Walking & Hiking Poles

The hiking pole, your constant support during a trek

After putting in so much effort in your daily work, your holiday period is fast approaching. As usual, you have everything planned. For the past three years, you have completed one of the top 10 hikes in France, and this year, you plan to follow the Camino de Santiago. For this, a complete trekking kit is necessary, from the camping tent to the walking & hiking poles. The hiking pole remains an essential element of your hiking gear as it will help you achieve your goal better than anyone else. Saint Augustine wrote in the year 400, "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page." Let us adapt this quote and consider that the journey, a source of intense cultural and social experiences, can only be completed with good walking & hiking poles. To make your life a beautiful adventure story, nothing beats a faithful companion that will support you through tough times: a good hiking pole. During a long hike or trek, using walking & hiking poles helps to reduce the weight borne by your joints, which is essential, especially if you have to carry a bulky trekking backpack. In addition to facilitating your trek, the hiking pole helps distribute your body weight and the loads you need to carry to minimize the risk of injury. Sold and used in tandem, walking poles and hiking poles indeed improve your stability and reduce the pressure on your knees. Some types of hiking poles even have internal springs that absorb shocks, further reducing impact. Adopting a walking pole thus promotes good muscle recovery, very useful when embarking on a long hike or trek. The hiking pole indeed reduces your muscle fatigue and thus facilitates the recovery of your muscles. The walking pole can also have advantages that one might not initially consider. If you are afraid of snakes, for example, and want to do the Tour of Mont Blanc, know that you can use your walking & hiking poles to tap on the ground and create vibrations that snakes can sense. This technique, used by mountaineers for centuries, who would use a wooden hiking pole to vibrate the ground, helps detect snakes hidden under rocks. Furthermore, the hiking pole is also very useful for crossing obstacles more smoothly. Will you, accompanied by your faithful walking & hiking poles, become the next majorette of the beaten paths, the gymnast of the most impenetrable forests?

How to choose the right hiking poles?

The Camino de Santiago is all set for you, but which hiking poles will accompany you? To determine this, you will need to define your own criteria and choose a hiking pole that perfectly matches your practice. Weight is one of these criteria, as hiking with an ultra-light hiking pole is a real advantage, especially when you already have to bear relatively heavy loads. Therefore, there is no need to burden yourself further with a heavy walking & hiking pole. The weight of a hiking pole mainly depends on the materials and technologies used by manufacturers. Some ultra-light hiking poles, which some call the "best walking & hiking poles in the world," are quite fragile and will not withstand a long hike, especially on rocky or difficult terrain. Your hiking pole must be able to absorb shocks! Depending on the distance you will need to cover and the terrain on which you will practice your favourite outdoor sport, be sure to choose a hiking pole that strikes a good balance between robustness and lightness.

The number of sections your hiking pole has also plays a role in choosing your future companion. Hiking poles with multiple sections, at least 2 or 3, can easily be carried on a backpack. This type of hiking pole foldable, which can also be a walking pole telescopic, is particularly popular in the high-end market. If you opt for a telescopic hiking pole, it will have a locking system so you can adjust its length as you wish.

The choice of baskets then adds to your selection criteria. Most hiking pole brands give you the option to change your baskets. There are two main types of hiking pole baskets: winter baskets, which will be perfect if you are heading to the Langtang Trails in winter, and summer baskets, suitable for doing the GR20, for example. While we are discussing the lower part of your walking & hiking poles, it is important to consider two other elements: the tip and the basket of the hiking pole. Regardless of your hike and trek practice, the tip of your hiking pole must grip your terrain and find a good balance between resistance and grip. We also recommend adopting a round-shaped walking & hiking pole tip, which will avoid most noise nuisances and will be more durable over time.

After the bottom, let’s return to the top of your hiking pole: it’s time to consider the strap. The strap of a walking & hiking pole allows you to transfer your weight and avoid friction from the repetitive movements you make during your trek. With a strap, you won’t need to put down your hiking poles every time you want to take a photo or hydrate with your favourite water bottle. You will also relieve your hands and won’t need to spend a fortune on moisturising cream during your trekking practice.

After being aware of all these criteria, one question comes to mind: what material should I ultimately choose for my hiking pole? The material used to make your walking & hiking poles will indeed determine their final weight. Between aluminium hiking poles and carbon hiking poles, it’s up to you to decide! The aluminium hiking pole offers an interesting compromise between strength and lightness, while a carbon hiking pole will be lighter and provide better shock absorption. However, the carbon hiking pole will not last as long because, due to its very light weight, it is less robust than an aluminium hiking pole.

How to use your hiking poles correctly

After reading all these criteria, you have found the model of walking & hiking poles of your dreams. All that’s left is to know how to use it properly! When hiking on flat terrain, you will implement a continuous swinging motion, a constant back-and-forth, similar to Nordic walking, which will allow you to maintain a good pace during your trek with your pair of hiking poles.

When climbing, their use is quite different as you will need to plant your hiking poles in front of you to give you a good push. In this specific case, the straps become very useful!

When you start a descent, you will need to change your method of use again. Your walking & hiking pole will be planted in front to reduce stress on your joints. If you have an adjustable hiking pole, you will have adjusted its size to the slope and kept your hands firmly on the straps.

By following these instructions, you might think you will earn your hiking pole usage diploma during your trek on the Camino de Santiago, and you are right: nothing beats practice in the sporting field.

Between foldable hiking poles and telescopic walking poles, which one will you choose?

On Hardloop.fr, we offer a wide selection of telescopic hiking poles and foldable hiking poles. To help you decide, we suggest comparing the two. Which one will win your favour?

The foldable hiking pole, the quality asset for trekkers

Many poles called "foldable hiking poles" feature a Z-folding technology. This technology allows a fine elastic cord to pass between the sections and hold them together. In the case of a 3-section hiking pole, this system is ideal! Regarding the locking of the sections, the majority of foldable hiking poles are equipped with a locking button that ensures exceptional stability.

The telescopic hiking pole, ideal for optimising your space

The telescopic walking pole, on the other hand, is not connected by a cord but retracts as you wish thanks to its various sections. The size adjustment system for telescopic walking poles comes in two versions, depending on your preferences. There is a screw locking system, very easy, which can sometimes let you down and cause your telescopic pole to shrink if the screw is not properly adjusted, but this is rare with a quality telescopic hiking pole. You will also find telescopic walking poles that use a clip locking system. We recommend this system if you are an experienced trekker as it is more reliable, especially on steep descents.

Finally, if you want to assert your taste for nature and uniqueness, know that there is a type of walking & hiking pole made of wood. Similar to the old walking cane, the hiking pole made of wood is a classic in hiking and trekking and continues to appeal to both young and old.

Find a wide selection of hiking poles on Hardloop.fr!

Whatever the frequency of your practice or its intensity, you will find on Hardloop.fr the pair of hiking poles you need: foldable, telescopic, carbon... Whether you are a fan of fast hiking, medium mountain hikes, or forest walks, you will discover a wide choice of telescopic hiking poles and foldable hiking poles that will provide you with all the necessary support for your hikes in nature. Guidetti, Leki, Lafuma, Black Diamond... The hikers at Hardloop have selected for you the best pairs of walking poles from the biggest brands that will provide you with all the comfort and performance needed during your hikes in nature. Nothing should hinder your performance or your pleasure in exploring the great outdoors!