Are Trekking Poles Actually Worth It? (Spoiler: Yes, on Descents)
We were skeptics. After two seasons of testing, we won't hike without them on anything steep.
For years we dismissed trekking poles as something only ultralight thru-hikers needed. We were wrong.
The research is clear: poles reduce knee loading on descents by roughly 25% and burn marginally more calories on flats while improving balance on technical terrain. For anyone over 40, anyone with cranky knees, or anyone planning to hike a lot of vertical, they're the highest-leverage gear purchase you can make after boots.
Our current pick is the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z. Z-fold for fast deploy, carbon for low swing weight, and durable enough to survive two full seasons of abuse including a tumble on Mt. Washington.
If you're new to poles, set them so your elbow is at 90 degrees on flat ground, then shorten them 5cm for climbs and lengthen 5cm for descents. Use the wrist straps properly — palm up, through the loop, then grab the grip — to take load off your hands.