Whether you know them as hiking poles, trekking poles or walking sticks, you've probably seen people using these aids on the hiking trail. First popular in Europe, hiking poles are used in the United States by men and women of all ages. When buying hiking poles, choose those with comfortable hand grips and multiple height adjustments. Poles should be lightweight yet strong. Collapsible poles are easy to stash in a pack when not in use.
Less Stress on Joints
Julianne Abendroth-Smith, associate professor of exercise science at Willamette University, has studied the biomechanics of hiking with poles and says hiking with two poles reduces the stress placed on the joints and lessens the chance of injury. If you suffer from knee pain when hiking downhill, using hiking poles may lessen or prevent a recurrence of this pain.
Aid Balance
Hiking poles act as outriggers to help you balance on precarious stream crossings or slippery downhill slopes. When negotiating steep terrain, set the uphill pole shorter for the most stability. When descending a steep trail, plant the poles ahead of you. This four-point stance can make you less likely to slip and fall.
Increase Stamina
A 2008 British study reported in the Journal of Exercise Physiology of volunteers who hiked uphill with and without poles showed that when using hiking poles the hikers perceived themselves to be less fatigued than when they covered the same distance without poles, even though oxygen sensors showed they were working harder, climbing at a faster pace, than without the poles. Using hiking poles may allow you to comfortably hike longer and father.
Burn More Calories
Using hiking poles involves more upper-body movement, giving you a more full- body workout. The 2008 British study suggested that hiking with poles burns more calories than hiking without poles.
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