Okay. So how do I use them?

Like this…

SET THE HEIGHT The aim is to set the pole at a height that keeps your arm at a right-angle as you hold it. Most poles come in three sections. Extend the thicker middle section to just short of its ‘Stop’ point, then make up the rest of the height with the thinner lower section. Lock the sections, and that’s that. GET A GRIP Most poles come with a wrist strap. Pass your hand upward through the strap, and grip the ergonomic handle. By resting your wrist in the loop, you’ll find that the strap bears most of the pole’s weight. GET THE TECHNIQUE Starting on flat ground, walk at your regular pace and plant each pole roughly in parallel with the opposite leg (left leg, right pole etc). If the strap is snug, you shouldn’t need to grip the handle too hard and the pole will swing forward naturally with each step. ADAPT FOR HILLS Uphill: Adjust the pole a little to help you keep the right-angle through your arm. But don’t plant the pole vertically in front of you and use it as a crutch to pull yourself up. Keep planting it diagonally behind you – it should work as a pusher, not a puller. Downhill: Lengthen the pole so that it absorbs the shock of each descending impact before your knees have to. Again, it’s not meant to be a crutch – but it can act like a brake or a stabiliser, allowing you to descend more quickly and confidently than you would without a pole (and hurting less).