Trekking Poles

Some people wonder if trekking poles are really necessary. I have found them beneficial in many ways. In this video I cover all the things I like about trekking poles and some features you'll want to be aware of when picking some out for yourself.

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[hikerlarrypackgoaterrobins]

When I first saw this video, I suspected, as a fairly young person, that you might take the position that they aren't that necessary. I was gratified to see that you did your usual comprehensive review of these devices that, to me, are an absolutely necessary part of hiking. I come from a unique perspective as I am far older than most of the hikers on any given trail. At this point I have used these devices for many thousands of miles. I could NOT hike without them. Like you noted, when I go to fall, they save me from injury nearly every time I stumble. I do, however, see a lot of folks with poles that don't get full use out of them. I am using mine 100% of the time. When I am on level ground, they establish a cadence and I find that I hike faster with them than without. When I am climbing, I am pulling with the poles, as you noted, in order to get some of the weight off my legs, and to increase my overall stability. As I am descending, if it is steep at all, I use them to slow my descent speed, as well as take some of the normal impact off my knees. As I said, I could NOT hike without them. Bless the individual that brought them into the hiking arena.

[MsDDPirate]

Huge thank you for this video. I’ve been using Trekking Poles for about a year now and had no idea I was using them “incorrectly”. After watching your video I changed how I hold my poles and I put the poles behind me for going up hill. Admittedly, I did not think that was going to work for me but I was wrong. Middle aged, out of shape and recovering from an injury I have trouble stepping up onto bridges, rocks, going up hills, etc. By planting the poles behind me and pushing, rather than pulling, myself up really made a difference. Glad I found your channel.

[mayaflynnster]

My momma is in her 70's and I bought her some shock absorbing poles that she uses as two separate canes...she loves them! We keep one in the house and the other in the car and they have been a wonderful find!

[magnum]

I’ve hiked without trekking poles and really felt the fatigue in my legs knees in the past, just went for a hike to camp one night and came back out the next day with tracking polls and what a difference other than a little soreness in my calves I felt great, I really felt some of the weight from my pack going through my arms into the trucking poles allowing me to hike faster and with a lot less fatigue at night, (33# backpack) + water
Thanks for your great video’s

[wadeedden]

Think of it as skiing without snow. All the same advantages apply, you just don’t get any glide, unless your really unlucky and slip on loose leaves during fall.

[bfife]

My favorite saying "When in doubt poke it with a stick"

[hammglass]

I've been a hiking staff person since the 1970s. These days I have a Leki Sierra. Starting out The Complete Walker was my bible. As Colin Fletcher said, "it turns you from a unsteady biped into a confident tried." I totally get Trekking Poles.. Cheers Dixie!

[jhooton]

As a runner for 15 years, I now have some issues with my hips and knees. So I've switched over to hiking. I started using poles and it has helped me a lot with the pain I get in my knees and ankles on very uneven terrain and down hills.

[charlesgraham]

This video is chock full of insightful

[seansnowdon]

I wasn't planning on poles for my PCT hike. I have seen many videos of people hiking just holding onto there poles. Now watching your video and as usual the facts you have, I think I might reconsider. Thanks again and for everyone else's useful comments

[SD_Marc]

I believe the reason for going up through the bottom of the loops is so you can "hammock" your hands in the loops and keep a lighter grip on your poles. That avoids the fatigue of maintaining a tight grip on your poles all the time. I love trekking poles, couldn't backpack without them.

[kencochrane]

Hi Dixie, Ken here again. I hiked, backpacked and mountaineered for close to 50 years without hiking poles. I was very critical of their use and thought them an excuse for good footwork. Well, at 72, I now use a trekking pole. They are a godsend for older hikers and backpackers. As Mel Brooks once said, you mock the thing you are to be. As you point out, they are almost a necessity in stream crossings. They help a lot going downhill. They also help in scree and bouncing over talus blocks. I tend to use just one, and stow it when on a good trail. I still maintain that good footwork is a necessity when hiking and practice ceaselessly. When traveling in difficult terrain, slow down and place the feet carefully. When traveling in smaller talus, take care to not commit to any rock that might roll, be ready to move to the next step with any movement. I have had small-car size talus blocks move when stepped on. Great channel, keep up the good work

[michaelgineo]

Hey Dixie I also have a tip. When hiking along a slope I make the downward pole much longer and the upward pole much shorter. This helps keep balance on those slippery slopes. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to what's up next.

[amysthe-wise-one]

I had a gentleman stop me yesterday while I was out asking about my poles. He's doing a section hike of the PCT for a month starting off at Lake Isabella and needed something better than what I saw he was using, bless his heart. Your name came up along with mentioning your channel and suggestions. I'm glad I could pass on your wisdom for him for his hike.

[martinlisk]

Sorry I'm late to the conversation, trekking pole user for 14 years, and I'm an old country ski guy, my take: straps are good, use the lever adjustment instead of the others, failures with the others, and I use shock absorption all of the time, it doesn't give that much and doesn't fail, love your videos

[luellu]

While recovering from a torn Achilles's tendon (not while hiking), I learned to use a cane. I can tell you from experience that having the extra stability will save you from injury, further injury and help alleviate the stress to ankles, knees, hips and lower back. I will be using some sort of trekking poles when I start hiking again. Thank you for these videos, Daisy. You have inspired many people to try thru hiking and even just day hiking.

[willemmentz]

Without my poles I feel disabled...😁 With them I feel like a four legged mountain goat.

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I dunno why but I so live for Dixie’s “Hey y’all” at the start of each video...

[samtoshner]

The reason you bring your hand through the bottom is so you can put your weight down on the strap instead of having to grip the pole. It saves your grip strength immensely.

[Nighthawkeye]

I got a pair of Black Diamond Trail Shock poles for me and another pair for my daughter when we trekked to Everest Base Camp. At the time, I was 63. I can tell you they saved my knees and made it possible for me do the trek. 23 y/o daughter rarely used hers. they've been part of our kit hut to hut hiking in the Whites, and on the Portuguese Camino and are really helpful, for me, intermittently so for my daughter, but more so as she nears 30 and isn't in the same shape she was in when she was in college. The shock reduction is really just a dampening effect from what essentially is a couple of rubber washers between the shaft and handle that give stability to each pole plant, and I find the molded rubber handles are ideal and have never had a problem with slipperiness from sweat with them. A note about straps. BD recommends that you do place your hand through the strap from the "underneath" side, but then grip one strap, the one closest to the grip, obviously, between your palm and the actual grip. In effect, you have your hand only part way in the grip, with part of the strap on the back of your hand, and the inner part in your palm and against the grip. This is different than what you show in your video, Dixie, where you suggest one method is to put your entire hand through the strap and grip the bare handle, and I think a better and safer way. What the recommended method gives you is an ability to very quickly slip out of the strap, so a safety feature, but also you have a sort of extra lever on the trekking pole via the strap, allowing you both to open your grip on the handle and lever your way up with the straps and giving some hand comfort during less strenuous use by allowing you to not have to maintain a grip on the pole at all time, instead being able to sort of swing the pole forward. Lever action of the strap and grip is akin to the use of an atlatl by early man to increase spear throwing speed and distance, if you've ever checked those early devices out.
So, I'd argue with Mr. Skurka about cutting the straps off poles. I think they are very useful and by doing that, cutting them off, you aren't saving much weight, but you lose much of the leverage and weight transfer they help provide, when used properly. Here's a place to take a look at the Trail Shock.