What to look for when buying a trekking pole

Examining your trekking pole before purchasing it will ensure your comfort
and the tool's usefulness when on the trail. 

Purchasing a trekking pole isn’t as simple as grabbing the one that’s your favorite color. To maximize comfort and the pole’s usefulness on the trail you’ll want to look at each of its major parts and determine if they best meet your needs.

Shaft
Start by examining the shaft. It should be sturdy enough that it doesn’t bend when pressed to the ground; if it does yield, it won’t be able to handle rugged terrain. Always purchase a telescopic pole as well. This will allow you to adjust the pole so it best matches your height and walking stance. In addition, if you hike up or down inclines, you’ll want to be able to adjust your pole.

Shock absorber
The shaft should contain a shock absorber. This reduces the amount of shock your wrist and elbow must absorb each time the trekking pole strikes the ground. If you will do a lot of up and down hill hiking, look for a shock absorber in which you can lock out (or “turn off”) the anti-shock system. That’s because a shock absorber actually works against when you go uphill, as it reduces your power each time the pole is planted. You’ll want to use a shock absorber when going downhill, though, as your pole will hit the ground with more impact, so reducing the force your wrist, arm and shoulder must absorb is vital.

Hand grip
Next, look at the hand grip. Opt for hard rubber or cork. These are soft grips that are shaped to fit your hand and will absorb sweat. Eschew plastic grips, which are hard and remain wet, which can cause your hands to blister. Foam, while soft, lacks durability, and also should be avoided. Test various trekking pole grips to see which best fit your hand. An angled cork handle tends to be ergonomic and is a good bet.

Hand strap
A strap on the handle to wrap around your hand is useful so the trekking pole doesn’t slip out. Make sure you can fit your hand through it and that the fabric doesn’t dig into skin. The fabric shouldn’t be frayed, as it will only further tear with use and become worthless.

Tip
Carbide tips provide the best traction, as rubber tips tend to slip on rocks and wet surfaces. Rubber tips, in contrast, tend not to create drag as they don’t penetrate the ground. There are other good reasons to go with the rubber tip, depending on your personal tastes. A carbide tip’s poked holes into the ground, in some situations, can have environmentally negative consequences; they also can scratch rock, which goes against the leave no trace ethic. Perhaps more noticeably, carbide tips tend to sound like fingernails on a blackboard whenever crossing rock. They also can cut and scratch seats and other objects in vehicles when traveling.

Basket
See if you are able to take the basket on and off. If walking on wet surfaces or through snow, a basket is a good idea so the trekking pole doesn’t sink into mud or sand. On dry ground, a basket tends to wedge itself between rocks and tangle up in brush; when crossing fast water, it makes the trekking pole difficult to use.

Add-ons
Finally, examine if there are any add-ons, such as a camera mount or a compass at the top of the hand grip. Generally, they’re unnecessary and not worth the additional cost they carry. A tripod is much better for a camera mount than a monopod, and you’ll want a compass that can be placed over a map to help you best navigate.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Seven parts of a modern trekking pole

Along with a good pair of hiking shoes, trekking poles are essential
for a day hike.

Though a trekking pole looks like a simple stick – and it can be that basic – most modern, manufactured models actually consist of several parts. Knowing a little about each of those parts can help you make the best decision when purchasing and later using a trekking pole for your hike.

At its simplest, a trekking pole is its main part – a shaft. This is the long, stick-like portion of the pole that makes up its bulk. Most shafts on metal poles are adjustable, coming in telescoping sections. A locking mechanism can be turned so each section can be adjusted to just the right length. The advantage of an adjustable shaft is that you’ll be able to pack it up for ease. Most hikers, however, like to leave their trekking pole at the perfect height that they’ve found after some trial and error.

A subsection of the shaft is a shock absorber. This is a spring located in the hollow shaft. It offers the benefit of absorbing some of the shock that occurs when the pole strikes the ground. If you don’t have a shock absorber, then your elbow and wrist will absorb the impact.

Atop the shaft is a hand grip, which sometimes is referred to as a handle. A grip typically is made of rubber, cork, plastic or foam. Your fingers and the palm of your hand wrap around the grip when walking. At the top of the hand grip is a hand strap, sometimes referred to as a wrist strap. It usually is made of nylon webbing. The strap ensures you don’t have to hold the hand grip too tightly.

Some hand grips will unscrew. A camera then can be attached to the quarter-inch screw sticking out of the shaft, creating a monopod. This screw is known as a camera mount.

At the bottom of the shaft are a couple of parts. One is the tip, which like the tread of your boot is the part of the pole that contacts the ground. Usually tips are made of either rubber or carbide. Just above the tip is a ring known as a basket. It allows the trekking pole to “float” or not sink in snow and on muddy ground.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Use single or pair of trekking poles?

Are two poles better than one when hiking? It depends.

Should you use one or two trekking poles on a hike? The answer depends on where you’re hiking and individual preference.

Single pole
Used like a walking staff, a single pole is all that's really needed for a fairly flat surface and a day hike (when you have a light load on your back) to provide you with increased stability and to lessen the impact on your knees. You will want to switch off which hand holds the pole during the hike, however.
Pros
• Ensures you have a free hand
• Some poles with camera mounts and so can double as a monopod
• A lone pole is less expensive than a pair
Cons
• If you encounter rough terrain or a grade, not as beneficial as a pair
• If it breaks on the trail, you're stuck without the benefit of having any trekking pole

Pair of poles
Like ski poles, they are used in tandem. If backpacking (in which you’ll have a heavy load), traveling long distances, or on a rough surface or trail with significant grade, a pair is a far better option than a lone pole.
Pros
• Provides more stability than a lone pole
• Reduces impact on knees (by up to 30 percent with each step) – as well as on ankles, back, hips, shoulders and neck – far more than a single pole ever could
• Descents are safer with two poles rather than one, which creates torque in your spine
Cons
• No free hand
• Cost more than a single pole

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to select best trekking pole for kid hike

Also known as walking sticks, hiking sticks or walking poles, trekking poles are necessary for maintaining stability on uneven or wet surfaces and to help reduce fatigue. The latter makes them useful on even surfaces. By transferring weight to the arms, a trekking pole can reduce stress on knees and lower back, allowing you to maintain a better posture and to go farther.

As an adult with a baby or toddler on your back, you’ll primarily want a trekking pole to help you maintain your balance, even if on a flat surface, and to help absorb some of the impact of your step.

Graphite tips provide the best traction. A basket just above the tip is a good idea so the stick doesn’t sink into mud or sand. Angled cork handles are ergonomic and help absorb sweat from your hands so they don’t blister. A strap on the handle to wrap around your hand is useful so the stick doesn’t slip out. Telescopic poles are a good idea as you can adjust them as needed based on the terrain you’re hiking and as kids grow to accommodate their height.

The pole also needs to be sturdy enough to handle rugged terrain, as you don’t want one that bends when you press it to the ground. Spring-loaded shock absorbers help when heading down a steep incline but aren’t necessary. Indeed, for a short walk across flat terrain, the right length stick is about all you need.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Hikes' trek pole instructions noted on site

Hikes with Tykes received mention at the blog Hiking and the Art of Making Walking Sticks. The entry "How to Make Walking Sticks Your Grandkids Will Love". It examines "what might make a walking stick 'hip' for the under-eight crowd" Hikes with Tykes includes an entry about how kids can make their own walking sticks. The blog is run by Margaret Mills, a self-described "writer, mom and grandmum, native of the Pacific Northwest." Thanks for the shout out!

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Make your own gear for kids: Trekking pole

Children also can make their own hiking gear. Trekking poles and a utility belt to hold a water bottle and snacks don’t have to be purchased but can be constructed using materials you probably have in the yard or garage. Instructions for a number of these crafts can be found online.

Here’s one for a trekking pole:
g Materials – Stick, knife for carving wood, sandpaper, wood finish
g Instructions – (1) Walk with your children into your yard, if you have a lot of trees, or to a nearby woods. Each child than can pick a stick that their hand can fit nicely around and that comes up to their hips. (2) At home, carve off bark and sand it. (3) Stain it with a brown or reddish-brown finish. They now have a hiking stick. Most children can’t wait to use it.

Learn about more than a hundred other hiking diversions for kids in Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities.

Things to do with kids before hittin' the trail

When arriving where you plan to day hike with children, you'll want to take some basic steps to ensure everyone has the best hiking experience possible. Though everyone is eager to hit the trailhead, taking a few minutes for these simple, preparatory steps will prevent lots of headaches on the trail and hours of suffering afterward.

Begin by making sure each child is properly dressed. You did this at home, of course, but during the drive kids have a way of removing shoes and shocks and layers of clothing or of leaving their hats and sunglasses in the vehicle.

Next, apply sunscreen, lip balm and insect repellent to each child. Older elementary school kids probably can do their own (and teenagers certainly can), but you’ll need to at least talk younger kids through the steps and make sure they’ve been thorough. You can put on your sunscreen, lip balm and repellent with the kids. The order that you put on these items doesn’t matter.

Next, distribute the kids their gear, from daypacks to trekking poles. Make sure they put on the gear properly. If you don’t, you’ll either have to stop along the way and do it or you’ll have kids with sore backs, shoulders, necks, wrists or more.