Whether you are an experienced hiker or completely new to the hobby, one thing you might not have thought about adding to your equipment is a set of hiking poles. Hiking poles, also known as trekking poles, are a common hiking accessory which main function is to assist walkers. But, whilst they are something so simple and don’t seem like an essential, they can be greatly beneficial.
Protect your knees
When on a hike, you are constantly dealing with hard terrain. This can send shocks up your legs and cause you to have sore and aching knees. Trekking poles are a great way to absorb some of the shocks, so you don’t struggle with as much pain during and after your walk.
Helps you balance on uneven terrain
If you are out on a hike, you are most likely going to come across uneven terrain. And unless you want to be out hiking all day, you want to have a good pace going and not slowing down to tackle obstacles. With the help of hiking poles, you can maintain balance and a quick pace on rocky, difficult terrain. They also offer extra stability when walking on ice and snow.
Improves posture and breathing
A common problem with hikers is back or neck ache during and/or after a walk. This is caused when you lean forward or arch your back when on a hike. When using hiking poles, you are forced to stand up straighter which not only helps to stop the aching, but also allows you to breathe easier when going at a faster pace or tackling difficult ground.
Increases power and endurance uphill
The additional balance and support that hiking poles offer is perfect for those who don’t want to give up an hour into the hike. As you have extra stability with trekking poles, you won’t waste as much energy as you would without them. This means you keep going for longer on your hike with less breaks or without turning back and going home.
Faster pace going downhill
Just like the extra stability improves your endurance, hiking poles can help you pick up a quicker pace going downhill without the fear of losing balance and rolling your way down to the bottom.
