Long gone are the days when old mountain veterans sniggered at tourists who forgot to leave their ski poles in the cupboard. With two or three poles, telescopic or interlocking, the trekking pole has become so commonplace among hiking groups that it’s now the one who goes without it is who gets the remarks. Just because everyone else is doing something doesn’t mean it has to be done', I hear the last holdouts say. True enough. So why become a quadruped when you were born a biped? Here are some answers.
Your joints, a capital to be preserved
Nordic walking © Alexander Rochau, Adobe Stock
The first argument put forward in favour of poles is that they reduce the impact of walking on the joints. Indeed, while lightening your pack is a first step, poles allow you to transfer a significant proportion (a third according to the most zealous salesmen) of the effort to your arms. So much energy that your knees, ankles, hips and spine won’t have to take. This is particularly true on descents, where your body has to hold the weight of your body and pack with every step down. This often results in knee pain, but also puts a lot of strain on the intervertebral discs and hips. As your doctor will have already told you, your joints are a limited asset and prosthetics, where they exist, never work as well as the original part.
On all fours, you’re more stable
Stabilizing with trekking poles © Johannes Braun
As well as saving your joints, poles are an advantage when it comes to keeping your balance. Have you ever found yourself on a muddy path or sloping snowpatch, jealously watching your neighbour leaning on their ‘sticks’ when you had boasted that you didn’t need them? Evolutionists beg to differ, but four legs are still more stable than two. All the more so when you’re on uneven and/or slippery ground, with a loaded backpack on your back. So, of course, you’re limiting your chances of entertaining the crowds by ending up with all fours in the air and a back full of mud. But you also reduce the risk of a stupid accident that could bring your dream journey to a premature end. Come on… your safety is worth a little humour deficit.
More power for the same effort
Hiker using trekking poles © Johannes Braun
Your arms support your legs, so you have two extra supports to keep you stable. As a result, your efforts are more ‘useful’. Instead of straining your legs alone and having to compensate for your loss of balance, your body can concentrate on the effort of walking. For maximum efficiency, as with any new tool, you need to take the time to learn how to use your poles. By adjusting the poles to the right height (the elbow should form a right angle), by moving the arms in the opposite direction to the legs, and by controlling the amount of support, the upper body becomes a perfect complement to the lower body. Not to mention that this ‘metronome’ movement helps you to regulate your rhythm and breathing, which is very important for maximising your endurance.
Cross, test, divert
Hiking with trekking poles © Johannes Braun
Jumping from rock to rock in a scree of large boulders, crossing a raging river or straddling a ditch, crossing a tree trunk blocking the path. Once you’ve got the hang of them, hiking poles will be your allies at every obstacle. Like an extension of your arms, you can use them to test the stability of a scree slope, to gauge the depth of the snow or a river before setting off, or to point out a distant summit to your friends. Not to mention the many other uses: stakes to build a shelter with your rain cape, a splint to relieve an injured companion, a means of defence against wild animals or even a hunting weapon when hunger threatens the group.
Convinced? Then find out how to choose the right hiking poles.
You can also find a wide range of hiking poles at our partner Alpinstore.
