5 reasons to carry hiking poles (and 4 reasons not to)

I don’t always carry hiking poles (or trekking poles, if you prefer — po-tay-toe, po-tah-toe). But they are arguably the most popular hiking accessory, and there are some very good reasons to tote them along. Let’s get right into those reasons, and then we’ll look at why you might choose not to carry hiking poles.

1. They’re good for poking things

Sometimes you just need to poke something with a stick, and hiking poles are great for that. This is my number one reason for choosing to carry trekking poles, and I’m totally mystified as to why more people don’t mention it.

Not sure if that water is deep enough to wade across? Poke it with a stick. Afraid of losing a boot in that mud in front of you? Poke the mud to see how deep it is. Wondering how deep that snow will be when you step off the packed-down trail? Poke it with a stick. You get the idea.

But wait, there’s more. If you’re crawling through thick brush or dealing with thorny or spiny plants like devil’s club, you can use your hiking poles to help move those stab-inducing hazards aside.

2. For extra support and stability

This is the number one reason most other people cite for carrying trekking poles: They’re really handy for giving you extra support and stability, especially if you’re carrying a heavy backpacking pack and feel like it’s throwing you off-balance. (Heads up: That could also be a sign that your gear isn’t stowed correctly.)

You don’t have to be overnighting to appreciate the extra stability hiking poles can lend, and they can come in especially handy when hiking downhill. Just pay attention to how well your pole tips grip the ground. If you’re depending on your poles to hold you up and they slip out from under you, you could end up in serious trouble.

3. For a power boost when hiking uphill

This is another super-popular reason for deciding to carry hiking poles: When you’re hiking up a steep hill, you can push against the poles for an extra power boost. Think of it as adding a few horsepower to your legs.

4. For a little extra cardio

If you’re a fan of Nordic walking, you’ll know where I’m going with this. Carrying trekking poles — and using them vigorously as you hike — can elevate your heart rate and turn an everyday trek into a more intense cardio workout.

5. As a practical tool (shelter, splint, etc.)

Any time a piece of gear can fulfill more than one purpose, it’s a win because you simultaneously increase your options while decreasing the amount of stuff you carry. Some shelters, especially tarps and some vestibules, are designed to be pitched with hiking poles instead of single-purpose tent or tarp pulls.

You might also carry hiking poles because they can be used as part of a makeshift splint. Or, use them for my very favorite double-duty: Wrap some duct tape around the poles so you always have it handy in a pinch (assuming you take the poles along, of course). You’ll have to put the tape between the poles’ handle and their first collapsing/bending joint, otherwise it’ll interfere with your ability to collapse the poles.

Reasons not to carry hiking poles

Right: Now we’re on to the perfectly valid reasons why someone might choose not to carry hiking poles. The first reason is so obvious that I’d hope it goes without saying: If none of the reasons given above sound like a good enough reason to carry hiking poles, don’t do it. But there are a few more compelling arguments to be had:

1. You prefer to have your hands free

This is the biggest reason I often choose not to carry hiking poles. I know a number of people who feel using poles gives them extra stability when boulder scrambling on trails like Reed Lakes (where the boulders are often the size of a car) or Eagle and Symphony Lakes (where the boulders are usually a bit smaller). But in situations like that, I feel more comfortable and secure with my hands free. Your mileage may vary.

2. They get in the way

If you’re hiking in brushy areas, yes, those trekking poles can come in handy for moving brush out of your way. But anything sticking to the outside of your pack or protruding out past the pack’s edges — including hiking poles — has the potential to get caught when you walk or crawl through hemmed-in areas.

If you always keep your hiking poles in your hands (as opposed to carrying them on your pack), that may be less of a consideration. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether having the poles along is worth any potential bother they may cause.

3. They’re extra weight

Sure, a pair of trekking poles doesn’t weigh much — usually a couple of pounds at most. But if you wouldn’t willing throw a one-, two-, or three-pound dumbbell into your pack on your next hike, you understand why some people might opt out of carrying the extra weight of trekking poles.

4. Budgeting is a priority

Strictly speaking, hiking poles usually aren’t necessary. Yes, they can come in handy — but in most circumstances you can get by just fine without them. They also get surprisingly pricey, especially when you start adding in features like shock absorbers, extra collapsibility, screwing together into an avalanche probe, and so on.

So if you’re on a budget, I would recommend prioritizing things like good hiking shoes or boots, a good backpack, appropriate clothing layers for your local climate, etc, over a pair of hiking poles. But there are some budget-friendly options you can consider.

Budget alternatives to hiking poles

• Pick up a pair of old ski poles at a thrifty shop (or if you already have ski poles of an appropriate length, use those).
• Pick up a stick. In Alaska, the sort of stick you see laying around won’t be long or sturdy enough to support your weight — but they can still be good for poking things.
• Costco sells surprisingly good carbon fiber trekking poles. They’re a seasonal item that only appears in the summer, and as of this writing they’re priced at $80 online, which isn’t a remarkable price at all. But if you live close to an actual Costco warehouse, I still see them selling there for around $30 a pair. That’s more like it!

A quick note on those Costco trekking poles: People who really use the heck out of their hiking poles have told me that the ones Costco sells don’t hold up to the abuse very well. I haven’t experienced that myself, but I’m pretty easy on my poles.

What I have noticed is that if you wedge one end of the pole in a crevice and then torque on it at all, it’ll crawl and splinter along its length. That’s the nature of carbon fiber.