Trekking Poles

More and more outdoor enthusiast are realizing the benefits of a quality set of trekking poles. Offering a wide range of features, quality trekking poles are similar to their close relatives, ski poles, but with some major advancements.

When you hike with a set of trekking poles you are balancing the weight distribution and shock over four limbs, instead of two. People who have used trekking poles discover an almost immediate benefit to their knees, especially on long downhill treks.

However, not all poles are created equally. When you are adding trekking poles to your outdoor gear, there are a few key features you need to consider that will have a dramatic effect on your satisfaction.

Look for poles that have a telescopic adjustment. Poles that telescope offer several key benefits. First, multiple people can use the same set of poles simply by adjusting the length. If you are going on a long downhill segment of a trail, you can adjust the poles to be longer and take a lot of the strain off of your knees. Likewise when you are climbing uphill you can shorten the poles and gain more power with each step. Some poles practically collapse, much like an antenna on a portable radio. These poles are ideal if you don't plan to use them all the time and want to stow them in your pack, safely out of the way.

Look for poles with anatomic, soft grips. Grips that have been shaped to fit in your hand comfortably and have some give will be easier to use for a long period of time. Grips that are hard can get wet with sweat and can be uncomfortable to hold. If the grip doesn't fit your hand properly move on to another model or see if they can be changed out. Poles that have some padding below the handgrip should be given special consideration. On a short uphill climb you can grasp the pole below the grip versus taking the time to adjust its length.

Consider poles that have an anti-shock system. Some trekking poles have little shock absorbers built in to them, commonly referred to as an anti-shock system. Some systems are very complex, offering a range of settings depending on your preferences and the conditions you are hiking in. The anti-shock system helps absorb the impact of the pole striking the ground as you walk, easing the strain on your shoulders and arms. This is especially true on a long downhill climb. If the poles you are considering have an anti-shock system, make sure you can lock the system out. When you are going uphill the shock absorbers will actually work against you, robbing you of power each time you plant the pole down.

Make sure you can change out the baskets. The baskets are the round rings at the bottom of the trekking poles. These baskets allow you to maintain, "float," a term used to describe the poles ability not to sink into the snow or ground. Most trekking poles don't come with any baskets, while some come with very small, "summer baskets." Baskets that are cut out like snowflakes are best used in the snow. Large, solid baskets are best when used on soft muddy ground. If you plan to hike in a wide variety of conditions you should go ahead and buy additional baskets with your poles.

"Here is a tip" make sure you look at the tips of the poles. Tips on trekking poles come in three different styles, single point, chiseled, and rubber tipped. Each of these points will work well in certain environments, but not others. The best overall tip is the chiseled point. The tip looks like notches have been cut out of the very tip of the pole, leaving several points sticking out. This style offers traction in almost any condition (from ice to a paved path) it is durable and is safer than a single point when the pole is stowed. Rubber tipped poles work best on hard packed surfaces or boardwalks, while a trekking pole with a sharp point on the end is best for icy conditions. Carbide tips are going to be more durable than aluminum. Regardless of how the pole is tipped, most poles can have a rubber tipped added or removed for use in sensitive areas.

Don't be seduced by unnecessary features. Trekking poles that offer a compass on the top of one of the grips, or grips that can be removed to expose a camera mount may seem attractive, but in the end you won't use these features much. The little compass on the top of the pole won't be very helpful in many situations, and taking the grip off of your pole to take your picture is more of a pain than you may realize. They aren't bad features to have, but don't base your buying decision on these fringe benefits.

When you have selected your set of trekking poles you should practice walking with them. The most important technique you need to learn is the proper way to hold them. Holding the poles with a death grip will only tire out your hands. The majority of the weight should be distributed on your palms through the hand straps. Another common mistake is to walk along swinging the poles back and forth with every second or third step. Although you're giving your arms a good workout, you're not getting any benefit from reduced strain or added traction. You should plant your pole and leverage off of it with each step you take.

Trekking poles are not a universal solution, and there are several good arguments against using them. The first argument is they tie up your hands. Stopping to take a picture, get a drink of water, or even tie a shoe is a little more complicated when you are already holding two poles. If you decide you don't want to use them anymore out on a trek, you're going to have to stow them in or on your pack, and that means you are carrying wasted pounds. The surprise disadvantage is if you are using trekking poles properly, you will get tired out faster than normal. This is because both your arms and legs are being worked at the same time. Although your legs have it easier, you end up using more energy.

Of course the benefit of taking the strain off of your legs, especially your knees are huge. Not only does it help reduce long term damage to your joints, older hikers and climbers suffering from a touch of arthritis have found they can go further, faster, longer. If you are using your trekking poles properly you have the added benefit of toning up your arms as you hike.

Quality trekking poles, offering the critical features we recommended above, start around ninety dollars. Additional baskets and replace tips are inexpensive, costing about five dollars each. Aluminum poles should weigh around one and a half pounds per pair.

If you spend a lot of time on the trail you should seriously consider exploring what the Europeans already know. A good set of trekking poles protects your joints, makes climbing and descending much easier, and helps you enjoy the outdoors for years to come. When you compare the cost of a good set of trekking poles to a trip to an orthopedic surgeon, it may be one of the best