I always use hiking poles when hiking these days.

Hiking poles or trekking poles as they are sometimes called, are an essential piece of my hiking gear.  They are great to use when you go hiking and here are 5 reasons you should start using them too.

I have been hiking for the past 20+ years of my life and have learned a few things during that time. Unfortunately, during that time I have also had 7 (yes that’s right, 7) knee surgeries.  Thus, my knees and overall body aren’t as strong as they were when I was younger.  Despite that I still go hiking as often as I can, but now I use hiking poles.  I find they help me enjoy the hiking more by worrying less about my knees.

The poles help with balance when crossing tricky obstacles or water.

When Should You Use Hiking Poles

Personally, when I was young (teens and twenties) I never used hiking poles.  I was cocky and felt I didn’t need them.

Now, as a 40 year old with kids and bad knees I always use hiking poles when I go hiking.

The main times to use hiking or trekking poles are:

• When you are on a wet, muddy, or slippery trail.
• When you are carrying extra weight, such as a heavy backpack or kid.
• All the time if you have bad knees.  I have had 7 knee surgeries and now use hiking poles whenever I go hiking and I love them.

5 Reasons You Should Use Hiking Poles

Extra Stability – They take some of the weight off of your knees when you are walking, especially when you are going downhill or if you are carrying a heavy load.  They give you extra stability by providing you with two extra legs.   Instead of walking with only two legs, you now have four legs and are more stable like a mountain goat.

Make It Easier To Keep Your Balance – Those extra ‘legs’ or points of contact with the ground are a huge help with keeping your balance.  If you are walking and lose your balance you can just lean on that trekking pole and you will be fine.

Help Prevent Falling & Slipping – This goes along with the previous two reasons.  By giving you more stability and better balance they will help prevent you from falling and slipping.

I find that this is most handy when the trail is wet, muddy, and slippery or when crossing a creek.  Those poles give you something to lean on and a point of contact when negotiating mud or water.  Many times we have passed my hiking poles to other people to make it easier to cross those sections of trail.

I love using trekking poles when I am carrying a heavy backpack to save my knees.

Reduce The Impact On Your Legs, Knees, and Feet – The poles are a huge help and distribute the weight from your two legs to two additional points of contact.  This means that every step you take there is a little bit pressure on your legs, knees, and feet.  Over hours or days of hiking that can add up and make a big, big difference and help your knees feel better.

Learn About Trail Conditions & Obstacles – Another extra perk of having the poles is that you can use them to learn about the trail.  If you come across water on the trail you can poke it with the pole to see how deep it is.  Or you can poke around in snow to see how solid or mushy it is.

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