How to Use Trekking Poles

JUMP TO: UNDERSTANDING TREKKING POLES | WHEN AND WHERE TO USE TREKKING POLES | MASTER YOUR TREKKING POLE TECHNIQUE | PACKING AND CARRYING TREKKING POLES | TREKKING POLE ALTERNATIVE USES | TREKKING POLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR | SUMMARY

Author: Steve Edgerton | Updated: Oct 10, 2023
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It is easy to assume that hiking with trekking poles is remarkably simple, something everyone will naturally know how to do. But, like a smooth running stride, motions that look simple and effortless are only obtainable through good technique and lots of practice. 

Trying to use trekking poles without a proper understanding of technique can result in frustration and even injury. But when used effectively, trekking poles are a massively powerful tool for hikers, backpackers, and trail runners. They provide extra stability, aid in uphill hiking efficiency, and save your knees on steep downhills. They can even be used to replace tent poles or as an emergency splint.

This article will guide you through how to use trekking poles effectively: including picking the right poles, when and where to use them, how to use them effectively, and how to maintain and repair this indispensable piece of backpacking kit.

 

Trekking poles can be a lifesaver when you find yourself walking a beam in middle of the bush.

 

UNDERSTANDING TREKKING POLES

We don’t know for sure, but we’d wager that trekking poles were the first piece of backpacking gear ever invented, dating back to whenever the first protohuman chanced upon a perfectly sized branch on the forest floor and began walking with it for the extra balance, stability, and leg-saving efficiency of movement.

Although the principal benefits remain mostly the same, modern trekking poles are a significant improvement over the walking sticks of old in two important ways.

ADJUSTABILITY: Most trekking poles are now designed to be collapsible, with telescopic or folding shafts. This makes them easy to pack and carry. It also makes it easy to dial in the perfect pole height for you, which helps ensure proper technique and comfort.

MATERIALS: Trekking pole shafts are made from aluminum, carbon fiber, or a combination of both. Aluminum is heavier but more durable, while carbon fiber is incredibly light at the expense of durability. Handles are made from cork or foam, while the tips are made from carbide.

For more about the design of trekking poles, refer to our review of the best trekking poles, which includes thorough advice on trekking pole selection for every situation.

 

Folding poles like the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z are generally the lightest and most packable option, although they are often less adjustable and less durable than poles with telescopic shafts.

 

WHEN AND WHERE TO USE TREKKING POLES

Trekking poles can be advantageous in just about any environment. But as a general rule, the more rugged, treacherous, and insecure the terrain, the more you will gain from trekking poles. Conditions where trekking poles come in handy include:

  • Mountain trails with steep climbs and descents

  • Rocky, uneven, and variable surfaces

  • Muddy and slick trails

  • Snowy, icy winter hiking and snowshoeing

  • Very long days of hiking in any conditions

Trekking poles aren’t typically necessary for shorter hikes on dry, flat, and well-maintained trails, but this can be a good way to practice your poling technique and get comfortable using them for more demanding outings.

 

Trekking poles can be particularly useful on slick muddy trails, like those found on Canada’s Tonquin Valley Trail.

 

MASTER YOUR TREKKING POLE TECHNIQUE

Paying attention to technique allows your trekking poles to work for and not against you. These tips will help you save energy while staying comfortable and injury-free when using trekking poles.

SIZING: Proper technique begins with proper pole sizing. Your trekking poles should be fitted so that your forearm is parallel to the ground when gripping the handle. With experience, you can experiment with making your poles slightly shorter or slightly longer for extended climbs and descents.

ADJUSTING WRIST STRAPS: Many hikers throw their technique off right away by improperly using pole wrist straps. To ensure a secure grip, put your hand through the bottom of the strap. Then you grab the pole handle, with the base of the strap in your palm. This distributes weight more effectively through your hand and wrist. Cinch the wrist straps to be snug, but not uncomfortably tight. 

PROPER GRIP: Using the wrist straps appropriately allows you to maintain a light and relaxed grip on the trekking pole handle. Maintain a relaxed hold with your thumb and forefinger, permitting the pole to flick forward and backward with ease. This prevents fatigue and cramping that inevitably comes if you impose a death grip on your poles for hours on end.

 

A proper grip and the correct use of wrist straps will massively increase the effectiveness of your trekking poles.

 

STRIDE COORDINATION: Trekking poles are most effective when planting one pole alongside the opposing foot. You will likely fall into this rhythm naturally. But if things feel off-kilter, reset by lifting your poles for a few strides, then settle back into this alternating stride.

UPHILL TECHNIQUE: On steep uphills, you can engage your upper body to help your legs through a double poling technique. Plant both poles ahead and above you, pulling your weight into the wrists and take two steps before resetting.

DOWNHILL TECHNIQUE: The double poling technique works well on downhills as well. It will relieve impact pressure from the knees and ankles. Depending on the grade, it might feel more natural to position your palm above the handle end to distribute impact forces throughout your arm rather than concentrating on your wrist and hand.

NAVIGATING OBSTACLES: Trekking poles act like a second set of legs, which is incredibly helpful for stream crossings, boulder hopping, and avoiding mid-trail mud pits. Take your time: use poles laterally for balance when taking large steps and to assess the solidity or water depth before lunging forward.

 

Trekking poles can be useful for maintaining balance in many situations – not least on water crossings.

 

PACKING AND CARRYING TREKKING POLES

Often, you won’t want to use your poles over the entirety of a backpacking trip, so it helps to have an effective system for packing and carrying your trekking poles when not in use.

COLLAPSING POLES: Most modern trekking poles are collapsible, either through a telescoping or z-style shaft. Non-collapsible fixed-length poles, while providing unmatched durability, are far more difficult to pack and carry.

BACKPACK POLE ATTACHMENTS: If you prefer to stow away your poles on flat and less technical sections of trail, having a backpack with accessible attachment points, like the Osprey Exos 48 can be helpful. Custom trekking pole attachment points can also be added to some of the best lightweight backpacks.

EXTERNAL POCKETS: In the absence of dedicated trekking pole attachment points, exterior water bottle pockets or mesh storage pockets are the best place to stash your poles. The primary downside to this storage method is that you will likely have to take your pack off to access your poles, making quick transitions difficult.

 

Even in the absence of trekking pole attachment points you can usually stash them in the exterior pockets of your pack – like I’ve done here with the Zpacks Arc Haul.

 

TREKKING POLE ALTERNATIVE USES

Trekking poles can provide a ton of utility even when they’re not in your hands. To save weight, many ultralight backpacking tents are now designed to utilize trekking poles as tent poles. Trekking pole shelters are one of the easiest ways to shed some unnecessary pack weight. They are light like non-freestanding tents (tents pitched with stakes and guy lines rather than poles), but without sacrificing the convenience and easy setup of freestanding tents. 

Most trekking pole tents and tarp shelters require a certain pole length, so check that your poles and tent are compatible before purchasing one or the other. Your poles will need to extend beyond the minimum length required by your tent. Adjustable telescoping poles are ideal for this, as you can adjust the length for different terrain and for setting up your shelter as needed.

Beyond use in your shelter, trekking poles can also act as an emergency splint or brace, a camera mount, and to set up a drying line at camp. They are quietly one of the most versatile pieces of backpacking equipment.

 

Trekking pole tents — like Gossamer Gear’s The Two — are a great way to reduce your pack weight, since they don’t require you to carry additional poles just for your shelter.

 

TREKKING POLE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR

High-quality trekking poles are not cheap. And since they are subjected to considerable abuse, a little bit of maintenance and repair know-how can go a long way in getting the most out of your poles.

INSPECTING MOVING PARTS: Familiarize yourself with your trekking poles at home. Note all moving parts and potential failure points, primarily flick locks and telescoping shafts. Before any big trip, inspect the poles for wear and to ensure the shafts and locks are functioning appropriately.

FIXING STUCK SHAFTS: Adjustable trekking poles can get gummed up after enough exposure to trail grit and grime. Collapsing and expanding the poles becomes difficult. To avoid this, disassemble and thoroughly clean your poles regularly. Allow the poles to fully dry before reassembling and storing them away. Never apply lubricating oil to stuck trekking pole joints. This can result in the poles collapsing during use.

REPLACING TIPS: Trekking pole tips will eventually need replacing, especially if you hike often on rocky and abrasive mountain terrain. Old tips can be difficult to remove. It can be helpful to submerge the tips in a pot of boiling water for 15 seconds to loosen up accumulated gunk, then unscrew the tip with a pair of slip-joint pliers.

Conveniently, most carbide tip replacements are interchangeable across brands. We recommend the Black Diamond Carbide Tech Tips.

REPLACING SHAFTS: Telescoping trekking poles have two or three distinct segments. They are secured into place with an internal locking mechanism (twist lock) or an external locking mechanism (lever lock). Shafts are the most common failure point for most trekking poles. Fortunately, most pole manufacturers sell replacement shaft segments. It is worth having a mid and lower shaft replacement ready to go in your gear closet.

SUMMARY

Using trekking poles efficiently can help you ultimately hike faster and for longer, imposing less strain on knee and ankle joints. Taking time to get comfortable with trekking poles will give you confidence on demanding trails, from steep scree slopes to rocky river crossings. Backpackers, thru-hikers, trail runners, and trekkers can all benefit from a good pair of trekking poles.

For more info on finding the right pair for you, don’t miss our review of the best trekking poles for every adventure!

MORE INFORMATION

For more tips on multi-day backpacking see other articles in our Backpacking 101 series:

Or if you are looking for more information on hiking and backpacking, be sure to check out some of our other tips and gear reviews:

Or check out our entire Gear Reviews Page, our Knowledge Base Articles, or Destination Guides for more hiking, backpacking, and outdoors related content.

Whatever you decide, happy hiking and take care out there in the wild!