The Importance of Trekking Poles on a Hike

Trekking poles add a lot of stability and comfort to your hike and are an essential companion for many hikers and backpackers on their trips.

If you also enjoy hiking or are about to start hiking, it’s time to get your trekking poles in order.

In this article， you will learn all about the advantages of using trekking poles on a trek.

Reduced stress on the joints

The biggest advantage of hiking with trekking poles is that they take some of the strain off your joints on the uphill and downhill.

Avoid swollen arms

A typical hike may not use your arms at all. Trekking poles will give your arms some exercise and will help prevent your hands from swelling when you lift. Dangling your arms at your sides while ascending can cause poor circulation, which can lead to swollen fingers, hands and wrists. Keeping your arms elevated, combined with the pumping action used by hiking poles, promotes better circulation and prevents swelling.

Maintaining balance

Trekking poles act as another set of limbs, providing you with more stability when tackling tricky terrain. Spreader poles help you maintain your balance when crossing fast-flowing water, traversing snowfields and ice, hiking along narrow ridgelines, and going up and down hills on the loose ground such as sand or gravel. We have also used trekking poles on more than one occasion to stay upright when battling strong winds.

Maintaining a rhythm

Using trekking poles allows you to walk at a steady pace and can help you maintain a good hiking speed for longer periods of time. When we use trekking poles, we tend to go faster.

Testing water depth

Trekking poles can be used to test the strength of ice and the depth of water. When it is difficult to determine the depth of a waterway or how thick the ice is on a frozen stream, trekking poles can take the guesswork out of it and help you cross the hazard safely.

Keeping wildlife at bay

When in remote areas, do all you can to avoid sneaking up on wildlife or encroaching on their territory. When you find yourself too close to large animals such as bears, banging your poles together or against trees and rocks can make an ear-splitting sound that usually scares the animals away. You can also make yourself appear larger by swinging your poles overhead, which can deter animals from approaching you.

Hitchhiking

Whenever we need to hitchhike, we can signal to the driver that you are a hiker who needs to get somewhere by placing our trekking poles outside, which in our experience increases the likelihood that the driver will pick us up faster.

So, are you ready to incorporate your trekking poles into your hiking trip?

Feel free to contact us for a free quote.