Basic Hiking Tips & Techniques : How to Use Hiking Poles

Learn how to use hiking poles and trekking poles in this free hiking video

Expert: Karl Jensen
Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge about hiking.
Filmmaker: Christian Munoz-Donoso

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• hiking
• backpacking
• wilderness
• outdoor
• techniques
• tips

[biladan]

This walking technique is contradicting with the rest of the videos available around... According to the other videos, you should use your opposite pole when you step... right step with left pole, and left step with right pole..I am confused, any comment on this please??

[MrRocque]

The poles should be adjusted for up/down hill, longer for down, shorter for up. AND FFS use the straps. Poles won't do you any good after they drive into your gut after slipping out of your hand or if they fall off the side of the mountain. Hand UP through loop, lay your hand on top of the strap at your hand's webbing and grab the grip. The arms will be supported by the straps for down hill and better leverage for up hill. Where do they find these 'experts'?

[DennyRec]

Thanks for the video. I know when I got my trekking poles I was happy. What a difference they made. Knowing how to use the too is a big help. Thank a lot.

[brown55061]

@OperationThor

I went to the smokies and hiked LeConte (~11 miles round trip). Needless to say on the way back down I made a walking stick out of a dried up stick I found. It really helped on the way down, saved the knees!!

[OperationThor]

@brown55061 Depends on the hike. One day up a mounting probably not nessecary. One 14 hour hike up and down 7 mountains. 6-day hikes with a lot of gear etc etc. It's like performance anything. If you do it often enough and do challenging things you will notice the difference between quality equipment, useful equipment etc. weather clothing, shoes, skates, bikes, ammunition, poles.

[brown55061]

Do people really use poles? I'm fairly young and good shape still so I've never tried to use poles. I just don't feel that I need them, unless dealing with snow. Even for mountain hikes my legs alone do just fine. Guess it's preference.

[ChelseaBobcat]

well, at least he looks the part...

[MrRocque]

The pole height IS NOT a personal preference, the arm should be bent 90 degrees with the pole vertical in front of you (flat ground), walking 'bear' style is harder on your body, you're REALLY gonna screw up your hips/knees with all that weight on one side. Opposite pole to foot forward (ie, L pole/R foot, R pole/L foot) and if you're worried about tearing up the ground, put on the 'trail foot' that came with them (or available as an option). The carbide tip is for slippery conditions like ice.

[winnipegdiver]

I'm no expert but I play one on YouTube so do as I say and you will be ok

[Hordesthugz13]

Umm if I put the pole on a rock it can slip ill rather put it something it will stab into....

[finishstrongdoc]

Use the wrist straps;they're not there as fashion statement. Like ski poles,hand goes in bottom of loops,grab pole,hike. Angled grips give mechanical advantage;uber hiker Chris Townsend likes his poles angled. Also height of poles: look at horse or mule and think of poles as two more legs:this suggests height of poles should be hip socket height . Be the mule! Just sayin'. Still "hike yer own hike".