using poles properly to support you whilst trekking long distances can relieve tension on your feet, ankles, calves, knees, back and hips by harnessing some of the strength in your core and upper body to balance out the exertion of your lower body.

They will also provide extra stability for those trekking with injuries or weaker lower body parts. Having a third and fourth arm with spikes on the bottom can help avoid trips and falls and offers extra grip when navigating slippery and uneven ground.

Hiking poles come in a wide variety of styles, from a single walking staff to telescopic walking poles, trekking poles with springs for added shock absorption and lightweight trekking poles that weigh next to nothing. Most are height adjustable as we trekkers come in all shapes and sizes, but all should have pointed tips with a hard spike and usually a removeable rubber cap. The cap will preserve the life of the spike and is better for softer terrain whilst you may prefer to use the hard spike on rocky or icy surfaces.

Your trekking poles may well have a basket or skirt around the bottom to stop them sinking into soft terrain such as mud, puddles or deep snow.

How to walk with trekking poles

There is more to just prodding the ground with a trekking pole to use these handy walking aids effectively. Before you begin your trek, spend a little time checking the height of your trekking poles, see more about this below.

Pop your hands through the wrist loops then trap the strap between your palm and the grip of your pole. This will give you a firm grip on your walking pole and stop them escaping you if you do fall over. It will also mean that when you stop to take a drink of water or snap a photo you have full use of your hands still.

Next spend a little time walking about slowly and as you do try to plant your pole on the ground at the same time as the opposite leg. So as you step onto your left leg, plant your right pole and then as you step onto your right leg, plant your left pole. As you get into a rhythm this will become second nature and you’ll be a trekking pole pro before you know it.

Occasionally you might need to double plant your trekking poles where you put them both down at the same time in front of you. This will help navigate more tricky terrain when it is steep or stepped for example. When not navigating obstacles, remember to alternate hands and legs again to get optimum benefit from your poles.

Once you have mastered the technique, feel free to play around with your pole length to get maximum support. You might want to try shortening your poles for uphill slogs to help take some of the load out of your legs. Alternatively, if you’re walking downhill you can lengthen your poles and use your upper body to take some of the weight from your knees. Trial and error will help you find the most supportive position for your hiking pole length to match your terrain.

Why use trekking poles?

When you’re enjoying your trekking trip, whether you’re climbing Kilimanjaro or trekking to Everest Base Camp, pootling up Poon Hill or hiking across snow and ice in Svalbard, navigating unfamiliar, uneven and loose terrain means you often spend much of your time looking at the ground and focusing on your next steps. There is nothing wrong with this. This is how you stay safe and avoid tripping. The beauty of using trekking poles when trekking is that you can spend more time looking up at the scenery around you, which is essentially why you are on a trek in the first place! Not only will having a trekking pole in your hand give you extra support and lessen lower body fatigue but you will be able to get more enjoyment out of your hike than you might otherwise.

If used correctly, trekking poles will generally:

· Improve endurance

· Protect your legs from the impact of navigating uneven terrain

· Aid balance on varied ground surfaces

· Engage your core, back and upper body

· Reduce fatigue

· Potentially increase walking speed

· Burn more calories by using more of your body whilst hiking

What are trekking poles made from?

There are two main materials that trekking poles are made from – carbon fibre and aluminium. Carbon trekking poles are generally lighter and more flexible but are also more fragile. Aluminium trekking poles weigh slightly more than their carbon fibre competitors but are much more robust and harder to break. Consider what kind of trekking you’ll mostly be doing. If you are heading up scrambles, over rocky terrain or are using poles for extra support to help an old injury or weakness, pick a sturdy pair of aluminium trekking poles. If you’re after light trekking poles with a bit of flex but are not tackling anything too technical then a carbon trekking pole will be better for you.

In addition to these two materials, you can also get steel trekking poles, anti-shock trekking poles with spring loaded mechanisms, cork grip trekking poles, wooden trekking poles and telescopic trekking poles. There is so much choice, the best trekking poles for you are probably best bought in store so you can find the most comfortable fit and performance that suits your needs.

What size trekking poles should I get?

Many hiking poles will be adjustable in length so you can set them to your perfect height as you need them. Some poles do come in fixed lengths, so it is always best to check your stance before purchasing.

When you have the pole grips in your hand you should be able to rest your elbow at a 90 degree angle with the tip of the pole touching the ground. If your hands are higher than your elbow, then you will need to shorten your poles or go for a shorter fixed length. If your hands are set below your elbow height, then you will need longer poles.

Is there a difference between women’s trekking poles and men’s?

Essentially, no. Trekking poles might be marketed as the best trekking poles for women but really the only difference might be a smaller hand grip, a different choice of colours and a slightly shorted length option. Womens trekking poles might come in different colours, but you should always try to choose your trekking poles based on performance first and aesthetic later.

What are the best trekking poles?

As with most kit, you can spend a little or a lot on trekking poles. The team here at Kandoo favour lightweight poles that are adjustable in length. This way they don’t add weight to your luggage allowance, are handy for storing down the side of your pack when not needed whilst still providing support when trekking. Some may prefer the lightest trekking pole option, while others may prefer a pole with a little more weight behind it for improved stability. Either way, it’s a good idea to go to a shop and try out a few, check how they feel in the hand, see how easy they are to use in different conditions and try out different weighted options. If your budget will only stretch to an Amazon trekking pole or a Decathlon trekking pole, then start with those. If you want to spend a little more money and get collapsible trekking poles, then look out for MSR trekking poles which are lightweight but heavy duty. See our recommendations below.

Recommendations

1. Leki trekking poles – consistently highly rated light trekking poles, Leki trekking poles have a wide range of options at a variety of price points.

2. Black Diamond trekking poles – slightly cheaper generally than Leki trekking poles, Black Diamond trekking poles are a more midrange option for trekkers.

3. MSR trekking poles – the more expensive light trekking pole option but again, consistently highly rated on trekking pole reviews, MSR trekking poles are durable and strong and will take you on many adventures.

How to look after your trekking poles

Trekking poles need minimal care, but it is important to make sure they are cleaned after use to avoid degradation. Try to keep the spikes protected with their rubber caps when not in use and on surfaces where prolonged use may cause wear. To stop the poles seizing up, make sure they are dried fully extended and do not adjust them down whilst wet.

Store your poles in a clean and dry place to ensure they are ready and raring to go on your next trekking adventure.

Other uses for trekking poles

Hopefully if you’re one of those people asking, do trekking poles work, our blog so far has confirmed that they do have a place in your kit bag! But if you do need a little more convincing then you might be intrigued to know that there are other uses for your favourite walking poles.

Trekking pole tents are a thing. Save on weight by finding a tent that you can put up with your trekking poles. How cool is that. There are a range of trekking tents available that have been made to use trekking poles instead of tent poles, thus saving both space and weight in your pack. Alpkit lightweight trekking pole tents in particular are super popular with those carrying their own tents.

Trekking poles with camera mount functions are also available. For those budding photographers or amateur snappers, no need for a selfie stick or a tripod when you can get a trekking pole camera mount to hold your lens in place. Now we can’t speak to how reliable these are but if it saves space and weight, carrying a small mount will be much easier than trekking with your tripod.

Trekking pole tips

Tips for trekking poles or trekking pole tips. We’ve mentioned above that trekking poles have a pointed tip, which usually come with rubber tips for the trekking poles. You can get replacement rubber tips easily should you lose one and the type of terrain you are covering will determine whether you need your trekking pole tips covered or not.

· Opt for a telescopic trekking pole if you want to easily be able to stash your poles in your pack when not in use.

· Choose a light trekking pole if you are covering long distances or on multi-day trips.

· Practice with your poles to perfect your technique before you embark on your route.

· Don’t leave your trekking pole tips at home! You may need them.

Do I need trekking poles for my Kandoo Adventures trip?

Check your pre-trip packing and equipment lists to see if your particular trip will need trekking poles. If you have a pair, then bring them along. Alternatively, if poles are needed and you don’t have any, you will be able to hire these in-country for a small fee.

As an indication, if you wanted to climb Mount Toubkal in Morocco then yes, trekking poles are an essential piece of kit. For most of our trips that are rated moderated to tough you will need trekking poles for your hike. If you’re heading to Finland to play in the snow then trekking poles are not necessary, similarly you would not need walking poles to go on safari!

Always check the equipment list for your trek and if you’re not sure, get in touch.

Best trekking poles for climbing Kilimanjaro

Climbing Kilimanjaro is a multi-day expedition that takes you to high altitude. Equipping yourself with a lightweight trekking pole will help take some of the load out of your legs on the uphill slogs, help you navigate loose rocks on the steep paths and provide a wonderful leaning post to enjoy those spectacular views.

We’d recommend Alpkit trekking poles which range from budget to high-end depending on which pair you go for. They have a fantastic range of carbon trekking poles, some ultralight if streamlining what you carry if a priority for you.

Best trekking poles for trekking the Inca Trail

A sturdy trekking pole is essential for this slightly shorter but high altitude trek. The Inca Trail is in parts stone path so a pair of trekking poles with rubber tips is recommended to preserve this ancient route.

We reckon that Fizan compact trekking poles are a good investment if you are looking for reasonably priced aluminium poles.

Best trekking poles for hiking to Everest Base Camp

Trekking to Everest Base Camp is usually a two week trekking trip and an iconic bucket list adventure. Kandoo recommend trekking poles for this trip to take some of the load out of your legs on this long trekking route.

Look out for Leki trekking poles for your trek to Everest Base Camp. For ultralight poles the Leki Makalu trekking poles will set you back over £100 but are well worth the expense. For a more midrange pair, try Leki Voyager trekking poles which are height adjustable, made from aluminium and telescopic so easy to stow.

Hopefully this has given you an idea about the effectiveness of using trekking poles when enjoying multi-day trekking adventures. Now you just need to book your next trip with Kandoo Adventures to put it into practice. See you soon!

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