The different types of hiking, walking and trail poles
It is sometimes difficult to find one's way around the many models of walking and hiking poles available on the market. To help you better understand the many possibilities, here is a descriptive summary of the different types of poles.
The many advantages of using walking poles are undeniable. However, it is imperative to choose poles that are adapted to your needs in order to improve your performance and practice safely. With so many models and so many prices to choose from, it is not always easy to find the right one. This is why we have decided to prepare a descriptive summary of the different types of hiking, walking and trail poles. This will allow you to better define your needs, in order to identify the poles best suited to your practice.
Nordic walking poles
Nordic walking poles are absolutely essential for this sport. They help the walker to work the upper body, but above all, they offer a major impetus which allows him to tire less, save precious energy and therefore be more enduring. Please note that not all poles are suitable for Nordic walking; there are indeed specific models. Let's see which models to choose and which to avoid for Nordic walking.
In Nordic walking, telescopic or folding poles will not be of any use to you, quite the contrary. They will not have the resistance of fixed length poles and above all, they will not offer you the straight propulsion you are looking for. Choose single-piece poles, which will limit vibrations and protect your joints better. For the same reason, carbon tubes (or at least with a certain percentage of carbon) are recommended. They are also particularly light, which is an important advantage.
Nordic walking poles have their own special feature with regard to wrist straps, a feature that makes them recognisable at first glance. They are usually equipped with gauntlets, which are inserted through the thumbs and fastened firmly around the wrists. Thanks to the gauntlets, the push is more efficient (an advantage also appreciated in trail riding).
As for the spikes, they must be grippy but also resistant, which is why it is advisable to use tungsten carbide spikes, even if steel spikes are perfectly suitable. Protective rubber tips are often added. These are bevelled to improve grip and thrust, to fit the ground more harmoniously and to reduce noise.
Hiking poles
Once you start using them, you will soon realise that hiking poles are excellent companions, especially when you are out on the mountain. Why? Because they ensure the hiker's balance and therefore his safety, by limiting the risks of falling or slipping. They favour a better distribution of weight (the hiker's weight but especially that of his backpack if he has one) and use all the muscles of the body, thus avoiding stressing the lower body. The leg and thigh muscles are spared, the back and joints are largely protected, the walking rhythm is more sustained, more regular, and the hiker thus improves his performance, gains in endurance and limits the risks of long-term injury or heavy fatigue.
Of course, this is only possible if the poles are suitable for the hike and the hiker, as they can quickly become more cumbersome than anything else. So, if the idea of arming yourself with bits of wood found along the way is tempting, you should know that there are poles specially adapted to hiking, easily adjustable according to your size or the terrain on which you are hiking, and above all more comfortable, safer, more ergonomic and less cumbersome than tree branches (even if you can always leave them at the roadside).
The first important advantage of hiking poles is that they are often telescopic or foldable, which means that you can store them in your rucksack when you don't need them. The more poles a pole has, the less space it will take up. It's up to you to decide which model best suits your requirements, depending on the size of your rucksack for example, or the storage system, perhaps you have an external attachment system to hold your poles? In addition, a telescopic pole will allow you to adjust its length to overcome obstacles or simply to increase its length on the way down and reduce it on the way up.
Secondly, good hiking poles combine strength and lightness. An aluminium tube will be stronger than a carbon tube but slightly heavier, so it's up to you to decide which composition best suits your needs, your use, your size and your level. If you are a beginner, choose a solid pole, if you want to increase your speed and endurance, a lighter pole will limit your fatigue and your efforts.
Wrist straps are generally simple and consist of a strap that is slipped around the wrist. Handles on the other hand can be made of different materials, plastic or rubber handles tend to be uncomfortable and sweaty, foam or cork handles are much more comfortable, absorb sweat well but are more expensive. Again, the choice depends on how you will use them, but if you practice often or for a long time, it is essential that your grips are comfortable and adapted to the morphology of your hand.
Finally, the choice of tips is always very important as they are the link between your poles and the ground. They must be grippy and resistant. If you practice regularly, choose tungsten carbide tips, which are more durable but more expensive than steel tips.
Trail poles
Less common than in hiking or Nordic walking, trail poles are nevertheless real allies in the mountains. Trail runners use them in particular to save as much energy as possible on ascents and descents, which is why they prove to be a considerable resource on technical trails with big climbs. The poles take over the legs, help propulsion by increasing the power of the swing and relieve the quadriceps. They allow a better distribution of efforts, by sparing the muscles of the legs and thighs, you will resist longer, without risking losing the rhythm of the race. They also protect the joints by limiting shocks and impacts.
What we are looking for in trail running is a maximum of manoeuvrability and lightness, with a minimum of bulk. There is no question of wasting time folding your poles or untying your straps. This is why it is important to choose your poles carefully, because they are adapted to trail running and will be invaluable. For more efficiency in the gesture, more lightness and at the same time more solidity, it is possible to use single-stranded poles but if the folding system is well done, multi-stranded poles are to be preferred. On descents or on flat terrain, you can easily store them in your rucksack and they will considerably limit the amount of space they take up, which is a considerable advantage. In carbon, they will be much lighter but aluminium also works well. As far as handles are concerned, forget about plastic or rubber, the choice will be between foam (lighter and more efficient against perspiration) and cork (more durable and more comfortable). The straps can be equipped with removable gauntlets, which improve the power of the push but may keep you warm.