Techniques For Using Trekking Poles

Looking for some help on how to use hiking poles?

Great! We cover tips and techniques for using trekking poles; setting the pole height and how you can vary your technique for both ascents and descents. In a short while using trekking poles will become as easy as abc!

Setting The Pole Height

1. On level ground, stand holding the handle with the pole straight vertically.

2. Adjust the pole's height so that your forearm is roughly horizontal (90° to your body).

3. During long descents and ascents the ground slope changes, however still adjust so that your forearm is horizontal. On descents your pole will be longer and on ascents it will be shorter to help you on each type of terrain.
   
   Tip: Flick locks on the telescopic sections make it quicker to adjust (see main features of hiking poles for more information).

Wrist Straps To Take The Strain

It is best to use the poles’ wrist straps correctly. Doing so will make your hikes using trekking poles comfortable rather than ending with aching wrists and hands.

1. Slip your hand up through the wrist strap from below, far enough that the wrist strap goes to the wrist.

2. Drop your hand around the handle, with a slight twist, and you should find the wrist strap now goes under your palm.

3. Adjust the size to give a comfortable but firm fit. When putting your weight onto the pole you should feel the strap taking the strain.

Trekking Poles Technique

1. The rhythm for pole movement becomes natural if you move them with the natural swing movement of your arms. As in normal walking as one leg swings forward the opposite arm does too. When you are using trekking poles simply consider them an extension of your arms, and when the arm swings forward place the pole tip firmly on the ground. As your legs shift weight, push down on the pole. You are now reducing some of the weight going onto your knees.

2. On descents cast the poles further ahead so that they take weight. For long descents it is beneficial to adjust the height as mentioned above.
   
   Tip: Poles that have handles with Soft Top Knobs allow you to shift your hand on to the very top of the handle and helps to make them longer for trickier / very steep areas (see main features of hiking poles for more information).

3. Similarly, on ascents cast the poles slightly ahead and push on them to help move you upwards. Keep pushing as you move past them. For extra push upwards on very steep areas, move your hand onto the top of the handle and give a final good push as the pole is behind you.
   At times on very steep sections you can place both poles down ahead of you and work both arms at the same time to give a doubly good push up.
   
   Tip: Poles that have lower grip extensions allow you to shift your hands down to these to quickly make poles effectively shorter (see main features of hiking poles for more information).