Trekking Poles: Not Your Gramps’ Walking Stick
Trekking poles are now relatively standard items for Grand Canyon backpacking. They enhance your stability and balance over various terrain types, while decreasing the amount of stress on your legs and joints. Poles make crossing creeks and slippery surfaces less dangerous, and are particularly helpful for people with weak or damaged knees and ankles, as they absorb much of the impact your body would normally sustain.
Key considerations when shopping for trekking poles are weight, price, shock absorption, construction, and grip.
Weight and price:
While these factors go hand in hand, the price tends to go up as the weight goes down. Lightweight poles offer the advantage of ease of movement, and over the course of a long hike this can reduce fatigue.
Materials:
High-grade aluminum is a stronger and more economical choice. They typically weigh between 18-22 ounces per pair. They are reliably sturdy; however under high stress they can bend, but not break.
Carbon fiber is the lighter, more expensive option. They weigh approximately 13-18 ounces. These poles are excellent for reducing vibration, but under high stress they are more likely to break, something you should keep in mind for longer backpacking trips.
Grip
The shape and feel of a pole’s grip varies among manufacturers, so try to test several models before deciding. Also remember that many brands designate right and left handed poles on either the grip or the strap. Grip materials are usually a blending and can be:
Cork: Which resists moisture from hands, and best conforms to the shape of your hand.
Foam: which absorbs moisture and is the softest to the touch.
Rubber: which insulates from the cold, shock, and vibration. It’s a popular choice for cold weather. The only drawback is this grip is more likely to blister hands. Not recommended for warm weather hiking.
Other Pole Considerations
Straps: most poles have adjustable straps to get a comfortable fit around the wrist. Because your hand and wrist will most likely be in constant contact with the strap, it might be a good idea to get a padded strap to prevent chafing.
Tips: steel tips are commonly used to provide traction on most surfaces, and many poles come with rubber tip protectors to use on rocky terrain that also extend the life of the tips.
