Trekking poles relieve some of the load when you are hiking. By using poles, you spread out the weight between four points instead of just two. Poles help you balance in rocky, unstable areas. They also reduce some of the stress on your knee joints as you go downhill. Trekking also poles come in handy to push back obstacles such as limbs, foliage and vegetation. Before you take your poles onto the trails, you need to adjust them for your height. Trekking poles have either a twist-lock mechanism or a flick-lock mechanism.
Twist-Lock Poles
Step 1
Hold the pole horizontally in both hands.
Step 2
Grip one half of the pole. Turn the other half in the direction of the open arrow on the locking mechanism.
Step 3
Pull the pole apart or push it together to the appropriate height. Twist the pole in the opposite direction to lock it in place.
Flick-Lock Poles
Step 1
Hold the pole horizontally in both hands.
Step 2
Position your thumb under the locking mechanism. Push up with your thumb to flip the lock open.
Step 3
Pull the pole apart or push it together to the appropriate height. Flip the lock closed.
Tips and Warnings
- To set your trekking poles to the proper height, stand on level ground holding the pole vertically. Adjust the height so your forearm is parallel to the ground when you are gripping the handle of the pole. On descents, you should lengthen your pole. On ascents, you should shorten it.
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