How to Size a Hiking Pole
Hiking poles, also known as trekking poles, make hiking long trails easier. Hiking poles help you balance better on steep downhill sections or on unstable terrain. And adjustable hiking poles ease the strain on joints, so you may be able to hike longer and farther without pain. A study reported in the January 2007 journal Medical Science and Sports Exercise found that using trekking poles reduced the force exerted on joints. For the best benefit, hikers should use two poles adjusted to the proper height.
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Instructions
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Wear the boots or shoes you normally wear for hiking when you shop for hiking poles. Consider the type of terrain where you usually hike. If you mainly stick to flat, even terrain you might choose a single hiking staff rather than a set of poles. If you hike rocky or steep trails or make stream crossings, shop for a pair of adjustable poles.
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Test the pole's diameter and weight in your hand. Women and people with smaller fingers need a smaller diameter pole. You will be gripping the hiking pole for hours, so make sure the grip is comfortable. Some poles come with padded or cork grips, though the padding or cork can deteriorate over time.
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Stand with your arms at your sides, elbows bent at 45 degrees. Adjust the poles so that you can comfortable grip both poles with your arms in this position and the tip of the pole touching the floor or ground. Choose a hiking pole which will comfortably adjust to your height without requiring you to fully extend it. Most hiking poles adjust from 24 inches long when fully compressed to 49 or even 55 inches when fully extended. Some poles have more than one adjustment. Numbers marked on the pole will help you remember the correct adjustment for your height.
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Use this length for walking on level ground. Shorten the pole to climb uphill. Lenghten the pole slightly for downhill hiking.
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Tips & Warnings
Wrap a few strips of duct tape around your hiking pole and you'll always have tape handy for emergency repairs or even a bandage for a blister on the trail.
