Why We Never Let Trekkers Go Without Trekking Poles — And You Shouldn’t Either

Walking on the rugged, unknown terrain of the mountains is one of those few experiences that makes you feel very different yet calming inside. But to achieve that feeling, not only do you have to plan a trip to the mountain, you are also supposed to carry gear and other things that are important for trekking.

And among all the gears, carrying a trekking pole is very mandatory. Why? Well, you will learn that sooner, but take it from someone who has been leading treks in the mountains every day for a decade. A trekking pole is very important for your body while trekking.

Throughout all these years, the one thing that trek leaders have noticed is that many trekkers either think that the trekking pole is pointless and ignore it, or think that it is equipment just for beginners.

All the myths and mixed opinions around trekking poles have led me here. Today, with insights from our trek leader, I’ll bust some common misconceptions and share everything you need to know from choosing the best trekking poles to finding budget-friendly options before planning your next trek.

Therefore, while planning your trip, make sure to consider this friendly guide from our trek leader, and take it as your friendly manual. It is completely simple, practical, and based on real mountain experience because out there, it’s not about fancy gear, it’s about walking smart and coming back with happy legs and good memories.

Overview of the Trekking Pole

For centuries, our ancestors used a basic, very normal, simple wooden stick to support and balance their body weight while walking in the mountains. That “wooden stick” was later modified into a “trekking pole” in the 1970s, and it has been used by trekkers ever since to maintain balance and provide support while ascending mountains.

Throughout the year, the trekking pole structure, technique, and material have evolved a lot. So, without any further due let’s dive deep into every aspect of this trekking poles guide.

Where you will get to know all the things about a trekking pole, including things like-

• What actually is a trekking pole?
• What material is used in making the best trekking pole?
• Which type of trekking poles is best for trekkers to use during trekking?
• How will using a trekking pole benefit the trekkers?
• What is the right way to use a trekking pole?

About Trekking Poles

Hearing the word “trekking pole,” what is the first image that comes to your mind? Probably a long stick made up of some material strong enough to handle the weight of a human body, but is this truly what a trekking pole is?.

Well, trekking poles are basically said to be a standard device that provides complete stability to the trekker’s body and prevents their knees and joints of the body from getting any long-term damage.

A lot of the time, people tend to assume that it’s a walking pole for elderly trekkers or for beginners, but this assumption is far from the truth. It is that one most underestimated gear that every trekker should use instead of ignoring it.

The best type of trekking poles

As you all know, in today’s time, the market has a wide range of options available for everything. Similarly, the best affordable trekking poles are also available in the market for trekkers to purchase.

Speaking of it, there are certain features that trekkers look for in trekking poles, as they are a one-time investment. Hence, a trekker must purchase a trekking pole that is made up of a certain specific type of material, and the price range should be affordable too, with features that will make carrying it on a trek more convenient.

Now, things trekkers should keep in mind while purchasing it are -

• Material

The material of a trekking pole is very important as it impacts your security, energy, and stability during the trek. Therefore, while purchasing, make sure that you purchase a pole made of ‘Carbon fibre’ because they will be ultralight in weight and will also have quite high rigidity.

Benefits of Carbon Fibre Trekking Pole

• Helps in achieving a long - distance trek in the mountains without encountering any problem on the pole.
• As it tends to absorb the vibration while walking, which results in a reduction of arm fatigue.
• Even after being light in weight, it doesn’t flex around much, meaning while trekking, the trekker will have more stable support on the ground.


• Best type of Trekking Poles

In the market, there are various options of trekking poles available, but there are only three main types of them that are prominent among the trekkers: Adjustable, Foldable, and fixed-length.

Among all three of them, the adjustable one is the most preferable one for the trekkers. Speaking of it, in the adjustable pole, the stick basically gets divided into 3 to 4 sections that are available in a sliding pattern. Meaning? That, according to your preference, you can easily adjust the length of the pole.

Note - Make sure to keep an eye on the opening and closing (adjusting area) of the trekking poles.

The Right Way to Use a Trekking Pole

There are lots of people who carry trekking poles on the trek with themselves just to provide some support to their body, and to do so, they believe that while walking, they just have to put the stick forward, put their weight on it, and it will help in pushing their body forward.

But trust me when I say this, that not using the poles in the right way can harm your body more than not using them at all.

Therefore, it’s very important that before you begin your journey to explore the mountains, you must learn the right way to use the gear properly to maintain your safety during your trek.

Now, speaking of the right way to use the stick. Here are the instructions that you must follow -

1. The most important thing about a trekking pole is its structure.
• The pole comes in an adjustable version, which can be adjusted to different lengths, whichever suits you, while walking.
• In a trekking pole, there will be a strap, a grip area, a shaft, a locking mechanism, and at the end of it, there will be a tip. During winter, to have a firm grip on the ice, a snow basket is used at the tip of the pole.


2. Make sure that before you begin your journey, you hold the pole in the right way at an adequate height.
• Your elbow? It should be able to make a 90-degree angle when you are ascending the mountain.
• While descending, remember to extend the length of the pole as much as possible.
• If the way you are holding the pole is forming an (obtuse angle), then increase the height of the pole, and if it's forming an (acute angle), then you can reduce its height.


3. The next thing is the way you wear the strap of the pole around your hand. The strap helps in maintaining the grip of your hand on the pole and keeps it steady. So, after holding the pole, loop the strap in your hand comfortably, but not too tightly, and the position of the strap should cross over your palm.


4. Then comes the grip of yours over the pole. The grip should be firm enough to maintain the stability of the trekker's body, but don’t hold it too tightly so that it starts restraining the movement of your hand.
• Make sure to hold it in a relaxed way so that you can easily move your hand between your thumb and finger if you want.
• Holding the pole in a relaxed way will result in better movement to flick the pole forward, while holding it tightly will tire your wrist more quickly.


5. After correcting the grip and the height of your pole, the next important thing to remember is the direction in which the trekking pole should be held.
• The trekking pole should always be held towards the side of the mountains.
• Remember, don’t ever hold the pole on the valley side, as doing so, you will be putting your safety, stability, and balance at risk.
• Therefore, while walking, make sure to hold your trekking pole a little to the right of the front.
• Also, avoid swinging it back and forth too much, as it might cause a problem for the trekkers walking behind you.


6. While walking, before leaning your full weight on the pole to keep moving forward, just make sure that the pole is firmly planted on the ground, and then you can shift your weight on it and step ahead.

You know, till now we were discussing what the right way is to use a trekking pole, but have you ever wondered which season or situation a trekking pole is required the most by the trekkers?

Well, a trekking pole is mandatory while you are trekking, but it plays an important role during the monsoon and winter seasons the most.

• During the monsoon, the land gets quite muddy and slippery, making it difficult to have a firm hold or set your foot strongly on the ground, which is why having trekking poles during a monsoon trek is very important.
• After the monsoon, it's the winter season trek where, once again, trekking poles play a vital role.
  See, you never know how much snow there is, or how unsafe the snow is going to be down the trail. Therefore, to prevent you from any fall, reducing the strain on your knees by carrying a trekking pole is necessary as it acts as an extra limb of the body, providing enough balance to push the body forward while trekking.

Is using trekking poles really worth it?

Among all the trekking gears, trekking poles are considered to be something that is just for beginners and not really important. This myth about trekking poles is what brings us here to make trekkers understand the true worth of trekking poles.

So, with the help of our trek leader, just like we guided you about clear instructions on how to use a trekking pole accurately, we will be listing out all the reasons that will make a point about why this specific gear is so important to carry during trekking.

Here are all the reasons that make carrying a trekking pole the right choice during the trek -

• Trekking poles act as an extra limb of the body, which helps in putting less strain and pressure on the body while ascending and descending on the mountain.
• They help in moving forward while ascending the mountain, as with their help, you can put all your weight on and pull your body upwards.
• Trekking sticks, especially the ones made up of carbon fibres, can absorb any shock or impact easily, which protects the lower part of the body from getting injured.
• With the help of the trekking pole tip, a grip can be formed on the ground that prevents any kind of fall.
• As the poles provide balance and support to the body, they also help improve upper-body posture, which later aids proper breathing and reduces back pain.
• While descending, the trekking poles are the saviours as they provide a strong grip on the ground, with the weight of the whole body relying on them.

These are the prime reasons to carry a trekking pole with you on the trek. It would be better for you if you had an adjustable trekking pole with you, which would be made up of carbon fibre.

It’s upto you whether you wish to buy it or rent it out for your trek. Although we would suggest that if it’s your first trek, then you should definitely rent it out after that, you can make this one-time investment by purchasing it.

So, if you are looking to rent a trekking pole, you don’t need to look around; just click on rent and get this gear for your next trek. “Rent - A - Gear”

Conclusion

Always remember that trekking pole? It is one of the most essential pieces of gear for your safety during your trek. Irrespective of the fact that many trekkers believe it is either just an extra accessory or something that beginners or elderly trekkers need.

But in reality, it provides a silent support to trekkers on every climb, descent, river crossing, and on long, exhausting trails. Take it from someone who has led several trekkers to the mountains, too many times.

If a trekker has chosen the right trekking pole for themselves and knows how to use it correctly, then it can and will protect their knees, improve their balance while walking, and conserve their energy when they need it the most.

So, it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time climbing a mountain or if it’s your 5th or 10th time climbing the mountain, you must learn and understand how to choose, adjust and use a trekking pole in the right way so that it makes a noticeable difference in your trekking.

Therefore, next time preparing for any trek of yours, make sure to choose a trekking pole wisely, don’t treat them as just an option; instead, make sure to consider them as your reliable, trustworthy friend on the trek.

As in the mountains, they will provide an unmatched confidence in your steps and a stability in your trekking journey.

FAQs

1. Which types of trekking poles are the best to use for a mountain trek?

The best type of trekking pole that a trekker can use is the adjustable one that will be made up of carbon fibre and will be lightweight too.

2. What is an adequate height for a trekking pole?

The height of your trekking poles should be high enough that a 90-degree angle can be formed with your elbow while you hold the trekking pole.

3. What is the right place to put your trekking pole while resting?

The most adequate place to keep a trekking pole while resting is to put it outside the tent, as in this way, neither you will get hurt because of it, nor will there be any chances of breaking the trekking pole by mistake.