Trekking With Hiking Poles: The Pros And Cons
Hiking poles have only recently become a part of my kit.
For most of my trips I would walk hands-free and rely on my legs to get me where I needed to. But after several trips ending with stiff muscles and a sore back, I decided to give them a try.
While not an essential piece of gear, I found hiking poles to be a useful addition on the trail!
So, to help you decide whether or not you need to get yourself a pair, here are the pros and cons of using hiking poles!
Pros
Hiking poles can have several beneficial effects on your hikes:
Less strain on your legs and joints
By connecting your arms to the ground, hiking poles essentially work as a second pair of legs. This will ensure that your weight is distributed on four points instead of two, and that your legs will only have to do half the work!
Shock absorption
With every step that you take, the joints in your legs take a hit. By acting as extra limbs, hiking poles absorb part of the shock that goes into your knees and ankles. This will result in less sore legs and a happier hiker!
Improved balance
Again by providing more contact points with the ground, hiking poles greatly increase your overall balance, especially on rough and uneven terrain, which also reduces the risk of ankle injury!
Controlled downhill descent
Hiking poles are extremely useful when walking down steep slopes, as they can easily be used to brake and control your descent.
This not only makes it safer to walk downhill by stopping you from snowballing down to the bottom, it also takes off a huge pressure from your legs, as they no longer need to hold back your entire weight.
I can think of several locations ( damn you Conic Hill… ) I have hiked without poles where I arrived at the bottom with shaky legs because of the sheer effort it took to not tumble down!
Weight relief on the back and legs
When carrying a heavy backpack, hiking poles distribute the weight more evenly, allowing you to stand up straighter and relieving the pressure from your back and legs!
Work out the arms
Having your arms dangling by your side when hiking can get tiring quickly, reason for which I often find myself holding on to my shoulder straps.
Having hiking poles gives your hands something to do, and the added weight will give your arm muscles something to work on!
Better walking rhythm
Walking with hiking poles requires a certain rhythm for maximum efficiency, alternating one foot with the opposing pole (left foot forward - right pole back and vice versa).
Developing a good rhythm will improve your performance by speeding up your pace and allowing you to cover more ground!
Cons
Hiking poles are not a perfect solution:
Not always necessary
Hiking poles are not necessary for all situations. They are best suited for rough and challenging trails, or when carrying a heavy load.
Make sure you’re informed on the type terrain you can expect on your trip, so that you avoid taking them with you for no reason!
Heavy, bulky and cumbersome
When not in use, even ultralight hiking poles add a considerable extra weight to your kit. Most models are long and bulky, and will have to be attached to the outside of your backpack.
They also constantly occupy your hands, which is fine when walking but a little less practical when you want to stop and need your hands to be free, like for example if you need some water or want to read your compass.
Expensive
Even the most basic models can be pretty expensive, while top-of-the-range models can have the same price as a high-end backpack!
It can be some serious cash to throw out for something you might not use that often, so first make sure you really need them!
Not always environmentally friendly
Hiking poles usually have tips made of carbide (a strong material made of metal and carbon) with an accessory rubber cover. While the rubber cover provides traction on rocks and other hard surfaces, the carbide offers maximum traction on soft terrain. Both have some issues to pay attention to.
Carbide tips are extremely tough and will easily scratch rocks and dig in the dirt, leaving traces of your passage. They are also very noisy on hard surfaces. Rubber covers, on the other hand, won’t leave any marks but are easily detached and lost.
This has become a problem for highly frequented areas, as the rubber covers are not bio-degradable and accumulate both on the trails and in the natural environment!
The best solution we’ve come across is to use Black Diamond poles. All of their models have interchangeable tips made of rubber or carbide. The tips are attached with a screw and easily interchangeable, so you won’t risk losing the rubber tips on the trail!
So there you have it, on one side hiking poles will offer increased balance and relief to your back and legs. On the other hand, they are heavy, expensive and potentially damaging to the environment.
While I personally found them to be very helpful on challenging trails and a good addition to my gear, I admit that they are not for everyone.
What do you think? Let me know in the comment section below!
I’ll see you on the trail and until next time this is Luca, signing off.
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