How to use trekking poles correctly

Many people want to climb mountains, but when climbing mountains, we need to use the crutches used for climbing. Such crutches are also called trekking poles. Many people can't use trekking poles, especially many people who are climbing for the first time. If you can't use trekking poles when climbing, then you can't pass the mountaineering smoothly, because in many places you must use trekking poles as auxiliary tools to help us climb smoothly, so how to use trekking poles correctly?

Adjust the length of your trekking poles. Generally, two sections of a three-section trekking pole can be adjusted. Start by loosening all the trekking poles. Extend the support pole near the bottom to the maximum length limit. There are scales on the trekking pole for reference. Stand on a flat surface holding the trekking pole and adjust its length. Let your arm hang naturally and use your elbow as a fulcrum to raise your forearm until it is 90 degrees with your upper arm. Then adjust the tip of the trekking pole downward until it touches the ground. Alternatively, place the head of the trekking pole 5 to 8 centimeters under your armpit, then adjust the tip of the pole downward until it touches the ground and lock all the poles. Just adjust the other trekking pole that has not been adjusted to the same length as the trekking pole with locked length. When adjusting the trekking pole, you should not exceed the maximum adjustment length displayed on the trekking pole. When purchasing a trekking pole, you can first adjust the length to determine whether you have purchased a trekking pole of appropriate length.

Use of wrist strap. Most people hold the handles of trekking poles tightly when using them, thinking that the wrist strap is only to prevent the pole from leaving their wrists. If you think so, you are wrong. The importance of the wrist strap is no less than the strength of the trekking pole itself. When we use trekking poles to go downhill, the impact force of the trekking poles should be transmitted to our arms through the wrist straps. When going uphill, the thrust of the arm is transmitted to the trekking pole through the wrist strap to generate an assist for going uphill. Therefore, when our wrist passes through the wrist strap, we should not directly reach in from the top of the wrist strap to grab the handle. Instead, we should pick up the wrist strap, pass it from the bottom of the wrist strap, press the strap into our palm, and then gently grab the handle. Use the wrist strap to support the trekking pole instead of holding the handle tightly to apply force. If there is a buckle, make slight adjustments, remembering not to affect the operation of the trekking pole.

Flat land and gentle uphill slopes. Just follow the same rhythm as normal walking, with the right arm bringing the trekking pole forward as the left foot moves forward, but the tip of the pole should not exceed the front of the body, then push back against the ground, alternating between the left and right hands to do the same action.

These methods let us know how to use the trekking pole. When using the trekking pole, we must also remember to decide according to our personal situation, because the length of the trekking pole is different. If you do not pay attention to the length of the trekking pole, you need to adjust it to the position where you can use it. The use of trekking poles must also be paid attention to when purchasing. You must choose trekking poles of better quality to prevent accidents.