Using hiking poles

Using hiking poles can be a tremendous comfort and safety addition to your hiking experience. Hiking poles not only give you stability and balance but also help take some of the weight off of your knees, hips and lower back. If you think about it, using two hiking poles is like adding two legs, now you're walking with four legs instead of two.

Safety is the main factor for using hiking poles . They give you tremendous stability and will save you from many trips and falls. They are especially useful on rough terrain and when crossing water, streams, rivers and such. We use ours every hike. On flat, even ground I will only use one but on tough terrain or water crossings we use two.

Taking some of the weight off of your lower body is another major benefit. With the new advancements of hiking poles they now distribute the weight of you and your pack across your entire body and not just on the legs. I have seen estimates saying that they will distribute from 12% to as much as 22% of your weight to other parts of the body, away from the legs. The more you use them on hills, the more weight they will distribute.

Not only will they add safety and weight distribution but they add a lot of comfort as well if you use them properly. They should be set to length so that your elbows are at a 90% angle from your upper arm. That is the maximum comfort setting. That way your arms are resting on the pole when you aren't using them. The first few times out they will feel kind of funny to use but believe me when I say you will get used to them fast. They are the first thing I grab for after my pack is on. I don't even go without at least one when I go for a day hike in our local wooded trails, they're just second nature now

When you are using hiking poles to climb uphill you will need to shorten them to maintain the same comfort and to get a better foothold to help pull your self up. When you are going downhill, lengthen them to stop yourself from having to run down the hill just from your weight. You won't believe the benefits if you learn how to use them right.

Using hiking poles for fast walking, or if you just want to cover a lot of ground, are the ideal way to go. Once you use them you will find yourself naturally walking faster because you are more stable and there is not as much weight on your lower body. Using two poles naturally helps gets you into a rhythm.

You don't need fancy hiking poles to do the job, just ones that are functional, lightweight and very durable. Don't get the $10-$20 at your local superstore for serious hiking. They won't last long, buy good name brand ones (Leki, Black Diamond, etc.). They cost a lot more but you won't even think about the cost after you start using them.

Taking care of hiking poles is a necessity. You don't want to be out there and have them break down after a few miles. There are many things that can be done to maintain your hiking poles and they should be checked after every hike. When you are on the trail check them every hour or two to make sure they are not loosening up on you. Check the tips and make sure they are tight, same on the baskets. Knowing how to adjust hiking poles is also something that you must know. They are actually very easy to adjust and it will become very natural quickly.

Read the manufacturer's instructions before you use them since there are a few different types on the market. If you are going on a very long hike you might want to consider taking a few extra parts with you, tips, baskets, etc. Don't forget the tools to change these. A good multi-tool should be on your backpacking essential list anyway.

Also see:
Care of hiking poles
Selecting hiking boots

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