Walking poles
Staying upright on steep descents, crossing rivers with stability, pushing yourself up mountains: you can do it all with walking poles. Hiking poles are not just for ‘old people’ who do ‘Nordic walking’. They are for all hikers who take their treks and hiking comfort seriously. They provide balance, rhythm and stability, especially when carrying a heavy backpack or in the mountains. It’s often a case of finding out how best to use the poles without tripping over them or getting them caught in something. But once you’ve found your rhythm, they feel like an extension of your own body!
What are walking poles good for?
When you’re exploring mountainous terrain and carry a heavy backpack, nothing offers as much relief during your trek as a pair of walking poles. If you are using them for the first time, it will take some getting used to. You will have to find your rhythm, but once you’ve hit your stride, walking poles ensure you are stable everywhere: on boulder fields, on a steep descent, or even in a river. You just poke them into the ground like two extra legs in front or beside you. Very useful to keep yourself from falling!
Since you’re also using your arms to propel yourself forward when using walking poles, you engage your core, too, and distribute the effort throughout your body. This will relieve your legs and knee joints, especially during descents and climbs. If you walk on flat terrain, walking poles will help you find a good cadence and allow you to maintain the same pace for kilometres on end.
Features of a good walking pole
What makes a walking pole good depends on what type of hiker you are. For example, if you prefer to go hiking with minimal ballast, you will want non-adjustable, carbon walking poles with a handle made of EVA foam. Super simple, practical, and lightweight.
Do you have incredibly sweaty hands and want more comfort? Then choose an aluminium pair that absorbs shocks better than carbon (which is stiffer) and a cork handle that absorbs your sweat better than foam. A telescopic pair of poles quickly slide together when you no longer need them. Want the most possible comfort? Then treat yourself to a pair with anti-shock technology and a fully ergonomic handle.
Planning to put your walking poles in your carry-on luggage? Then check in advance whether a telescopic pair is allowed in your luggage. Sometimes, these are still too big when folded and are considered a dangerous item. In this case, you can opt for a folding pair, rather than one that slides together. It’s very compact and therefore particularly popular with trail runners.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about trekking poles
Telescopic trekking poles are the most useful in the mountains. You’re always going up and down, higher and lower, so it’s important to be able to adjust the length of your poles according to the terrain (longer for descending, shorter for ascending). Telescopic trekking poles consist of two or three parts and are adjustable.
An extra-long grip is useful so that you don’t need to adjust the stick for every hill and can simply hold it a bit lower down or higher up. And when you don’t need the sticks anymore, you can easily collapse them into a small pack attached to your rucksack.
Even though most trekking poles are adjustable, it’s very useful to work out how long they should be. You don’t want to carry poles around that are too big (and so heavier) if something more compact will do just fine. Most poles are 110 - 145 cm long. Here’s a little trick to help you work out the correct length: with your arm down by your side, bend your elbow 90 degrees so your lower arm is parallel with the floor. Then make a fist as if you’re holding a stick. The length of your walking poles needs to be the same length as the distance between your clenched fist and the floor.
Answer the following four questions to find the right walking poles in no time:
- What are you going to do? Are you going hiking on flat terrain or in the mountains? Your activity determines the amount of support you need.
- What length do you need? Are you tall or short, and are you going hiking on flat or mountainous terrain? Your height and activity determine how long your poles should be.
- What extras are important for you? An ergonomic grip, shock absorbers and protective caps, for example?
- What material do you need? Carbon is extremely light, for example, but much less durable and more difficult to repair on the move than aluminium.
There are lots of advantages to using walking poles when you’re hiking, especially if you’re carrying a heavy rucksack or exploring mountainous terrain. Walking poles ensure you remain stable wherever you go, even in a wild river. You find a certain walking rhythm, so you can maintain the same tempo for miles on end. You distribute your exertion over your whole body, instead of just letting your legs do all the hard work. And you relieve your knee joints, especially downhill!
The most important points are:
- The shaft material: carbon, aluminium or titanium
- The grip material: cork, plastic, rubber or EVA foam
- The size/length
- The tip and basket (at the bottom of the sticks)
- The mechanism for storing them: folding or telescopic
Choose from several top brands
We wouldn’t be A.S.Adventure if we didn’t make sure that we have an extensive range of top brands. From Leki to Lafuma to Black Diamond, these brands will keep you balanced.
Still have questions about buying your new walking poles? Our customer service team is at your service every day.
