How to Adjust and Use Trekking Poles

Instructional video, done by a physical therapist/specialist in orthapidics who describes how to correctly adjust and use trekking poles to reduce pain and strain in your joints, muscles and tendons.

[snazpizaz]

If i understand correctly, she's putting her hand through the strap incorrectly. She's putting her hand in the strap from the top side which means if she fell while using her pole and splayed her hand to catch her fall, her hand would fall on her pole, between her thumb and finger and risk breaking her thumb.
What she needs to do is thread her hand through the strap from the bottom side and then wrap her hand both back around the pole handle and top parts of the strap. If she did it this way, if she fell, she could release the pole handle and splay her hand to catch her fall without falling on the pole between her thumb and fingers and risk injury to her hand.

[andrewkliss]

Thank you for your excellent informative, thorough, and concise video on adjusting and using trekking poles. Everything I need to know about them in under five minutes. Very well done!

[cantthinkofaname]

Thanks, guys for your tips of holding the hiking stick grip. I then realized even I wasn't holding it correctly. Kudos.

[NYtoNC]

❤ very helpful, thanks!! I am almost 50 and in good shape but have been wanting hiking poles

[Theantibullybully]

Hand goes through strap from the bottom. If you continue to do it this way a broken foot is the least of your worries. The issue is if you fall you will land with the strap over your thumb and the pole under your thumb. Your looking at a broken, fractured or dislocated thumb while you're out in the wilderness possibly days from help. It's not up for debate as other people say. All manufacturers of trekking poles have clearly stated that you insert from the bottom.

[randykirby]

You're awesome! My wife just got some hiking poles. We thought they were junk. She got the type that adjusts by twisting the poles. Here we are trying to turn the black part to set the height. We're supposed to be turning the POLES to unlock and set. She just bought another set from Wal Mart (with the levers) and gave me the ones that work after all. I was going to try and rig them up to work, but thanks to your video, I don't have to now. Again, you're awesome!

[cheejokonya]

Brilliamt, clear. Extremely helpful. Thx

[joshuaochal]

Great video! We are doing our first overnight backpacking trip next weekend and these tips will surely help. Thanks!

[SkyDawg]

Strap errors aside, I thought you provided some excellent, albeit unconventional, tips. For example, having your arms lower than 90 degrees. That seems to work better for me as well.

[calebdorsey]

Where did you make the video, it's beautiful

[WilliamParmley]

This was excellent, thank you very much!

[herrp]

Great info. I like the part about being in proportion with each section. Good tip!

[kenparnell]

I use a single "wizard pole", About seven feet long, flat rubber foot, stainless steel cap, kevlar tubing top and bottom and made of 1 1/4" dia. hickory. My original pole like it was made from a hickory tree that was struck by a monster bolt of lighting back in 1976 and blew this huge tree to pieces. A huge interior piece of it landed in my yard and I hung it up to dry straight, I later whittled on it and then a friend with a router table and large rounding over bit made it round for me.
I've hiked all over the US with it and over the years it's been beaten to death and is now about six feet shorter, hence the changes I made to my new one. I retired "Old Lighting", but no carbon fiber for me. I'm sixty two now and still love to hike. I have a couple kids try to enlighten me on the way of the dual trekking poles but I just smile and tell them, "Thanks."
Old Lighting never disappointed me or let me down and drove off a couple wild animal attacks, you won't do that with a damned old trekking pole.

[ratherbfishing]

The way that you put your hand in the strap looks like you might not be able to catch yourself if you fall. Otherwise, it's a good video.

[pamelaemerson]

Clear and concise information. Thank you, very helpful.

[julierawlins]

Very helpful thank you. Yes I know how to correctly use the strap

[Chingus]

Yep- wrist strap fail. That's how you jack your thumb up if you fall...

[SRLowther]

You are not inserting your hands into the straps correctly! You have a good video here, but this mistake borders on the egregious. You need to insert your hand UP through the strap with your hand holding both the strap and the grip so your wrist is supported. You can break your thumb on a fall otherwise.

View nearly any other video on trekking poles for correct placement of hands through the straps.

And just a little picky side note: I know physical therapists work a great deal with orthopedic patients. So for the sake of your credibility, you should spell it correctly. It is not "orthapidics".

Otherwise, it is a great video with lots of good information. I would love for you to redo it and keep the good parts and correct your mistakes!

[adventureswithfrodo]

Okay you do not know how to use the straps on the trekking poles. not sure where your experiance comes from but it is poor.

[marksmith]

So basically, walking sticks are useless whenever your trek takes you on undulating terrain because you'd have to stop, adjust your poles lower or higher or back to normal every time you go up or down or flat. That would be a pain in the butt when hiking solo but impractical when hiking with a group.