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Hiking poles are a useful tool for hikers and backpackers. With their sharp metal tips, they dig into uneven ground to give you more stability on the trail. They also help to bear the weight burden of packing around a large backpack. In recent years, hiking poles have also been popular in cities and on flat trails. You can buy rubber tips to cover the sharp spikes at the bottom, and this will allow you to use them on concrete or asphalt. Properly using hiking poles provides a health benefit, because the poles impart an upper body workout and take pressure off the knees and the back. Many brands also include shock absorbers and padded handles. Improperly adjusted poles can have an adverse effect, by causing muscle pain or soreness. This article will tell you how to properly adjust hiking poles.



  1. 1
    Place your hiking poles on a flat surface like a counter, so that you can easily read the measurements on the bottom half of the poles.
    • Clean the poles, if they are dirty, so that they will continue to move smoothly as you adjust them.
  2. 2
    Examine the way your poles can be adjusted. There are 2 main options. The first, and perhaps most common option, is to twist the telescoping poles in 2 places. You would twist 1 way to loosen and move and the opposite way to tighten the poles into place. The second option is a small lever that you flick open with your thumb, move the pole and flick it closed when you have adjusted them.
    • Most hiking poles twist to the left to unlock, and to the right to lock. There should be arrows on 1 of the sections that show you which way to twist.
  3. 3
    Unlock the top and bottom sections of the right pole by either twisting or opening the lever. Repeat with the left pole.
    • Although the poles look alike, most poles have a right and left hand pole where the grip is slightly different to adjust to your hands' shape and be more comfortable.
  4. 4
    Move the lower section of both the right and left poles to be right under the maximum length.
  5. 5
    Take the right hand pole off the table or counter, wrap the hand strap around your hand and hold the pole so that your arm is at a 90 degree angle from your body. Relax your shoulders. This is a comfortable and correct position for pole use.
  6. 6
    Twist to tighten the top section of the right pole or flip the lever closed.
  7. 7
    Check the measurement of the upper section of the pole and adjust your left pole to be the same measurement.
  8. 8
    Hold them next to each other to ensure they are the same height.
  9. 9
    Place your hands through the wrist straps downward so that the strap is at the base of your hand supporting your wrist. Adjust the wrist straps according to the manufacturer's directions, either by pulling the strap tighter or pulling up to loosen the strap. Your wrist is supported by the strap but can still apply pressure to the pole.
  10. 10
    Grab the pole around the sides, rather than on top. Walk with your newly adjusted hiking poles.
  11. 11
    Adjust the upper portion of your hiking poles when hiking on hills. Shorten them by a few inches when going uphill. Lengthen them a few inches when going downhill. Aim to keep your arm and elbow at a 90 degree angle when going up or down hills.

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    Categories: Backpacking and Hiking

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