How to Use Walking Sticks When Hiking

Walking sticks are an important part of the hiking experience. They can be used for balance, support and comfort, but they also have several other uses. In this guide we’ll show you how to use your walking stick properly. So that it doesn’t cause problems when you’re out on the trail!

Way to Use Walking Sticks When Hiking

How to Use Trekking Poles and Why You Might Want To

Trekking poles are a great way to improve your hiking experience. They can help you maintain the balance and coordination that is essential for safe mountain climbing. And they can also increase your safety on descents if you fall down.

The best way to choose trekking poles is by considering what kind of terrain you plan on hiking in. As well as how much weight each pole will be able to support. If you’re planning on doing lots of scrambling up steep hillsides or rocky paths (or even just walking through grass). Then it might be better off buying two pairs of trekking poles instead of one set. On the other hand, if all your trips will involve walking around flat areas like forests or beaches with only moderate incline changes throughout their length. Then maybe just one pair would suffice!

Why Use Trekking Poles

• Trekking poles can help with balance. If you’re hiking with a group, it’s important that everyone is able to keep up with one another and not get left behind. Using trekking poles will make it easier for you to walk faster or keep your balance when walking uphill or downhill.
• Trekking poles reduce stress on knees and ankles, which means that they are less likely to cause injury while hiking. They also help improve cardiovascular fitness. Which means that over time the body will become stronger and more fit as well!
• They are great for keeping upright when hiking uphill (or down). Because they allow users to lean forward slightly without losing their balance completely – especially if there’s an incline involved!  This helps prevent knee injuries caused by slipping backward down slopes too quickly into them. Instead letting one’s weight fall forward onto soft ground instead where there aren’t any sharp rocks (or roots).

Types of Trekking Poles

There are three main types of trekking poles: titanium, carbon fiber and aluminum. The material the poles are made of will determine how durable they are and how much weight they can support. If you’re looking for a lightweight option that doesn’t break as easily when dropped on hard surfaces. Look for an aluminum pole. For example, some models have an 8-inch diameter (20 cm) with a 10mm grip diameter (2 cm). Meaning that there is less chance of slipping out from underfoot when walking up a steep incline or across rocky ground.

The price range varies from $8-$30 depending on what brand you choose. However, we recommend spending at least $15 as these prices go up significantly above this amount! It’s also worth noting that some companies sell more expensive versions which come with extra accessories such as baskets/accessories etcetera. But these aren’t necessarily better quality than those found cheaper elsewhere online so keep this in mind if planning on buying one without knowing beforehand what type of quality would suit most users best-which leads us nicely into our next section…

You may like to check: Best Hiking Backpacks Under $100.

Trekking Pole Length

• Measure your trekking pole.
• Determine how long you want your poles to be, based on the distance you’ll be walking and what type of terrain you’re going to hike on.
• If you don’t have a ruler handy, take a look at the length of your poles and check that it’s longer than your wrist measurement. This will help prevent having to carry an extra bag or pack full of extra gear in case one breaks or gets damaged during use.

Adjusting Pole Length

Adjusting the length of your walking stick is an important step to take when hiking. It can be difficult to find a pole that feels comfortable and secure in your hand, so it’s important to make sure that you’re getting the right length for your body type, height, speed and fitness level.

In general there are four main factors that determine how much space you’ll need between yourself and the ground:

• Body size – The larger or smaller someone is will affect their ability to walk comfortably with a long-handled walking stick (or any other tool). A good rule of thumb is 2 inches (5cm) per person taller than six feet tall (1m). If someone has wide shoulders they may find themselves reaching farther back as well; likewise if they have short legs compared to their torso size then they might need something closer together on either side – try using two different brands until one feels more comfortable overall

How to Use Trekking Poles

When you’re hiking, you’ll need to hold your trekking poles in a way that lets them do their job. Most people use one hand to hold the pole while they use their other hand to navigate around obstacles or negotiate steep slopes. This can be difficult if you have arthritis or another condition that limits movement in your hands. If this sounds like a problem for you, try using two poles instead of one!

The best way of holding your trekking poles is by resting them on top of each other (the ends should be facing outwards). The other option is having one end pointing forward and then resting it against something solid such as tree bark; this will allow more stability when walking through steep terrain or up steps at lower altitudes where there’s less ground available beneath foot contact area due higher elevation above sea level.

You may also like: Best Hiking Boots Under $100

Use Proper Arm Motion

• Use your arms to help propel you forward.
• Use your arms to help balance.
• Use your arms to help with the arm swing. (You can also use them for this as well.)
• Use your arms to help with the leg swing, especially if you’re climbing a steep hill or mountain trail! This is an important tip because it will make sure that you don’t fall off any cliffs while hiking (which could be fatal).

Trekking Pole Locking Mechanisms

A locking mechanism is the easiest way to make sure your hiking poles don’t accidentally slip out of your hands while you’re in the middle of a climb.

Basically, this type of lock works like this: You twist open one end of your pole and insert it into a notch on either side of another piece that’s connected to both ends. Then you pull down on both pieces so they lock together (you may need to push down harder if they’re too tight). This can be done without having any tools at all!

Once locked in place, simply turn them back around and repeat for any other pole(s) needed for whatever activity you’re doing—and yes, even if there’s just one person using two poles for balance instead of three!

How to Use Poles on Hills

Way to Use Poles on Hills

• Stand up, with your feet shoulder-width apart and facing forward.
• Extend one pole out in front of you at about a 30-degree angle from the ground (the other pole will stand straight).
• Walk forward with both poles balanced on each side of your body until they are horizontal—this is called “climbing” up a hill and can be done without help from another person! If you need support from someone else during this process, simply hold onto their arms or hands as needed until it feels comfortable for them to let go again once both poles have reached their destination point above all others in front of them; then repeat steps 1–4 above using those same poles instead of theirs if desired by either party involved in any given situation.

How to Use Poles on Stairs

When you’re hiking stairs, use your walking poles to help maintain your balance. If you have a good grip on the handles, this will help keep the pole from moving as much as it would if it were in your hand. Also, by leaning forward slightly and keeping weight off of one foot at all times, this can make descending stairs more comfortable for those with back problems or other mobility issues.

As with most things related to hiking outdoors (or even indoor), there are rules when using poles on stairs:

• Never climb up single-file behind someone who is already on top of the last step—they could trip! Instead wait until everyone has reached their destination before climbing down again; otherwise there’s no point in having them break into two groups instead of one when they reach their destination level again later on down below where we’re currently standing right now right here right now…

Men’s, Women’s, Kids’ and Unisex Trekking Poles

• Men’s, Women’s and Kids’ Trekking Poles
• Unisex Poles

To help you choose the right walking stick for your needs, we’ll explain some of the key differences between men’s and women’s poles. The first thing to consider is length. Men typically have longer poles than women do (though this varies depending on their height). For example, an adult could use a 20-inch trekking pole while an eight-year-old might require only 10 inches. In addition, children may find it difficult to hold onto any type of pole longer than 12 inches high. So they should be sure that whatever size they choose has adjustable straps so they can adjust it as needed. Finally, there are unisex options available. These are generally shorter than traditional male styles. But still provide enough support for those who prefer them over specialized models designed specifically for one gender or another.

Tips for Using Trekking Poles

If you’re new to using trekking poles, there are a few things that will make your life easier.

• Use them on both sides of your body. This allows you to balance better and gives more support for your body weight as it feels like it’s being evenly distributed.
• Don’t use them as crutches or as an excuse not to walk uphill because they’ll slow down your progress significantly!
• Don’t use them too much at once—they’re designed for short periods only (a couple of minutes at most). If you push yourself too hard with the pole in one direction all day long, then this could lead over time toward injury from overexertion. Instead focus on walking slowly and evenly throughout each day so that none of these muscles gets sore from being used incorrectly

Alternating Your Poles and Legs

• Use both poles at the same time. It’s important to alternate the poles and legs with each step, so that you don’t use both legs at once.
• Use your poles to help you move forward. When walking with a pole, it can be helpful to lean on them as much as possible—but only for short periods of time! If you hold onto one pole for too long, you may find yourself off balance or even fall over sideways if there’s no room between two rocks or trees where they meet up against each other on either side of where your body is positioned (which means “on” in this case).

Walking Naturally

• Don’t overdo it. The point of a walking stick is to help you get around, not to carry you everywhere like a cinder block. If you’re getting tired or have other issues that make walking difficult (like an injury), take a break and let someone else walk for a while before returning to your own pace.
• Don’t let the poles dictate your pace or gait. Your arms should swing naturally with each step; if they don’t, try adjusting them so they do move freely in relation to the ground instead of staying rigidly still with their handles held high above your head—this will help keep them from limiting how much weight is being carried by each leg as well as preventing overextension from causing muscle strain on both sides of the body at once.

Negotiating Obstacles

• Use a pole to help you step over obstacles. If the walking stick is too short, you can use it as a lever to raise yourself over an obstacle.
• Use a pole to help you step up or down. If there is no step at the top of your hike, then simply use it as one! This will help prevent slipping on loose gravel or rocks and make climbing over tree roots easier (and safer).
• Use a pole to walk on uneven surfaces like grass or dirt paths in parks. They may not be built straight across from each other, so they slope towards each other. This way they’ll feel less like stairs. More like carpeted ground with plenty of room for walking comfortably without having any issues with falling off into space!

Conclusion

Now that you know all the ins and outs of using trekking poles, it’s time to hit the road. Make sure that you have some practice with your new skills before heading out on an actual hike. Always remember to check in with your doctor first! A good rule of thumb is to keep your hands on the handles and use them as much as possible during a hike. If you feel like switching it up, consider trying one of these tips for walking naturally. Alternating between two poles or alternating between different arm motions while walking.