Our top tips for buying walking the right walking pole for you
Whether you use them or not: hiking, trekking or walking poles are very popular amongst walking enthusiasts. They are a great way to easily improve your balance and stability when it comes to more adventurous terrain and offer that extra support when it is needed most.
Make sure you get the right handle for you; some have more grip areas than others. There are many different options on the market so be sure to test your pole in store before buying to see which grip is more comfortable for you. The grip materials can range from plastic, rubber, cork and even wood.
Not all poles come with anti shock systems and not everyone will want to use them. Those that are will be a little more expensive and we think it is worth it. They are designed to help you balance and take the initial force when coming down a hill or steep terrain. If you have a switchable antishock at least you have the option to turn it on or off, whether you think it helps or not.
Another reason we recommend that you test and see the pole in the flesh is having the correct size pole is essential and knowing where to lock it when walking. Most poles have different telescopic locks, some are fancier than others. Whether it’s a twist or speed lock we recommend you get one that is adjustable, so that it is more customised to you when you use it. When looking for the perfect walking pole, on relatively level ground make sure that your forearms are horizontal when using your preferred hand grip.
The majority of walking and hiking poles are fitted with baskets (normally a circular ring that is just above the tip to stop the poles sinking too much into boggy ground or snow). Some poles have interchangeable baskets depending on the terrain or the weather. Above you can see an example of a typical trekking/hiking basket, a snow basket which is wide and spreads out more to distribute the weight load and a ultra running basket, designed to be lightweight and more precise.
Tips will vary depending on the pole. Steel and carbide are the most common types used, with the latter slightly more robust and popular amongst keener walkers. Protecting your pole tips is recommended with rubber ferrules, as they help your poles last longer and protect trails and indoor areas.
A top tip for the wrist straps is to make sure that your hands go through the straps comfortably and not in a downward direction. Use the straps to take your weight as well as the poles. Spreading the weight will make the pole more stable. Look out for cheap materials when looking at poles, plastic straps won’t be as comfortable as fabric or contoured straps.
A question we get asked a fair amount is “How do I travel with my walking poles”? There is no right or wrong answer here unfortunately, as it will come down to a number of circumstances.
A good example could be if your poles are on the larger side they may not even be suitable to take travelling. We recommend that if you are looking to take some walking poles on holiday that they can be packed in your main luggage to avoid any issues in terms of going through security etc.
Mountain King a top UK Walking Pole manufacturer gave us this top tip; Make sure to pull the poles apart completely out of the locks where possible. This will give you the best chance of fitting them in your case. Another recommendation was to add rubber ferrules onto the tips so that they don’t cause any damage to your case or clothing, or if you do decide to walk with them it won’t damage the floor.
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