Realistically, a single hiking pole is better than no pole at all. That said, there’s no beating the benefits you can get from a set of hiking poles<\/strong>. If you’re unfamiliar with hiking poles in general, this is the right place to learn what benefits either a single hiking pole or a set of hiking poles can provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue on<\/strong> and learn what hiking poles can add to your hikes and how to use them in the most efficient way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiking with two trekking poles will give you the most joint support, balance, and will exercise your body more symmetrically than just one hiking pole.<\/strong> If you have a choice–choose two. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you dislike having both hands tied up, you can always lend it to a hiker in your g roup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to hiking, there’s no hard and fast rule about whether or not you even need hiking sticks<\/strong>, or whether you might need one or two. There are hikers who swear by using two hiking poles (like me) and those who find any number of hiking poles to be annoying (like my dad). When it comes down to it, the right answer will be whatever works best for you personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one of your hiking poles has broken or if you want to use a single walking stick so you have a hand free, you can absolutely have a successful hike with just a single stick<\/strong>. Doing so will help a bit with balance and stability. A single stick can also be useful if you’re someone who has some trouble with just one leg. Maybe you need some extra stability on one side but not the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, you can get even more benefits from using a set of poles rather than just one. To begin with, using hiking poles uses the muscles in your upper body, including your shoulders and triceps<\/strong>. If you opt for a single stick, then you’ll only be working those muscles on one side. You can just choose to be vigilant about switching sides regularly, but it’s generally easier to just use two sticks, to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is especially true because a set of sticks will add even more to your overall balance<\/strong>. Imagine being able to walk on four limbs rather than two or three. In addition, they can help to even out the weight of a backpack so that it’s easier for your body to handle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, to sum up, yes, you can hike with only one pole and you’ll get some benefit. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s story time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was hiking on the Milford Track in New Zealand (I feel very fortunate I got to go. I had to book it almost a year in advance!) when one of the ladies on the hike was complaining of really strong knee pain as we were descending down a mountain pass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This woman was otherwise healthy and fit, and didn’t have serious issues on the ~33-mile hike except the steep downhill was causing her a lot of pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I lent her my hiking poles, and she felt immediate <\/strong>relief and was able to get down the pass. I was grateful that I didn’t have the same problem as her, although I did miss the poles after I lent them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hiking poles aren’t just convenient, they can be crucial for some people in some situations<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All that said, many hikers opt to go without poles. They aren’t necessary to hike, but they can be a huge help when it comes to supporting your joints<\/strong>. Not only do they help to keep you balanced when the trail is rough, but they also ensure that your upper body is doing some of the work<\/strong> as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because your arms are helping, that means your legs are getting a bit of a break. You’re spreading out the load along more of your body which can help you hike farther (with less pain).<\/p>\n\n\n\n To summarize, here are some more benefits you can get while using hiking poles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s a lot that hiking poles can do to make hiking easier on your body. However, not even the best hiking poles can protect you from blisters<\/strong>. You’re going to need a few more tools and strategies to make sure your feet stay comfortable for the whole hike. For more information on avoiding those nasty hiking heel blisters, take a look at our article on the topic here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re going to try out using a set of hiking poles, it’s important to know how to get the most out of them<\/strong>. Using the poles correctly will give you the greatest benefits with the least amount of effort. Luckily, hiking poles are quite easy to use once you’ve learned how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you purchase a set of poles or head out onto the trail with poles you may already have, check out the following steps<\/strong> to make sure your hiking poles are working for you as best they can!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you can get started using your hiking poles, you may need to purchase them. If you don’t already have a set, there are some different variables and features worth taking a look at before you settle on which poles you want to buy. Naturally, you’ll first have to decide whether you’d have one pole or two. For the sake of this article, I’m going to assume you’re opting for a pair rather than a single pole<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some hiking poles come in just a single length, while others can be adjusted as needed. The latter tends to be better for hikers who like to travel more varied terrain because they can adjust to uphill or downhill travel<\/strong>, or just to fit you more comfortably. The one downside to adjustable hiking poles is that the mechanisms can break and so they collapse when you don’t want them to–it’s kind of a pain to adjust your hiking poles during the last part of your hike when you’re tired and grumpy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You want your hiking poles to be at the height (if they are not adjustable) to where your elbow is at a 90-degree angle (no narrower than that).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your situation, there are also some nice bonus features you can opt for. If you need a little extra stability, you can choose hiking poles that offer an added ability to absorb shock<\/strong>. Additionally, those who like to keep things light can opt for foldable poles<\/strong>. Finally, some hiking poles even offer a place to mount your camera<\/strong> so that you can catch any wildlife that might be around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"me-standing-with-coat-and-beanie-on-carrying-two-hiking-poles-while-i-am-shrugging\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/standing-like-a-doofensmhirtz-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/picture><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIs It Better To Hike With One Pole Or Two?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do Hiking Poles Even Help?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"me-standing-in-canyon-on-milford-track-smiling\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Me-standing-on-Milford-Track-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/picture>How To Use Hiking Poles Efficiently<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choosing Your Hiking Poles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"how-to-hold-hiking-poles-with-90-degree-angle-and-wrist-neutral-through-supportive-rope\"](\"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Hiking-Pole-angles-1024x768.jpg\")
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