Hiking requires a person to be fit and strong in order to survive the challenges of the wild. It requires you to be well prepared with the right gear, so that you can navigate through the rough terrain. When I first started hiking, I was obsessed with going out with minimal accessories. I used to focus on shedding the load of my backpack so I can feel light on my feet and maintain a decent pace.

It was all going fine until recently when I fell for the very first time. The mighty tumble was due to a slippery surface, on which I lost my balance. I suffered injuries which stopped me from venturing out for one full month. The time off provided me with a chance to research different aspects of hiking and how to avoid such injuries in future. Out of all the things I saw online, I was most interested by trekking poles. I bought a set for myself and it has to be the best decision I ever made. Some of the benefits of the poles, which made my already pleasurable hiking experience even sweeter, are listed below:

1. Maintaining Pace Becomes Easier

I had a habit of holding on to the straps on the back of my pack while walking. This movement used to hamper my forward momentum, meaning I had to expend a lot of unneeded energy. With trekking poles, my hands always stay in a forward position which allows me to maintain my momentum and helps me walk longer with ease.

2. Stable Hiking Experience

Like your feet, hiking poles also come in to repeated contact with the ground. This provides you with two more points of contact, which allows you to maintain balance and stay stable. The extra points of support are extremely useful when you are treading through tricky terrain armed while carrying lots of weight. The extra safety offered by the trekking poles is a great blessing for any hiker, and has prevented me from taking any further falls since I started using them.

3. Proper Weight Distribution

While using trekking poles, weight from your ankle and knees is shifted onto your arms. This prevents your legs from tiring easily and you are able to cover longer distances without any fatigue. My friend George, who is a veteran hiker, told me that I can shorten my trekking poles while hiking up and lengthen it on my way down for a better hiking experience. This tip has helped me greatly and I advise you to try it for a comfortable ascent and descent.

4. Crossing Water Made Easy

Crossing shallow streams can bring a lot of danger. Especially if the current is strong, it can disturb your balance and make you slip. With trekking poles at your disposal, you can stabilize yourself and move with caution. Just like in ascent or descent, you can make use of the adjustable poles and lengthen or shorten them accordingly for easily traversing water bodies. Make sure that you check the depth of the water before stepping in.

5. Use as Tent Pole

One of the most innovative ways of using your hiking poles is to use them as the poles for your tent. This innovative usage allows you to lessen weight from your backpack and head out with reduced weight on your back. These trekking poles fit perfectly with most tent constructions and allow you to create your abode in no time.

6. Protection from Animals

These poles may not be heavy enough to be used as a weapon; however, they can help in shooing away wild animals like monkeys and deer that can block your path. Never try to use trekking poles against tigers and bears. Dropping your trekking poles and running away will be a better option.