Do Hiking Sticks Really Help? Are Hiking Poles Worth The Money?

Trekking/Hiking sticks offer more points of contact between you and the ground, enhancing stability and balance while lowering the risk of sliding or falling.

Trekking poles allow you to move upward by using your arms and chest muscles. Trekking sticks (particularly ones with inbuilt shock absorption springs) assist to take some impact away from the knees and ankles and moderate the speed of descent over sandy or slick terrains when going downhill.

They also assist you in navigating difficult terrains such as steam and a parched riverbed. It can also aid in the development of a hiking rhythm by allowing your hands to move in sync with your feet, allowing you to hike quicker.

Is hiking with poles better?

Yes hiking with hiking poles is better because it gives a lot of advantages like:

• Knees should be protected, especially while going down steep hills.
• When walking uphill, increase your strength and endurance.
• On rough paths, this will help you stay balanced.
• Improve posture by encouraging walkers to stand up straighter while they walk, which can aid with breathing.
• Increase your speed, particularly while heading downhill.
• Assist with stability.
• Improve endurance and reduce tiredness.
• By combining an upper-body and leg workout, you may burn more calories.
• Muscles that support the spine should be strengthened.
• Arms, shoulders, and neck muscles should all be strengthened.

What is the purpose of hiking sticks?

Trekking poles include your arms and shoulders in the hiking action, which allows you to utilise more energy to move upward and regulate your descent. As a consequence, your speed improves while your leg pain decreases.

Poles can help you create a regular rhythm, which can help you speed up. This is especially true when the ground is flat.

Poles increase your traction on conditions like mud, snow, and loose gravel by adding an extra two points of contact.

When coping with tough terrains such as river crossings, root-strewn pathways, and slick log bridges, poles aid with balance. Maintaining your equilibrium allows you to move fast and safely.

Trekking poles let you bear less weight by dispersing it across four limbs instead of two, which is especially useful when ascending or descending.

Trekking poles may be used for a variety of activities in addition to trekking. They reduce weight by eliminating the need for specific tent poles; using trekking poles to pitch a shelter can save up to two pounds. Trekking poles are also significantly more durable and sturdier than tent poles, making them less prone to break in heavy winds. This contributes to the creation of safer shelters. Poles can also be used as a medical splint and as lightweight paddles for pack rafting.

Are hiking sticks good for bad knees?

Yes, because hiking poles can help reduce knee discomfort on steep descents and ascents by absorbing impact from your knees.

Is it better to hike with one pole or two?

Trekking with a single pole or walking staff has more advantages than hiking without one. Using two poles, on the other hand, will give you a more symmetrical exercise, improve your balance, increase your endurance, and even increase your total speed.

Are hiking sticks worth the money?

Yes, hiking sticks are definitely worth the money because of the following reasons:

• When utilising trekking poles, some people find that they are steadier, especially on steep uphills and downhills. Trekking poles may serve as a third or fourth leg (depending on whether you use one or two when hiking), so it’s natural that they’d help with balance.
• Trekking poles can assist give extra support for the knees and hips when carrying a large pack. Many individuals feel that utilising trekking poles, particularly on steep downhill stretches, relieves some of the tension and wear and tear that continuous pounding may cause in the knees and hips.
• Trekking poles can also help with balance when hiking downhill with a large pack. Chances are good that your pack is a little unbalanced or perhaps dragging you backwards, especially if you didn’t load it precisely in the morning. Trekking poles give a bit of support on rough terrain, which might help you keep upright while you walk downhill.
• Trekking poles are worth it and maybe really useful while hiking in areas where there are several streams to cross. If you’ve ever slid from a rock, you were dangerously attempting to balance on while crossing a creek, you know how tough it can be to get to the other side without getting your feet wet.
• Trekking poles can help keep your dry river crossing dry by providing two more points of contact with the ground, which can assist you in walking across the loose, slippery boulders that are common in riverbeds.
• Trekking poles, on the other hand, can be helpful for crossing a large river in the wet, where having a third point of contact might be the difference between a swift and painless passage and a terrifying situation.

Conclusion

I hope you liked this blog post on whether hiking sticks really help or not! If you have any questions or concerns leave a comment below!

Ryan Anderson

Hey, I am the founder of Outside Origin! I love hiking in my spare time and have gone to various different hikes. You can check out our about us section to learn more about what our team and I do over at Outside Origin.