The Pros and Cons of Walking Poles

by Sarah Rowell

Walking sticks. They’re preserve of those who are getting on in age or a little doddery on their feet, aren’t they?

If that’s still your view, then what follows may come as a bit of a surprise. In all sorts of running races in Europe, a significant number, if not the majority, of competitive runners make use of modern lightweight walking poles to increase their performance.

Walking poles for casual use

You personally may not be trying to complete 100+ miles as fast as possible and in one go, but everyone who takes in trail walking, especially hilly trail walking, can benefit from using trekking poles.

Like many runners, I admit to once being a total pole snob — until I finally tried them, and in the space of a 2-hour walk with friends, I was converted. Why?

The pros of walking poles

Going up. Poles help the transfer of power from the upper body through the arms to make walking uphill easier — think crosscountry skier. This works for slopes of all gradients, although to get the most from your poles, you may want to adjust the length so they are shorter for steeper hills.

Going down. Using the poles both for balance and to take some of the impact can help reduce the muscle soreness often linked to walking downhill.

Better balance. Especially over rocky, loose terrain or when crossing rivers, poles can add a balance point, giving much greater stability.

Shock absorption. Studies quoted by trekking pole manufacturers suggest that there can be up to 7kg less pressure per step when using walking poles. In some cases they claim to take 25% of body weight through the pole, thus reducing the load through the hips and knees.

The cons of using walking poles

If those are the pros, what about any cons? The one most likely to upset your walking group (other than the click, click, click as you walk along) is catching or stabbing other walkers, not only when walking but also when taking poles in and out of a rucksack if you are not using them all the time. This is a real risk, especially if you are in a big, close-knit party.

The other obvious downside is that they take up your hands. If you have poles in both or even one hand, it makes it harder to use a map and compass, to eat and drink without stopping, or to clamber over stiles and similar.

Choosing your first pair of poles

If you do decide to try walking with poles, the range of options is considerable, with top-end versions costing upwards of £120. For this you will get ultra-lightweight, collapsible carbon poles, or you can knock the third figure off and pay under £20 for a heavier yet still adjustable pair. You can find examples here at Cotswold Outdoor.

Whichever you choose, keep these aspects in mind.

• Weight. It is possible to get lightweight poles made from carbon fibre or aluminium at under 250g per pair. The downside is their strength: heavier or more powerful walkers may find these poles have a tendency to bend or even break

• Collapsibility. Many people prefer poles that can be collapsed and stored in a rucksack. You can choose between telescopic poles that are fully adjustable or others that fold like a tent pole. The latter might not be adjustable for height, but they are usually quicker and easier to extend and retract.

• Length. To get maximum advantage from using your poles, it is important their grips sit at the right height for your body.

• Grip. The grip and strap setup on a trekking pole is where a lot of the power is transferred from the upper body, especially going uphill. Grips vary in width and length, so finding the most comfortable option is important. Some specific trail walking/running poles (‘Nordic’) have a special loop that can be helpful.

• Basket. Like a ski pole, trekking poles should have a small basket at the bottom to stop the pole sinking into the mud/wet ground/snow. While the basket may seem a bit erroneous on firm ground, trying to use poles on wet ground without one involves continually having to pull the pole out of the ground behind you.

If you're going to give poles a go, one quick word of warning: the first few times you use your poles, be prepared to feel sore around the shoulder and upper arm muscles the next day. This is just the body getting used to a new movement. Consider it a nice change from sore legs or feet!