How to Use Trekking Poles to Save Your Knees & Hike Faster

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Trekking poles (hiking poles) can be a complete game changer for anyone wanting to hike faster, save your knees, and be more aware while hiking!
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[@ChaseChristopher1]

What other tips do you have?

[@CaliVapor]

Sometimes they double as a tent pole

[@lorid2092]

It took me like 3 hikes to realize my poles have a sort of shock absorber in them😄 I like that feature. And they weren't super expensive ones, just got them on Amazon to try out poles in general.

[@GLOBETROTTER.Co.]

My tip us to never use them. They are the worst thing possible for walking, trekking, climbing or descending. They prevent the building of important muscles for maintaining balance and strength. They also weaken the natural connection between brain, eye and coordination when negotiating a variety of difficult terrains in all weather conditions.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

@@GLOBETROTTER.Co. interesting perspective. Do you wear shoes?

[@matthewleither7275]

Don't walk to close behind someone.... My wife gives me an angry look when I inevitably clip her heel because I'm watching the scenery and not where I'm walking.

[@lorid2092]

I hated my poles on my first hike with them this summer, but made good friends with them over the summer. Many happy summits!!

[@richardburguillos3118]

One tip I have for when I see people trying to use them on flat or a slight incline is to stop picking the poles up and placing them in front of you over and over again. A waist of effort. Watch a video with of a cross country skier and use the same motions they do. Keep the poll tips behind you, pick up your hand, move it forward, plant the tip behind you and push. This even helps speed you up on the flat locations when trying to catch up to someone.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

Great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@richardburguillos3118]

@@ChaseChristopher1 works all the time for me trying to keep up with my wife. Also. Your right on saving knees on the downhill portions. Thanks again for a great video.

[@thomasmusso1147]

Age 74 and since coming to Switzerland, have been Nordic Walking the past 12 years. The best for me (and my Swiss walking colleagues, judging by their style) is to place the pole tip somewhere between my front and and rear feet and 'push' backwards. 'Somewhere' .. practice will enable you to find the best placement and you will end up doing it without having to look. Pole length adjustment is also very important .. a 90° upper / forearm angle a good starting point. For me, slightly over 90° and a 110cm pole length (I'm 1.68m tall) works best. Also .. STRAPS! Use them! Properly used, the upper hands and wrists do all of the 'gripping' and carry the load and NOT the fingers. Poles between relaxed thumb and forefinger with the other three fingers acting as guides and NOT gripping at all. Try it ..

[@patrickcoyne1292]

cross country ski poles are also like 18 inches longer, so they sort of have to keep them behind them.

[@richardburguillos3118]

@@thomasmusso1147 very well said. I also use the straps vs gripping tight with fingers. Different techniques based on uphill or downhill.

[@lynnef3297]

Thanks. I found this very helpful. Seems when I've wanted to use mine I never had them with me, now I just carry them in my van. I have used them to help with a tarp over my daughter's tent during a rainy night.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

Yes, so many other ways to use them! Shelter, splint, weapon….

[@lilliandurham7713]

Chase: you’re the best. Just in time.! I was discussing hiking hacks with a friend who’s daughter is going hiking in Tennessee, and she’s so concerned (as mothers are), so your on-target tips were fantastic. Plus, your replies to Commenters were also helpful like using poles for tenting, weapons, splints, etc. Your JetBoil & camping equipment vlogs were absolutely perfect; I bought one of the products you reviewed. Thanks.

[@lilliandurham7713]

Also, speaking of your very helpful outdoor tips, I based my Subaru no-build backdoor kitchen set-up based on your kitchen design. Thanks.

[@CinkSVideo]

Also, a great little tap tap before stepping over a log or rock that might have a snake hiding behind it. They are such a knee saver! I wish I had started using them years ago.

[@lorid2092]

Thank you for the tip on the straps!!!

[@ChaseChristopher1]

Absolutely🤙

[@craigdale9920]

Gorgeous filming location! [Where was it?] I always used to get a good laugh at the noobs and their trekking poles, but then I tried them out. Dang, what an improvement in hiking! Better balance, smoother stride, easier creek crossings, a nice help on technical downhills, and way more gentle on us older folks' knees and backs. I highly recommend poles now!

[@ChaseChristopher1]

This was in the Sawtooth Mountains. Same here, I was skeptical until I gave them a try and realized the impact they have. Now I rarely go without them!

[@edthacow]

Great video. Straight to the point without lots of what ifs.

[@ebchacon]

Greetings from Atlanta, GA. I used your advice during my Rim-to-Rim at the Grand Canyon on 10/5/23. It was my first time using trekking poles, and your advice was on point. Thank you again,

[@banana_bread_at_work]

Excellent tips for this newbie 👌

[@rusty8719]

This video is very helpful, thank you.

[@tillytogs]

I'm 68 female osteoarthritis both knees. My physio said walking poles would be easier on my knees for hikes. I find them not so easy to use somehow. Perhaps it takes time. Thanks for all the tips much appreciated from Ireland 😊

[@joeponder9668]

If’n you ever down in south Florida/space coast area, got have a place to stay with us. We have a Rv spot on the side of the house, power, water, sewer and or spare bedroom. 2 boats in the water and beautiful dock and outside kitchen “in progress” you would be more than welcome to.

[@CaliVapor]

Nice, thanks for the pointers.

[@maineman0866]

As we learned on a recent trip to the UK, airport security is getting tough on bringing poles through as carry-on items. Best to pack them in checked luggage. Had I not explained to a supervisor that I had a recent knee injury and needed the poles to walk, they likely would have been confiscated. I was warned never to bring them again.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

Thanks for the intel!

[@ReasonableHuman1]

So true

[@PilarGalaxy-zh7me]

Is there a way to fall with trekking poles so you do not damage your wrists.

[@dalbecsail]

What is your recommendation for telemark and ski touring poles?

[@ChaseChristopher1]

I love the BD Apline Carbon Cork for ski touring. The “WP” version (whippet ready) is great if you want to have a hybrid pole/ice axe for ski touring in aggressive terrain.

[@janetd5317]

Would have liked to see you actually walking with them..

[@sadiechristopher12]

should be captioned "hike faster to ensure a healthy marriage" ;)

[@FrankOldfield]

❤

[@proverbalizer]

Skiers shouldm NOT ski with their pole straps the first way either. You can f your thunb up easily. "Skier's thumb"

[@ChaseChristopher1]

Ok!

[@walkerhjk]

I have hiked many thousands of kilometres (or miles, take your pick) and have never used or ever felt any need to use 'hiking poles'. I have only ever used an ice axe. And I am annoyed and affronted when the American spellcheck tries to 'correct' my spelling of English words.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

@@walkerhjk thanks for sharing

[@dsmith9572]

You're using small muscle & bone to reduce load on large muscle & bone. Good luck with that.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

@@dsmith9572 thanks! I hope you don’t use your calves when you have quads standing by.

[@larsthorwald3338]

I find I get the most benefit from trekking poles by leaving them at home.

[@ChaseChristopher1]

2/10, hardly creative.

[@harryhthenorwegian476]

You don't breathe when you talk. I'm getting tired of listening to you…

[@co7314]

Tip for trekking poles: put your hand in the strap from the bottom. That way, even if you let go you won't drop them.