From Stigma to Saviour: Why Hiking Poles Rock

A comprehensive look at the benefits of using hiking poles, with tips on key features to consider and some suggestions for your first pair.

#1: Drop the ego

When we started hiking, seeing someone with a hiking poles made me cringe. I had to go over my ego, to realise the benefits and get used to using them.

"If you are wasting your life energy, you won't be able to enjoy life, similarly with hiking poles, they save your energy so you can enjoy mountains more - Rytis"

We got our initial pair of poles for climbing Mont Blanc, so we already started with a quality lightweight pair to save weight on the climb. Now this is a must-have accessory on all our treks so read on to get all the information on why they are essential, what features you should consider and see some recommendations for all levels.

#2: Save those knees

If you tackled a bigger climb, you will know that reaching the summit is only 50% of the work, everything you climb up, has to be done in reverse. Here comes the more strenuous part of the hiking – your knees absorb such forces that with time you may lose the will to go outdoors due to injuries or just discomfort.

Using hiking poles can reduce around 30% of load on your knees on descents if used correctly. This is a massive improvement, if you want to enjoy hiking for longer. Another important aspect on the descents is the improved stability and balance. Having an extra support after a long day with tired legs can be the difference between reaching your finish healthy and with some energy vs injury.

#3: Features to look for

These are the features worth considering;

Adjustable height: when hiking in the mountains, it is important to be able to adjust the length of the poles based on the terrain that you are in.

In most cases, hiking poles should form a natural 90 degrees angle at your elbow when holding the grip, however, if you are on a steeper ground. I would suggest extending the poles so you can reach further down, without bending your back too much. (depending on the handle shape, there may be a different way to use them on the downhills that is quite convenient). Alternatively shorten them on steep climbs.

Locking Mechanism: For most hikers, lever locks are the safest bet.

• Lever locks:

  • Easy to adjust

  • Reliable in cold or wet conditions

• Twist locks:

  • Cleaner look

  • Can slip if worn out

  • More complex to fix if things go wrong

• Folding (Z-style) poles:

  • Compact and lightweight

Weight: This is not the most important part since nowadays, they all are pretty light, but as with everything in the mountains, lightweight gear saves you from carrying unnecessary weight.

Material

Aluminum

• Durable and budget-friendly

• Bends rather than snaps

• Slightly heavier

Carbon Fiber

• Lighter

• Absorbs vibrations well

• Can crack under sudden impact or if stepped on

Comfort: the more comfortable they are, the more chances that you will use it.

• Grip material:

  • Cork: Molds to your hand, Absorbs sweat - people go crazy about these online, but we hiked thousands of kilometers with foam ones and never had any issues.

  • Foam: Lightweight, Comfortable, Some can stain when sweaty

• Ergonomic grip head: An ergonomic grip head supports your palm when applying downward pressure, which is especially helpful on long or technical descents

• Adjustable Straps: these can provide a lot of comfort on long hikes, when your hands need to rest. If we ever hike together I will share may ways to use them to your advantage ;)

• Packability: consider how poles will fit in your bag, some telescopic poles have dedicated loops to store them when not in use, where foldable ones may need a spare pocket on the side of your bag (however, I would advise using poles all the time, so storing them is less of a problem :) ).

Part availability: if you buy a well known brand such as Leki, there are a lot of chances that you can get the spares for them in most towns around popular hiking spots. Broken tip, lost baskets, most of them can be serviced for more well known brands.

Shock Absorption: this varies on the model you have and how you use them.

• Carbon fiber absorbs vibration better and reduces trail feedback.

• Aluminum is durable but transmits slightly more vibration.

• Shock absorbers - some come with shock absorption mechanism, but they come with extra weight and in my opinion these are just a few more things that may break

• Rubber tip covers - when on hard surface, you can use rubber covers to soften the impact as well as protecting the tips

#4: Recommendations

Match the Poles to Your Hiking Style

• Day hikes on maintained trails: Lightweight, simple poles are enough.

• Multi-day backpacking: Look for durable, compact, adjustable poles with comfortable grips.

• Mountain or alpine terrain: Prioritise strength, secure locking systems, and good traction baskets.

• Trail running or fast-packing: Ultralight, foldable poles work best.

I am a big fan of our Leki Micro Trail Vario, they are foldable carbon poles and in 10 years only 1 of 4 has a slightly sticky locking mechanism. For beginners, Dacathlon has plenty of budget options that are a great way to get used to hiking poles before you splash out for a higher end ones.

My top recommendations right now:

Model	Approx Price (EUR / GBP)	Material	Weight Class	Adjustment System	Collapsible Type	Key Features
Forclaz 1 Hiking Pole	~€20 / ~£17	Aluminium	Mid	Quick adjust	Telescopic	Very affordable, reliable beginner pick
Naturehike Hiking Poles	~€27 / ~£23	Aluminium/Carbon mix	Light	Quick lock	Telescopic	Comfortable grips, lightweight
Simond 1 Impact-Absorbing Hiking Pole MT500 Anti-Shock	~€30 / ~£25	Aluminium	Mid	Twist lock	Telescopic	Built-in anti-shock design
Black Diamond Trail Back Trek Poles	~€90 / ~£74	Aluminium	Mid	Flick lock	Telescopic	Comfortable cork/foam grips
Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles	~€110 / ~£92	Aluminium	Mid	Flick lock	Telescopic	Cork grips for comfort & control
Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Poles	~€100 / ~£83	Carbon	Light	Fixed size	Foldable Z-pole	Very compact & light
Leki Cressida FX Carbon Poles	~€158 / ~£139	Carbon	Light	Speed Lock	Foldable	Premium grips, versatile
LEKI Micro Vario Carbon	~€165 / ~£145	Carbon	Light	Quick adjust	Foldable Z-pole	Lightweight & strong