Walking Poles

Walking Poles

How to Find The Correct Length:

The quick method
Stand tall on flat ground and hold the pole with the tip by your foot. Your upper arm should hang naturally and your forearm should sit level, so your elbow makes a right angle. If your hand is too high, shorten the pole; too low, lengthen it. For a starting figure before you fine-tune, multiply your height in centimetres by 0.68. The video below walks through it.

Walking pole length by height
Use this chart as a starting point, then fine-tune with the elbow test above. Adjustable poles let you set the exact figure; fixed-length poles should be bought to match.

Adjusting for the terrain
The perfect length changes with the ground. On the flat, aim for that right-angle elbow. On a sustained climb, shorten each pole by 5 to 10 cm so you can push down into the slope. On a long descent, lengthen them by 5 to 10 cm so you can plant ahead and below without stooping. On steep, mixed British hillsides you will often adjust several times in a day, which is exactly what an adjustable pole is for.

Information Provided by LEKI