CHOOSING HIKING POLES IS AS EASY AS 1-2-3

Never fear, here’s how to choose hiking poles in three easy steps

As with any gear, choosing hiking poles that are going to be perfect for you can be daunting. They can be a bit of an investment, and will stay with you for many miles, so you want to get it right. My biggest piece of advice: don’t worry too much. If people can hike using a branch as their walking stick, you really can’t do worse. So here are three easy steps that will take you along on a painless ride to choosing the perfect poles.

Whether it’s soft sand or pavement, the right hiking poles will be your friend.

Step 1 – Materials

Decide on the materials you want in the pole. There are really two main options for the pole itself, and a few more for the handles. All of them have their own eccentricities, their pros and cons, and what is right for you might not be right for someone else. Here are the main options so you have the information walking in to walk out with the perfect poles.

Carbon Fiber vs. Aluminum

Hiking poles are usually made with either carbon fiber or aluminum. The biggest differences between the two will be weight and durability. While carbon fiber is the lighter of the two options, it is also much less durable, meaning if you’re heading to rocky terrain and tend to mistreat your equipment, maybe reconsider the weight-saving carbon fiber.

Cork vs. Foam vs. Rubber

The handles of the hiking poles are arguably the most important thing to choose correctly, seeing as how you’ll be most in contact with this section. Day in and day out you want your hands to be as comfortable as possible.

Cork is generally thought of as the more luxurious of handle materials. Though a bit heavier, it will absorb some moisture (keeping it from becoming slippery), mold to your hand over time, and not absorb your hand’s heat.

Foam is next on the list. It’s a super lightweight option but will absorb a ton of moisture (and heat) meaning it isn’t slippery but is cold, so maybe reconsider if you’re doing winter activities or going somewhere particularly rainy.

Rubber is the final option. Generally, the cheapest, if you are prone to blisters, this will probably be your nightmare, and they absorb no water so will likely be slippery. They’re usually found on ski poles because your gloves will protect you from the negative byproducts.

Water crossings can be hard on poles. Make sure the hiking poles you choose are durable enough to keep up with you.

Step 2 – Design

Different poles are made with different purposes in mind. The biggest design difference to think about when choosing hiking poles is how they will collapse. Some telescope, while others fold. The folding ones usually pack smaller, but also give a lot less flexibility for the sizing and fit.

The other design differences are going to be pole’s intended use, and therefore the accessories that accompany it. Poles meant for mountaineering and winter activities will have a larger snow basket (the round plastic bit at the bottom that stops the pole from sinking too deep into the ground). Poles meant for warmer weather hiking will have no basket or a smaller but firmer mud basket.

There are also the ferrules (the rubber tips) that slide on and off the point of the poles to add extra grip and traction on smooth hard surfaces and protect the carbide tip from wearing away. When walking along softer surfaces you’ll want the poles to bite into the ground by removing the ferrules until you change terrain again.

Step 3 – Fit

This step is arguably the most important, but also the easiest. Choosing hiking poles that fit will help protect your elbows and wrists, as well as making your hiking experience even more comfortable. To know if a hiking pole fits you, on a level surface, hold the pole as you would while hiking, and if your elbow is bent at a 90-degree angle, the pole fits you! Easy peasy. If you’re going to be doing a fair bit of up and down on the trail, an adjustable pole will be ideal to keep that 90-degree angle even on uneven ground.

There you have it, three easy steps to help you choose hiking poles that will become your best friends. Not too scary after all eh? So get out there and start exploring some trails. With your new hiking poles, you’ll feel like a mountain goat, and a whole new world of hiking will open up to you! Start your adventure and I’ll see you out there. We can high five with our poles as we pass each other.