Trekking pole length when you’re between

I suspect folks will want to know: If you have never set your poles longer than 115, why are you considering the longer poles?  Folks may ask if you ever find need for the shorter setting. Another question will be how steep the terrain is and what are the most challenging obstacles.

Absent answers to those questions, I would suggest the longer of the two options.  Because on very steep uphills you can still shorten them a bit and the poles probably have an option to remove your hands from the straps and grab the handle a bit lower.  By my way of thinking, steep downhills and “steps” or “ledges” are a higher risk and higher stess scenario and that scenario benefits from the option of longer poles.

I can tell you what I do.  I use the fixed length Black Diamond Carbon Z poles – because they are “oh so light” and swing so nice (I was a collegiate Nordic ski racer and came to appreciate light poles and a nice swing…).   I purchased my first set of BD poles at the long end of my range, and last year I purchased a second set at a more natural length.  Personally, I find steep downhills and stepping off boulders, rocks, ledges and stairs to be more “risky” than climbing up.  I’m pretty good at going uphill. So my “stress case” is going downhill.  slightly longer poles are better for going downhill (steep downhills with ledges of some sort). But on a well travelled path with few tricky downward steps I prefer a traditional length because they “swing” better.

I also prefer to NOT using hiking poles if the trail has no challenges.  But, I also have a so-so repaired ruptured achilles on one side, and a knee replacement on the other. Uphill still = no problem.

Apart from pitching my tent, I have never adjusted my poles from their standard setting of about 1″ below my belly button.  It’s the right length for uphill, downhill, flats, and all angles of side-hilling.  If you don’t use them for your shelter, get the lightest/shortest poles that work for hiking.  My 2 cents.

If you might want to set them longer for use with tent/tarp, then it seems clear you should buy the longer ones.

Usually a shelter will have more ability to pitch taller than its normal height, rather than shorter. A pole may need to be shorter if it’s on a bump or if you’re pitching the tent right to the ground, whereas a taller pole is needed if it’s in a dip, sinking into the ground, or most commonly – when the tent is being pitched higher (either through intent or error). You can also angle a too tall pole, while propping up a too short pole can be done but is harder.

So if you’re tent suggests 115 cm I would go for the 110-130 cm option. Or look at poles from other companies that have a wider range. MSR sells poles similar to the BD folding poles but with better adjustment ranges.

I like my poles set to where my elbows are at a 45% angle. of course terrain changes constantly. I may shorten my poles going into a long uphill climb, but not often. And I’ll most often palm the poles on the top going downhills. In short there’s a good bit of leeway when hiking depending on how you hold the poles over varying terrain.

not so much when pitching a tent. I’d rather have the longer poles for pitching purposes. The rest will take care of itself.

Thanks everyone!  So, I’m looking at some carbon Leki poles and shorter range ones may be more applicable to trail running,  Not sure.  I have on occasion shortened my poles for steep uphills, but I suppose I could just loosen the strap and grip lower if necessary.

I’m thinking I’ll go with the longer poles for the flexibility in other use cases like tarp and tent setup.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I’m moving from a three section telescoping style to the folding Z.  With the telescoping BDs I have lots of control over length, but also found that clamp levers occasionally came dislodged when bushwacking.</p>

Have you check out LEki skytera fx carbon sl pole? I’ve tried on hands and its very well built and okay to adjust from 110-130 cm.