Brief description and function introduction of each part of trekking pole

Trekking poles, as the name suggests, refer to auxiliary equipment used in mountaineering. Trekking poles can bring many benefits to outdoor mountaineering and crossing activities, such as improving the stability of walking and reducing the burden on the legs. According to research, using trekking poles when walking can reduce at least 22% of the strength applied to muscles and joints such as the legs and knees, making the legs feel more comfortable! Using two trekking poles at the same time can provide better balance. Don't forget that you can't find a tree trunk, it can also be used as a pole for building a canopy with tarps.

handle

Commonly used materials are rubber, cork, plastic, and foam. Generally speaking, the first two materials have a more comfortable grip, but no matter which material is used, the focus is on the user's feeling! This is very subjective, you have to try it yourself to see which one is more comfortable, and then choose the style you like. However, when we use trekking poles, most of the time we apply force to the wrist strap of trekking poles. The comfort of the handle material is not a very important consideration, and for economic reasons, the first two materials are relatively advanced , So the price is naturally more expensive! If your budget is limited, this is one of the directions worth your consideration!

In addition, the handles and poles of some trekking poles will show 15. This is a design derived from the design concept of ski poles. It is mainly used to easily withstand the ground to achieve the braking effect when going downhill. It is also suitable for mountaineering, but when going uphill or walking on flat ground. Sometimes it is not easy to withstand the ground. It is necessary to be proficient in the use of trekking poles to get used to the particularity of the angle design. Therefore, we do not recommend beginners or users who only walk on flat ground to buy this kind of trekking poles.

Wristband

This part is the most important part that we need to consider when buying trekking poles, because when using trekking poles to help physical activity, the force must be transmitted to the upper body through the wristband, and the power of the upper body [mostly arms] is used to help the body move forward or reduce the impact The power to reduce the load on the legs.

When choosing a wrist strap, you should consider the durability of the material, the softness and the width of the strap itself, and it should be possible to adjust the length of the strap to facilitate the movement of the wrist. It is best to choose a wrist strap without a buckle. If a buckle is attached, it must be Try to wear it to make sure it will not affect the wrist or palm activities.

Strut

In terms of materials, there are currently four main types: wood, iron, aluminum alloy and titanium alloy; titanium alloy has the lightest weight, aluminum alloy is the second, and wood is the heaviest, and the price is mostly inversely proportional to weight. That is to say, the lighter the weight, the more expensive the price, but the price of wood cannot be compared with the above metal trekking poles, because wood is available everywhere without any cost! And some exquisite hand-made trekking poles are often expensive and scary, so wooden trekking poles are not discussed here. However, if you want to use ready-made wooden trekking poles in the wild, please try to pick up dead branches on the ground. Never chop up standing trees. Protecting the ecological integrity is one of the principles that should be followed in outdoor activities.

In terms of function, it can be divided into two categories: adjustable type and non-adjustable type. Adjustable types can be divided into three-section adjustment type and tenon adjustment type; three-section adjustment type is mostly used by mountain hikers because of its large adjustment flexibility and suitable for different heights. It is easy to carry for users with a physique shrinkage. When the terrain is not suitable or does not need to use trekking poles, they can be stowed and put in a backpack. Most trekking poles on the market are designed to shrink to at least 30 inches in length. The tenon adjustment type has less adjustment flexibility and is more suitable for general flat ground or outdoor environment with a gentle slope.

Shock absorber system

The shock absorber system is to reduce the impact on the trekking poles. There are springs inside the trekking poles, which can cushion the impact as needed. The price is more expensive than the trekking poles without shock absorbers. There is another Trekking poles can turn off the shock absorber system, and the price is more expensive than trekking poles with shock absorber system! But isn’t it great to have a shock absorber system? Why turn it off? Please take a look at our description:

According to the correct way of using trekking poles, use trekking poles to push back when going uphill, and use trekking poles and legs to bear the downward impact of the body at the same time when going downhill; we need to use a shock absorber system to alleviate the impact when going downhill , But the shock absorber system will cut back thrust when going uphill! In other words, it takes more thrust to achieve the same effect as ordinary trekking poles. Therefore, when going uphill, the shock absorber system is an unnecessary device. Therefore, the manufacturer of trekking poles has made a special device for use. To adjust the suspension system, turn it off when it is not needed!

Ski circle

Trekking poles are derived from the design of ski poles, so many places are the same. Ski laps are one of them. It can prevent trekking poles from sinking into the mud, but because the hiking environment is full of thorny bushes, skiing The setting of the lap will hinder the convenience of movement, so it should be noted that the ski lap should be quickly disassembled and assembled so as not to cause trouble.

Rod tip

The materials are rubber head, iron, carbon tungsten steel and other materials. Carbon tungsten steel is the hardest and most expensive, and rubber head is the cheapest, but it can't cope with rugged outdoor terrain, and its wear resistance is not as good as carbon tungsten steel.

The appearance is also divided into two types, one is the traditional pointed form, the other is the round head form; the pointed head has better grip, but it is also easy to injure people nearby; the round head has less grip than the pointed form, However, it is less likely to hurt your partner. Some brands of trekking pole heads have been specially designed with sharp protrusions inside the pole heads to increase grip. When buying trekking poles, you can pick up the tip of the stick to take a closer look.