Walking & Trekking Poles: Are They Actually Worth It?

✓ Updated April 2026 — refreshed with current product recommendations and 2026 UK hiking insights.

Walking poles split opinion. Some hikers swear by them, others reckon they're an unnecessary faff. Having tested ours across the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and a few soggy weekends in Snowdonia, here's a straight answer to whether walking poles actually help — and how to pick a pair that earn their place in your kit.

This guide covers what walking poles do, when they're worth using, the trade-offs, and how to use them properly. If you came here wondering whether to bother, the short version is: yes, for most UK hikers, they pay for themselves on the first proper descent.

What Walking Poles Actually Do

Walking poles (also called trekking poles or hiking poles — same thing) are a pair of lightweight poles, usually aluminium or carbon fibre, with a grip on top and a carbide tip at the bottom. Most have rubber caps for hard surfaces and adjustable lengths for different terrain.

That's the spec answer. The real answer is they give you four points of contact instead of two, which changes how your body handles uneven ground, steep climbs and long descents.

Why Walking Poles Are Worth Using

They save your knees on descents

This is the big one. Going downhill on a long route — think Helvellyn or Snowdon — hammers your knees. Walking poles take a chunk of that load onto your arms and shoulders. If you've ever come back from a hike with sore knees the next day, this alone justifies a pair.

Better balance on dodgy ground

British trails have a habit of being wet, rocky, and full of hidden ankle-twisters. Two extra points of contact help you stay upright on slick stones, peat bogs and stream crossings. They're also handy for testing soft ground before you commit a foot to it.

You hike further before you're knackered

Engaging your arms and shoulders shares the workload. On long days, that adds up — you'll feel fresher at hour six than you would have without them. Most hikers notice the difference on hikes over 10 miles.

They keep your hands from swelling

Lesser-known one: on long ascents, blood pools in your fingers and they puff up. Using poles keeps your hands moving and elevated, which sorts the swelling out.

They double as tent poles

For minimalists, walking poles can replace conventional tent poles in ultralight shelters. The Night Cat Ultra Lightweight Backpacking Tent uses your trekking poles for support, saving meaningful weight from your pack.

The Honest Downsides

Extra weight and faff

Even lightweight poles add 400-700g to your kit. On a quick three-mile loop, that's a lot of bother for not much gain. Walking poles earn their keep on longer routes and rougher ground.

They get in the way on scrambles

If your route involves any handwork — Striding Edge, Crib Goch, Aonach Eagach — poles become a nuisance. You can stash them on your pack, but the constant stop-start kills the rhythm.

They need decent technique

Used wrong, walking poles can actually slow you down or strain your wrists. The fix is simple — we'll cover the proper grip and stride further down — but it's worth getting right.

They scratch the rocks

Carbide tips leave marks on stone, particularly on softer rock like granite. Use the rubber caps on hard surfaces and around well-trodden routes. Leave No Trace matters.

What to Look For When Buying Walking Poles

Aluminium vs carbon fibre

Aluminium is the safer bet for most UK hikers. It's durable, well-priced, and if you put serious weight through a pole, it'll bend rather than snap. That gives you a chance to recover. Most aluminium poles weigh around 250-350g each.

Carbon fibre is lighter — usually 200-280g per pole — and stiffer. Brilliant for long-distance hikers counting grams. The catch: under sideways force, carbon can fracture suddenly, which is bad news mid-descent. They also cost noticeably more.

Verdict for most people: aluminium. We sell aluminium walking poles that we use ourselves — they're built for British conditions and priced for hikers who want kit that works without paying carbon-fibre prices.

Folding vs telescoping

Folding poles pack down small (good for backpacking and travel) and set up fast. Telescoping poles adjust over a wider length range and tend to be slightly stronger. For most UK day hikes and weekend trips, folding is the more practical choice.

Grip material

Cork is the best for serious use — wicks moisture, comfortable for hours, doesn't blister your hands. Costs more but worth it.

Foam is comfortable, lighter, and cheaper. Wears faster than cork but does the job for occasional hikers.

Rubber is durable but gets slippery once your hands sweat. Avoid for anything longer than a few hours.

Locking mechanism

You've got two options: screw locks and lever (quick) locks.

Screw locks are simpler and lighter, but a pain with cold hands or gloves. Easy to over-tighten and damage the pole. Lever locks are quicker, work with gloves on, and are more reliable in wet conditions. Most modern poles use lever locks for good reason.

How to Use Walking Poles Properly

Set the right length

Hold the pole with the tip on the ground next to your foot. Your elbow should be at roughly 90 degrees. That's your baseline length.

For long climbs, shorten by about 5-10cm. For long descents, lengthen by the same amount. This keeps your posture upright and your knees protected.

Use the wrist straps correctly

Almost everyone gets this wrong. Don't grip the strap from the top down. Slide your hand up through the loop from underneath, then close your hand around the grip with the strap supporting your wrist. Done right, you can almost let go of the grip and the pole still moves with you. Less hand fatigue, better push-off.

Stride pattern

Opposite arm to opposite leg, same as natural walking. Right foot forward, left pole plants. Plant the pole near your back foot and push off as you step. After a mile or two it becomes automatic.

Walking Pole Accessories Worth Knowing About

Carbide tips grip rocky paths and ice. They wear down over time and most poles let you replace them — handy rather than buying a whole new pair.

Rubber tip covers are a must for tarmac, paved sections and rocky paths where you want to avoid scratching. Slip them on and off as needed.

Mud baskets screw onto the bottom of the pole and stop it sinking into soft ground — useful for boggy moors, soft sand or snow. Not essential for most UK day hikes, but worth having if you're heading somewhere wet.

Tip protectors for storage and travel — keeps the carbide from chewing up your car boot or pack.

Walking Poles FAQs

One pole or two?

Two, in almost every case. A single pole is fine for gentle terrain or if you need a free hand for navigation, but you lose most of the balance and joint-protection benefits. If you're going to bother carrying poles, carry both.

Are expensive walking poles worth it?

For occasional hikers, no. A solid mid-range aluminium pole at £30-50 will do everything you need. The jump to £100+ buys you weight savings (carbon fibre), better grips (cork), and slightly nicer locking systems. If you're hiking every weekend or doing multi-day routes, the upgrade pays off. For everyone else, it doesn't.

What's a good weight for walking poles?

250-350g per pole is the sweet spot for UK hiking. Lighter than that usually means carbon fibre and a higher price. Heavier than that and you'll feel it on long days.

Can you fly with walking poles?

Not in hand luggage — they get classed as potential weapons. Pack them in your hold luggage with tip protectors on. Folding poles are easier here because they fit inside most cases.

Do walking poles work for older hikers?

Yes — arguably they're more useful the older you get. The knee protection on descents and the extra balance on uneven ground make a real difference. Many of our customers picked up their first pair after their knees started complaining.

So, Should You Get Walking Poles?

If you mostly do short, flat walks, probably not — they're more bother than benefit. If you hike longer routes, tackle proper hills, struggle with knee or ankle pain, or carry a heavy pack, a decent pair of walking poles is one of the highest-impact upgrades you can make.

Get aluminium for durability, get cork or foam grips for comfort, get lever locks for the British weather. That's it. The price difference between a passable pair and an excellent pair is smaller than you'd think.

Our HikeWare Walking Poles are aluminium, lever-lock, with cork grips — built for UK conditions at a fair price. We use them ourselves on every test hike. If you've got questions about whether they're right for you, or want a recommendation that isn't ours, drop us a message and we'll give you a straight answer.

See you on the trails.