Hiking Poles

Interesting facts about hiking poles

For every passionate hiker, hiking poles are part of the basic equipment. Whether for going uphill or downhill, hiking poles can support you on all your tours. From small to large, more and more outdoor enthusiasts do not want to miss the poles – and for good reason!

Why use trekking poles?

Trekking poles not only shift your weight on your legs, but also distribute it on your arms. This provides you with the necessary stability during your tour and supports your balance. In addition, your body weight is no longer supported only by your spine and knee joints, but also by your arms. This minimizes the stress on the joints so that you can finish your tour without pain. Uphill, poles give you more momentum, an upright gait and prevent back pain.

What should you look for when buying hiking poles?

Poles that are adjustable in length are commonly referred to as telescopic poles or vario poles.
To adjust the length of the poles, we distinguish twist lock and clamping system.
With a twist system, the segments are untwisted in opposite directions, this allows you to adjust the length of your pole, when you reach the right length, the segments are screwed back in place. These poles tend to be lightweight and compact, but if too much stress is placed on them, it is quite possible for the pole to “slip together”.
With a clamping system, the correct length of your poles is fixed by clamps. These are easy to use, flexible to adjust and usually can be adjusted without much effort.

What is a folding pole? A folding pole consists mainly of three segments. These segments are connected internally with a metal cord. When in use, the three segments are inserted into each other, to store the sticks the segments are folded like a “Z”. A distinction is made between fixed-length folding poles and telescopic folding poles.
As the name of the fixed-length folding poles already says, these poles are fixed in length and cannot be adjusted. Quite different from telescopic folding poles – these can be adjusted in length to suit different users.
Due to the small size of folding poles, they are ideal for trail running. They do not require much storage space when you need to stow them in your backpack during the faster passages. In addition, they are not very heavy and quickly assembled.

What material should your trekking pole be made of? Carbon or aluminum?
Carbon poles are very light and dampen your movements, which protects your wrist. Especially on longer tours, the low weight is a great advantage. No matter whether you have them in your hand or in your backpack. Carbon, however, is said to be not very resilient and prone to breakage.
Poles made of aluminum, on the other hand, are more stable and cheaper. In return, they are heavier and with too high or incorrect load, these can bend. Normally, the poles can be bent back again. With aluminum sticks, the care plays a role. If the poles get wet, it makes sense to dry them thoroughly to prevent corrosion.

What else is to consider...

The different types of handles

Cork or foam? This question can be answered quite easily. Grips made of cork absorb sweat better and are therefore ideal for summer. Foam grips, on the contrary, are more suitable for winter. These are grippy and non-slip despite gloves.
Rubber grips can rather be advised against, because you easily get blisters and they become quite slippery due to sweat.

When do I use which pole?

Trekking, hiking and trail running poles are characterized by their low weight. They are usually somewhat thicker and are composed of three to four segments. These segments can be either folded or pushed. They are also quite sturdy and can withstand high loads.
Nordic walking poles, on the other hand, are one-piece. Since they are not subjected to heavy loads and are mostly used only on the flat, they are slightly thinner, which makes them considerably lighter and ensures good power transmission.

Which pole plates are suitable for what?

The so-called mud plates are used for hikes with soft ground. The plates prevent your pole from sinking too far into the ground. They are also designed to prevent your pole from getting stuck between boulders and possibly breaking it.
With snow plates, it behaves similarly. These have a relatively large diameter and should support you on your ski tour or winter hike and prevent the stick from sinking in.

Furthermore, there are various rubber buffers in different degrees of hardness for the asphalt. These additionally cushion your body weight and are particularly gentle on elbows, shoulders and wrists. In the terrain, however, these attachments are anything but practical. Due to the damping, the pole gives way when going downhill and the rubber attachment is relatively slippery.

Which pole length is the right one for me?

When you hold the pole in your hand, your forearm should be at a 90-degree angle with your upper arm. However, when trying it out, note the height of your hiking, mountain or trekking boots, as the heel here can also be several centimeters high.

Hiking poles at Sport Conrad

In our online shop or in our stores, we offer a wide selection of hiking poles of different brands. From Black Diamond to Komperdell to Leki, in all colors, for children, women and men – there is something for everyone!
In addition, there are all accessories, equipment and clothing, so that you are optimally equipped for your next trip.