- Trekking poles are available from a range of manufacturers at many price points. Some options to consider are the materials from which the poles are made, the locking system used to adjust the length of the poles and the options for using them in snow. Poles might be made from lightweight aluminum and carbon, and their weight will vary depending on the chosen materials. You'll be carrying the poles throughout your hike, so choose poles that offer you a light weight as well as durability and strength. Some poles lock at a particular length with a quick snap-like tightener, while others have tighteners that must be screwed into place. The speed of adjusting these, as well as how strongly they grip, might be factors in your pole selection. Finally, if you plan to use your poles in snow, look for poles to which you can add snow baskets for use during cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
- Though trekking poles can make the physical strain of hiking easier for your body to bear, that's only the case if you've fitted the poles to your body appropriately. Open the tightening fittings on both poles so the length can be adjusted. Stand up straight, bring the pole toward your body and place the top of the trekking pole grip about 2 to 3 inches below your armpit. Your arms should be bent at about a 90-degree angle. Tighten the fittings so it will maintain this length. Use the first pole to adjust the length of the second pole. When you put your hands through the wrist straps and onto the grips, keep your hands relaxed and use them to guide the poles instead of forcing them into the ground. The poles should feel like a natural extension of your body.
- When you are walking on a flat trail or just slightly uphill, you can put the tips of the poles a bit behind your body and use them to help push you forward. Going uphill, keep the poles moving in time with your feet and put weight onto them with your arms to reduce the weight on your legs. When going downhill, keep the poles in front of your body and use them to absorb the shock of moving downward. Using poles on steep downhills is especially helpful to prevent slipping and to maintain balance; put the tip of the pole on the ground just before moving the foot on the same side.
