Trekking Poles: What to look for
Trekking poles are increasingly popular with Hiking Women as they reduce strain on the knees, assist balance, strengthen the upper body muscles and improve posture, leading to greater confidence and endurance on hikes (for more detail see: Trekking Poles: Useful or not).
Prices range from £10-£130 or $25-$200 (2010) with the most expensive more than 10 times the price of cheapest. So what is the difference between them and is it worth spending the extra money? Here are the main factors that you should consider when buying.
Check out Amazon’s range of Trekking Poles
Trekking poles are usually made from one of two types of material, aluminium tubing or carbon fibre (excluding wooden walking sticks). Carbon fibre is more expensive but is lighter and stiffer than aluminium and dampens vibrations more effectively. Aluminium is also relatively light and the alloy 7075 alloy, considered the best quality, is as strong as steel. Although alloy doesn’t rust it may start to corrode but this can be minimised if poles are dismantled and cleaned before storage in an airy place. If small spots of corrosion appear use fine glass paper to clean it off.
Poles may be fixed length or adjustable length, in which case they come in two or three parts. Fixed length poles resemble ski poles and are stronger for comparable cost and quality but they cannot be shortened for storage when not in use. Three part trekking poles are the most compact when telescoped down so are easier to stow in your backpack when scrambling through thick vegetation etc. or in your luggage when travelling. Poles with shaped handles do not pack down as short as those with straight handles as lower sections cannot slide up into the handle.
Three part poles are designed to be extended with all sections lengthened equally as this is the strongest configuration – with the proviso that the taper on the lower section is completely out of the mid section. Most have internal locking devices (an adjustable screw or sliding joint) and some are easier to adjust with cold wet hands than others. Cheaper poles often use plastic parts that can wear out after prolonged use and other poles use external clamps that are simpler to tighten. When buying try adjusting the length of the poles in the shop to see how easy it is, and make sure you can tighten them enough to take your body weight without collapsing. It’s also a good idea to check whether you can get replacement parts before committing your hard earned cash on new poles. Before going on a hike remember to pack a screwdriver or the correct tool to fix a faulty locking device.
Check out Amazon’s range of Trekking poles in the UK
The Wrist Strap is a very important feature as it is there to support the hand and allow weight to be placed on the pole without having to grip like grim death, so it must be comfortable. Better quality straps are contoured, padded and adjustable, basic straps are made of webbing that is cheap and usable, and cheap plastic straps can dig into the hands.
Hand grips are made from cork, rubber or plastic and are ergonomically shaped. Cork and rubber are the most expensive and the most comfortable with the cheaper plastic grips the least comfortable to hold. However the difference is less significant if the poles are held using the correct technique, with the load through the loop of the wrist strap and a light grip on the handles (see: Trekking Poles: Useful or not). Some handles are angled forward at 15 degrees as this increases comfort and makes it somewhat easier to place the pole ahead when walking downhill, but it increases the cost and the packed length of the pole.
The more expensive poles incorporate an anti-shock system which consists of shock absorbing springs in the shafts or handles and this reduces the jarring effect on the arms when the pole hits the ground. The greatest benefit comes when placing poles during a descent and when employing an incorrect technique – so it may be better to concentrate on technique rather than buy more expensive poles. An anti-shock system also increases the weight and complexity of the pole and some hikers find pole placement is less stable.
Tips of poles are made of carbide giving good traction and producing a tick, tick sound as they hit hard ground. Carbide is resistant to wear but you need to check that the tips can be easily replaced if they wear out. Tips with a sharp spike have been inherited from ski poles and are designed to cope with ice. Tips with semi-sharp spike are more commonly found on trekking poles, they also grip well on hard surfaces and there is less danger of an accident than with a sharp spike. The spike can be covered with a rubber foot to muffle the ticking and further improve traction on hard surfaces.
Lastly, baskets can be fitted to the tips to stop the poles sinking into soft ground. The standard size is ~5cm diameter and is suitable for boggy or marshy ground. The larger ‘snowflake’ baskets are used on snow but can get in the way. Baskets are generally removable but this means of course that they can fall off and get lost. Both baskets and rubber feet may come free of charge with the pole so check when buying.
In summary, it appears that the less expensive, simpler trekking poles are just as effective as the more expensive types with anti-shock systems, shaped handles etc. if the correct hiking technique is employed. Essentially, the poles should feel comfortable to use (especially the wrist straps and grips), be easy to telescope whilst hiking on a cold wet windy day and short enough to store in your backpack.
Hiking Women, enjoy your expeditions and let us know of your experience with trekking pole.
Happy hiking!
Anne
Check out Amazon’s range of Trekking poles in the UK
Check out Amazon’s range of Trekking Poles
