How to Choose Trekking Poles for UK Hiking and DofE Expeditions
The right trekking poles for UK hiking are lightweight, height-adjustable aluminium poles with a cork or foam grip, a padded wrist strap, and interchangeable tips for tarmac, mud and rock. Get the length right using the 90-degree rule (your elbow bends to roughly 90 degrees when the tip touches the ground) and a decent pair will take real strain off your knees on long descents, help spread pack weight across your arms on multi-day DofE routes, and can even double up as the support pole for an ultralight tent. This guide covers sizing, materials, grip and strap features, and how poles fit into a Duke of Edinburgh expedition kit list, with real HikeWare gear to get you started.
How do you size trekking poles correctly?
The most reliable method is the 90-degree rule. Stand on flat ground in your hiking boots, hold the pole grips with the tips resting near your toes, and check your elbows: if they sit at roughly a right angle, the length is correct. Hands higher than your elbows mean the poles are too long; hands lower means they're too short. REI's expert advice guide confirms this is the standard fitting method, and it's worth redoing every time you change footwear, since boot sole thickness shifts your standing height slightly.
If you'd rather size by height first and fine-tune later, use the chart below as a starting point, then adjust up or down a few centimetres to hit the 90-degree position.
| Your height | Suggested pole length | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1.55 m (5'1") | Around 100 cm | Shorten further for steep uphill sections |
| 1.55 m to 1.7 m (5'1" to 5'7") | Around 110 cm | Most common UK adult range |
| 1.7 m to 1.8 m (5'8" to 5'11") | Around 120 cm | Lengthen slightly for long descents |
| Above 1.8 m (6'0"+) | Around 130 cm | Check your poles extend this far before buying |
What do trekking poles actually do for your knees and joints?
It's not just marketing. Biomechanical testing has found that poles can cut peak force on the knee joint by up to 25 percent, particularly on descents, where downhill walking already puts compressive loads on the knee three to four times higher than on flat ground. In research reviewed by Outside, hikers who used poles also reported less muscle soreness and recovered faster after long days on the trail compared with those who walked unaided. For anyone carrying a loaded rucksack on a DofE expedition, or nursing a dodgy knee on the Pennine Way, that's a meaningful difference over a full day's walking.
Aluminium or carbon: which pole material suits UK trails?
Aluminium poles are the sensible default for most UK hikers. They're heavier than carbon by a small margin, but they bend under stress rather than snapping outright, which matters on the rocky, root-strewn paths common across the Lake District, Peak District and Snowdonia. Carbon poles shave off weight for ultralight backpackers, but a hard knock on stone can shatter them rather than just deform, and they typically cost more. For DofE expeditions, where poles get borrowed, dropped, and occasionally used to test bog depth, aluminium's durability makes it the safer buy.
A set of two adjustable, aircraft-grade aluminium poles with cork grips, padded straps and quick-lock adjustment, collapsing to 24" for easy packing.
What should you look for in the grip and strap?
Cork grips mould to the shape of your hand over time and wick away sweat better than plain plastic, which matters on humid British summer days. Foam grips are lighter and cheaper but can feel slippery when wet. Whichever grip you choose, a padded wrist strap is worth having: it lets you rest your hand loosely through the loop rather than gripping constantly, which reduces hand fatigue on longer routes. Look for straps that are adjustable rather than fixed, so they still fit comfortably over gloves in colder months.
Can trekking poles double as your tent poles?
Yes, and it's one of the best ways to shave weight from a backpacking kit list. A growing number of ultralight tents, including several in the Night Cat and Lanshan-style ranges, are designed to pitch using a trekking pole instead of dedicated tent poles. You peg out the corners, slot your pole into the apex, tension the guy lines, and the shelter is up. Carrying one item that does two jobs is exactly the kind of weight saving that matters when every item in your rucksack has to be justified.
Weighs just 1.05 kg, pitches with a single trekking pole (not included), and carries a 5,000 mm outer and 8,000 mm floor waterproof rating for UK conditions.
Do DofE expeditions need trekking poles?
They're not on most award-body compulsory kit lists, but expedition leaders commonly recommend them, especially for Gold and Silver routes that involve multiple consecutive days of walking with a full pack. Poles help with balance when crossing streams or uneven moorland, take pressure off the knees on the descents that follow a long climb, and give tired legs extra support on the final miles into camp. If you're kitting out a full DofE expedition kit list, poles are a low-cost addition that pulls weight in your favour rather than adding to it, particularly if you pair them with a pack designed to carry them when not in use.
A 70-litre pack weighing just 1 kg, with hanging straps built in for securing poles, tents and sleeping bags when you're not using them.
Frequently asked questions
Are trekking poles worth it for a Duke of Edinburgh expedition?
Most expedition leaders would say yes. They're not compulsory on every award-body kit list, but they reduce strain on multi-day routes carrying a full pack, and they help with stream crossings and uneven ground.
Should I use one pole or two?
Two poles give more even support and are the better choice for most hiking, since they balance load across both arms and help on stream crossings. A single pole is common when pitching a trekking-pole tent, or for hikers who prefer one hand free.
Do I need different tips for rock, mud or tarmac?
Interchangeable rubber tips protect the pole and give better grip on hard surfaces like tarmac or rock, while the standard carbide tip is better left exposed on soft ground and mud where it needs to bite in.
How do I stop the wrist strap rubbing on a long walk?
Adjust the strap so your hand sits loosely inside the loop rather than gripping the pole tightly. A padded strap and a properly sized pole length both reduce the friction that causes rubbing over a full day's walk.
Can beginners use trekking poles on flat day walks?
Yes. Poles aren't just for mountains; they help with balance and rhythm on any UK day walk, and getting used to them on easier ground makes them second nature before a longer expedition.
Get your poles sorted before your next trip
Shop HikeWare's aluminium trekking poles and pair them with a trekking-pole tent or rucksack from the DofE range.
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