Trekking poles can be used either individually or as a pair, but the two options serve slightly different purposes. Using two trekking poles can provide better balance, more consistent support, and a more natural walking rhythm. On the other hand, one pole can be perfectly adequate for easier trails or situations where you only need…
Downhill sections are where trekking poles can be particularly useful. Descending places more load on your legs, and uneven surfaces can make maintaining balance more difficult. 1. Lengthen Your Poles You may want to extend your poles slightly for a descent. The additional length allows you to place the tips farther ahead of you while…
When you’re shopping for your first pair of outdoor footwear, you’ll quickly come across terms like hiking shoes, trekking shoes, hiking boots, and trekking boots. It can get confusing. The important thing to know is that these names aren’t used consistently across every brand. A shoe marketed as a “trekking shoe” by one company might…
Planning your first trek usually starts with the obvious things: a backpack, trekking shoes, clothes, food, water, and perhaps a tent. But some of the most useful pieces of trekking gear are the things beginners don’t think about until they actually need them. A small item weighing a few hundred grams can sometimes make a…
When preparing for your first trek, it’s easy to spend money on a tent, backpack, jacket, or other outdoor gear while treating footwear as an afterthought. That can be a costly mistake. Your feet are doing the most work during a trek. Every step carries your body over uneven ground, rocks, mud, slopes, and sometimes…
