Hiking is a sport that combines walking and nature, this activity allows you to do sports while admiring different landscapes. To take full advantage of your climb in the mountains, it is essential to choose the right poles for your practice, your size... This accessory will allow you to apprehend the descent as well as the ascent during your outings. They will improve your stability and your endurance no matter what terrain you practice. Nowadays, finding perfectly adapted poles has become complex, because there are a large number of products on the market. That's why we give you some tips on how to choose the right one.

What are the advantages of hiking poles?

Hiking poles are a classic but essential piece of hiking equipment sold in pairs. They will allow you to improve your stability and to relieve your knees. There are poles

that are adjustable or not in length or even poles with springs to absorb even more shock. The use of poles has many advantages, it will ensure you better performance and will relieve your joints.

Technical advantages:

Thanks to the hiking poles

, the support on the ground is doubled, you pass to four which thus offers you a balance and an optimal stability. The risk of falls and injuries is then much lower.

Physical benefits:

The hiking poles will greatly relieve your body, because the pressure that is exerted on your lower limbs is less. This accessory will ensure that your hikes are much less traumatic for your joints, and will limit your joint pain. They will allow a good distribution of the weight and will thus relieve you in rise as in descent. The poles bring you an unequalled comfort during your outings in mountain.

Moreover, the poles

help you in your physical performance, you can increase your walking pace without getting more tired, so you are more efficient and achieve better performance while reducing your muscle fatigue.


After this point on the benefits of using hiking poles during your hikes, we will focus on the technical characteristics so that you can then choose poles perfectly adapted to your needs.

THE PRODUCT EXPERT'S ADVICE:
When hiking, adjusting the size of your poles is very important. It will allow you to be more comfortable and to ensure your support.
When you start climbing, you should shorten your poles slightly. Inversely, when you attack the descent, it is advised to lengthen them.

Malaurie - Expert products for the hiking / trekking world

About Malaurie "I am a great enthusiast of all kinds of sports, I live a life of two hundred an hour where weekends rhyme with outdoor activities".

How many strands on a hiking pole?

The number of strands corresponds to the number of sections of the pole. There are two types of poles, single and multi-strand, each with different characteristics.
The single strand will have the particularity of being lighter and will resist less over the long term, because they are designed in one block, so there is no tension zone.

On the other hand, hiking poles made of several strands (multi-strand) have the characteristic of retracting or folding depending on the technology used. The main advantage of this accessory is that it can be attached to your backpack when you don't need it anymore, they reduce in size by 2 to 4 times when folded. For many hikers, it is important to be able to store their poles without taking up any space.

Our selection of single and multi-strand hiking poles:

What are the different locking and adjustment systems?

There are 3 different systems of adjustment and locking for multi-stemmed trekking poles:

First of all, there is the screw locking system found on telescopic poles, this system allows you to adjust the desired height of your pole from one stem to the other. Once you have found the size that suits you, all you need to do is secure your adjustments with the screws at the clamping points. However, this type of pole is best suited for occasional hiking on affordable terrain. It is possible that they will become unbalanced as you go along.

Secondly, there is the clip-on system, which is more suitable for regular and intensive hiking. Indeed, it is very simple and fast to change the size settings or to fold them to store them thanks to the locking clips. They are very recommended for routes where the support is very important.

Finally, there is the Z-fold system, which is present on the three-strand poles. The different sections are connected by a wire that runs through the entire tube. To lock or unlock, you just have to use the small push button on the handle. This type of pole is highly recommended for hikers who are looking for a light equipment and with a very fast set up.

How to choose the right size of hiking poles?

It is essential to choose the right size of your hiking poles, if they are not perfectly adapted to you the benefits will not be optimal.

First of all, for single-strand or non-adjustable Z poles, it is important to choose the right size to get the benefits. To find your perfect size, simply multiply your height in centimeters by 0.68.
In addition, size guides are often available to help you find the perfect pair.

As for telescopic poles, they can be adjusted in height by about 20cm. This allows you to be comfortable on changing terrain.


DID YOU KNOW?

If you choose poles with a single shaft, and you don't have a way to calculate the ideal size. Just stand up straight, take the poles in your hand and see if your elbow forms a right angle with your forearm. Depending on the result you get you will simply have to take a size up and down and repeat the same technique until you find one that fits you perfectly.

What are the different materials of hiking poles?

Materials :

First of all, there are aluminum poles, the weight is one of the main differences with carbon. Indeed, they are slightly heavier, about 500 to 600 grams per pair. Moreover, aluminum is a material that absorbs shocks and vibrations less well. But the great advantage of this material is that it is very robust and difficult to bend.

Then there are the carbon poles, they are much lighter. A pair weighs about 350 to 500 grams. In addition to this advantage carbon absorbs shocks and reduces vibrations. However, this material is much more fragile, so the pole is less resistant. It is therefore important to take it into account when you go on technical hikes or if the distance is high.

Our selection of carbon and aluminum hiking poles:


Tips and ferrules:


There are two types of elements that are in direct contact with the ground, the tips and ferrules. These are the parts of the pole that should not be neglected. Indeed, they will allow you to better grip the ground.

Two types of tips are available on the market, steel and carbon. The steel tips are more adapted to occasional hikers, because they are less robust in time.
On the other hand, for a more intense practice, carbon spikes are recommended. Indeed, they are more technical, offer an optimal grip and are more resistant over time.

As for the tips, they are made of rubber and are applied directly to the tips. This accessory has two uses, first, they prevent you from damaging your clothes when the poles are stored in your backpack or they limit the risk of injury.
The tips are in some trails mandatory, because the spikes could damage the biodiversity. In addition, they also provide excellent comfort when hiking on hard terrain.

Our selection of tips and ferrules for hiking poles:


The handles:

There are three categories of handles, these elements are very important, they bring you a different support and comfort.

First of all, there is the foam grip, they are very comfortable, because they are particularly soft to the touch and it absorbs perspiration so you keep your hands dry throughout your hike. However, the foam is slightly less resistant. This type of handle is recommended for long distance rides.

The second type of handle is made of cork, this material has excellent moisture wicking properties. This handle has the advantage of adapting perfectly to the shape of your hands for optimal comfort. And finally, cork is a material that absorbs vibrations.

Finally, there are the rubber handles, they are very insulating from the cold and the rubber absorbs vibrations and shocks. However, these handles do not regulate humidity, so in the summer your hands will have a tendency to slip and they will be damaged more quickly. It is therefore advisable to choose these handles in winter.


TO REMEMBER :

  • CHOOSE THE NUMBER OF POLES ACCORDING TO YOUR HIKING PRACTICES
  • DON'T TAKE POLES THAT ARE TOO BULKY
  • CHOOSE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR MORE COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE
  • USE GRIPS ADAPTED TO YOUR OUTINGS