How to Protect Your Wrists With Trekking Poles

Trekking poles provide you with an extra level of balance and stability when hiking uneven trails or broken and rocky terrain. Most trekking poles are adjustable, allowing you to customize height according to the trail and slopes. Because there is a repetitive motion with the trekking poles, and they are planted on the ground with each step, wrist injuries do occur. These injuries are mostly bruised palms and sore wrist joints and are easily preventable provided precautions are taken.

Things You'll Need

  • Padded gloves
  • Wrist straps (if your trekking poles do not already have them)
  • Foam
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Stand on even ground with the poles in your hand. Adjust the height (most trekking poles have twistable barrel adjusters) so you end up with a 90-degree angle at the elbows with the pole tips on the ground. Keep this angle while hiking with the poles. If you hike uneven ground, adjust the height to maintain the 90-degree angle, preventing stress on the arms and wrists.

    • 2

      Slide your wrists through the handle straps. Purchase aftermarket straps if your poles are not already equipped. Slide the strap back and under your wrist then grip the handle giving a half-twist to the strap. Hike with the straps so the pressure from the pole is distributed between the handle and strap on the wrist. Let the strap absorb the shocks from the trekking poles instead of your wrist.

    • 3

      Wrap foam around the handle with duct tape to hold it in position to alleviate bruising and hard hits on the handles.

    • 4

      Wear padded gloves with the trekking poles. Bicycle half-gloves make ideal trekking gloves as they are padded at the palms and expose fingers for ventilation. Allow the padding to absorb the shocks and hits from the poles along with the wrist straps.