Using trekking pole straps

He’s not wearing the straps at all in that pic…he’s demonstrating how you can choke up on a pole to temporarily “shorten” it (a skill of dubious value IMHO).

The “right” way to use straps is:  hand up through the bottom, down around the top.

I think at the beginning of that video he is wearing them though.

So, according to your instructions, thumb ends up above the strap, doesn’t it?

Yes thumb above the straps is the preferred technique. The strap comes up between your thumb and index finger.

Yep.

Alternatively you can switch to PacerPoles, as made by my near-neighbour here in the English Lakes!

Being a rational and ergonomic design, there’s no need at all for straps – the force is transmitted through the base of the palm in a natural manner, as it would be if you were crawling.

Once I tried ’em there was no going back.

Straps are a peculiar hack that developed when people adapted ski poles for walking.

Straps for me only get used about 5-10% of the time and really just on particularly steep terrain that I don’t want to loose my pole down a slope from a misstep or wrong grip. I replaced my OEM straps with Amsteel line. Basically un-noticeable when not used, saved about an ounce of weight and does the job when I need it to. Putting my hand up through the loop with my thumb above the strap is what’s comfortable for me.

Those PacerPoles are unique Geoff. I’ve seen other manufacturers put an angle on the grips, but not quite to this degree. A little on the heavy side for me at 508g for the carbon fibre.

“Straps for me only get used about 5-10% of the time and really just on particularly steep terrain that I don’t want to loose my pole down a slope from a misstep or wrong grip. ”

me too. And I was a Nordic skier. Skiing, I used straps heavily. Not backpacking.

Nordic skiing strap technique: the rabbit comes up out of his hole (entire hand comes through the  strap) and grabs the carrot (the pole handle) . so: thumbs over the straps. But then, I had more built up straps for my striding and skating poles.

The advantage of using the straps properly (hand up through the loop and then brought down so that the strap passes between thumb and index finger) is that you then apply the bulk of the force with the large muscles of your arms and not the small muscles in your fingers (which lose strength and dexterity when cold).

The more you use them that way, the more natural and automatic it will be when you really need it due to a sudden load on the poles or when you’re mildly hypothermic.

I have older GG LT4’s without straps.  I’ve become a huge proponent of going strapless because if my pole tip gets stuck between a couple of rocks (happens frequently in PA where I do most of my hiking) my hand reflexively just releases the pole when it doesn’t move forward with me.  I then go back and pull it out at the angle at which it entered the rock trap.  I know it’s saved me several pole tips and probably a broken pole (or two).

Simulacra –

Yes, the Pacers are a touch heavier than some other brands, but I wouldn’t let that put you off (unless you’re the type of walker that mostly has their poles on their pack).

They greater effectiveness and ease of use more than compensates – it really is a significantly different experience. The debates here about how to use the straps simply underline the fact that the traditional pole is a terrible design.

Plus the Pacers are designed to cope with the tough, boggy conditions here in the UK. The fashionable lightweight toothpicks don’t last very long here.

The debates here about how to use the straps simply underline the fact that the traditional pole is a terrible design.

No, just a design you don’t care for.  Like I don’t care for those silly Pacer poles.

Trust the science.

David Thomas’s logic match my experience as well.

YMMV   (but I’m still going to use those straps.)  :o

10+ years ago I was doing a day hike in Glacier Park to a place we used to go to when I was a Boy Scout. At one point I had to walk through a 200′ brushy corridor that was 3 feet taller than I was. Half way through it I came face-to-face with a huge sow grizzly that was coming toward me. She acted like she didn’t quite know what to do. But I sure did. I backed up slowly, didn’t look her in the eye, and I spoke soft words. The problem was that I couldn’t get my hands out of the trekking pole straps quickly to grab my pepper spray. I got to a place where I could climb 75′ above the trail, where I was stopped by a big snow bank. I waited it out until momma bear passed me on the trail below. I gave her a 100′ space, and then I proceeded to continue to the brushy corridor. Then, here came her 3 little puppies, who were walking WAY behind their mom. So I went back up to my previous snow pack place to let them pass. The first 2 stopped at a tiny creek to have a drink. But the 3rd cub saw me and decided to come check me out. I freaked out, big time, thinking that mom would charge me and turn me into star dust. I then screamed as loud as I could to get her attention, which worked. The momma bear simply gave a loud and  decisive grunt, and the little one raced back to mom. Whew!

After my hike, I was advised by a ranger that was leading a hike to report my experience to the main park ranger. I told him that the momma bear was a perfect animal that posed minimal threat to humans. When I got back to my motel room, I cracked a beer, and then proceeded to cut the straps off my trekking poles. I haven’t used pole straps since.

As a former Nordic Ski Patroller and XC racer I ONLY use my hiking pole straps as I did when XC skiing. Used this way relieves grip stress and gives a nice strap area on which to PUSH. Pushing on the straps is the key to using them properly.

It works and yes, there IS a Right and Left hand strap configuration.