Some still debate the merits of using trekking poles, but nowadays, most hikers won’t leave home without them. Poles can help you power up steep climbs, support your weight on downhills, and provide extra points of contact on loose or uneven terrain. The best trekking poles are comfortable in hand, stiff under load, easy to stow away in your pack, and can help you tackle challenging terrain and hike pain-free.

The Winners at a Glance

Diorite Gear Telescopic Carbon Fiber

Leki Makalu FX

TSL Carbon Connect 5

How We Test

Number of Testers: 6

Number of Products Tested: 8

Distance Covered: 250+ miles

Elevation Gained: 45,000+ feet

To test the latest trekking poles, we employed a team of hikers who headed out on trips ranging from simple day hikes to epic cross-country expeditions. The poles accompanied testers in multiple states and countries, including California, New Hampshire, and the Italian Dolomites. Our testers used poles to climb steep trails, set up tarp shelters in sustained winds, and save their ankles on sketchy, rocky descents. Along the way, we tasked the team with recording every detail, from ergonomics and comfort to ease of use and packability. Here are our top picks for 2023.

Meet Our Lead Testers

Nathan Pipenberg is a freelance writer based in Boise, Idaho, who writes Backpacker magazine’s ultralight hiking column. Over the course of his hiking career, he has broken three pairs of ultralight carbon poles, set up a Tarptent using bent ski poles, and hiked 200 miles with a pair of cheap trekking poles bought during a last-minute Walmart stop. A 2011 Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, he’s always scanning his calendar for a six-month gap in deadlines to fit in another long-distance hike.

The Reviews: The Best Trekking Poles of 2023

Editors’ Choice: Diorite Gear Telescopic Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles ($180)

Weight: 7.4 oz (per pole)
Size: One size (71-158 cm length)
Pros: Best-in-class versatility and durability
Cons: On the expensive side

The Diorite Telescopic Carbon Fiber is a rare no-compromises trekking pole: it’s the burliest all-carbon construction we’ve ever tested, with a formidable telescoping length that’s a godsend for tarp-oriented thru-hikers. The first thing testers noted was that even though the Diorite looks and feels like an overbuilt aluminum pole, it tips the scales below 8 ounces—a weight limit normally reserved for folding fast-packing poles. Most ultralight carbon poles in that weight class require babying. In contrast, the Diorite inspired confidence even when several testers slid down steep, sandy descents in Idaho’s Salmon River Mountains. The extra-long EVA foam (also available in cork) grips were comfortable in-hand and made it easy to choke down on steep climbs without stopping to readjust the length of the poles. The beefy locking mechanisms are replaceable, along with the individual pole sections and pole tips. As a bonus for in-field repairs, the Diorite uses a self-threading aluminum adapter that will accept replacement tips from other brands, even if they’re unthreaded.

Best of all, the Diorite poles come with an unusual perk: they extend all the way to 158 cm. While that extra length isn’t necessary for on-trail use (even our 6’5” tester rarely exceeds 135 cm), it does provide a few advantages. For one, all that extra carbon reinforces the poles, making them extra stiff and sturdy. For another, the generous telescoping range means that they can be used to set up nearly any tarp or tent that requires trekking poles. “It’s nice to know that no matter what shelter I bring, these poles will work—even if I opt for my pyramid tarp with a high center height,” said New Hampshire-based tester Dan Huntington. Between its weight, comfort, and durability, the Diorite is one of the few trekking pole quiver-killers on the market.

Bottom Line: A do-it-all pole built to withstand the rigors of daily use.

Leki Makalu FX Carbon ($230)

Weight: 8.9 ounces (per pole)
Size: One size (110 – 130cm)
Pros: Durable, excellent grip comfort
Cons: Very expensive, not especially light

Rather than chasing an ultralight weight goal, the Makalu—a modern iteration of the first-ever trekking pole—sets itself apart thanks to durability and comfort. The grips on the Makalu were among our favorites in the test, with EVA foam that one hiker described as “velvety” and easy to clean. The extra-long grip extension made it effortless to bear down on climbs without stopping to adjust pole length. One California-based tester said the Makalu was the most well-balanced pole he tested, thanks to the weight distribution between the pole and the grip. The Makalu has an adjustment system that combines folding and a quick-lock mechanism (similar to Black Diamond FLZ models) which means it boasts the shorter packed length of folding poles, and 20 cm of adjustment. The carbon poles were also impressively durable. Having survived a 170-mile trek in the Dolomites, another tester resorted to tossing them from boulders and ledges to test their mettle. (Spoiler alert: they never broke).

Bottom Line: A highly ergonomic model that combines the best of adjustable and folding pole styles.

TSL Outdoors Connect Carbon 5 ($180)

Weight: 8.4 ounces (per pole)
Size: One size (110 – 130 cm)
Pros: Lightning-quick set-up and break-down
Cons: Feel a bit flimsy

The TSL Connect Carbon 5 brings one of the best features of trail-running-specific poles to the hiking world: glove-style straps that attach and detach via a magnetic quick-release button. Though testers took some time warming up to the idea, a few miles on the trail using the Connect Carbon 5 won them over. “The secure glove attachment made it easier to flick the poles exactly where I wanted them,” said Boise-based tester Matt Tock. The quick-release also made switching from using the poles to carrying them that much easier. Testers reported the nylon and mesh gloves to be snug but comfortable, though they do get sweaty faster than standard straps since the fabric isn’t particularly breathable. Like the Leki Makalu, the Connect Carbon 5 has both a telescoping and folding design, with a packed length of 42 cm (16.5 inches) and 20 cm of adjustment. The poles, which have pivoting baskets that help them adapt to changing terrain, held up fine to sustained use. Testers remarked, however, that the full-carbon design felt flimsier in the hand—although it never failed on the trail—owing to the plastic construction of the quick-release and locking mechanisms, which wasn’t confidence-inspiring.

Bottom Line: Techy poles with unique features prized by fastpackers and other high mileage types.

How to Buy

The most important feature of any trekking pole is length. This is especially important for fixed-length poles, but even with adjustable poles, you want to make sure your preferred length is within the range of adjustment, especially if you are particularly short or tall. Measure your pole length by standing on flat ground with your arms held in front of you, elbows at a 90-degree angle. Your ideal pole length is the distance from your hands to the ground. Adjustable poles help give you some wiggle room depending on your hiking style—many people prefer to shorten their poles during sustained climbs and elongate them during descents.

Pole material is an important consideration as well. Aluminum is generally less expensive and heavier, while carbon is stiffer and lighter. Consider that an aluminum pole will likely bend under strong lateral forces (like getting pinched between rocks) while a carbon pole is more likely to break and become unusable.

Finally, telescopic poles will generally have a larger range of adjustment but a longer packed length, while folding poles will pack down shorter but offer less length adjustment. Some poles offer a fusion of styles. If you plan to use your poles to set up your shelter, double check the length required for an optimal pitch. You’ll want to ensure that your poles can adjust to accommodate both your hiking length and your shelter set-up length.

When it’s time to upgrade your gear, don’t let the old stuff go to waste–donate it for a good cause and divert it from the landfill. our partner, Gear Fix, will repair and resell your stuff for free! Just box up your retired items,��, and send them off. We’ll donate 100 percent of the proceeds to��.

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This trek has it all: three countries, endless views of Western Europe’s highest peak—15,771-foot Mont Blanc—fresh-baked treats at high huts you stay in along the way, and views of climbers clinging to improbable spires. While downright decadent at times, thanks to the gourmet food and drink en route, the Tour du Mont-Blanc (TMB), 103 miles of hiking that circles Mont Blanc and passes through France, Italy, and Switzerland, is no pushover. It comprises more than 32,000 feet of uphill hiking and descending. It offers gorgeous stretches of warm, summer Alps weather, yet full-on big-mountain storms can still descend on trekkers.

The Beautiful Mount Blanc Region

The Mont Blanc region of the Alps is huge, encompassing 155 square miles, with 60 square miles of glaciers and eleven summits over 13,000 feet. Ten thousand years ago, nomadic tribes gathered here, living off deer and chamois on the land and fish from the rivers. In time, they began herding animals, moving them to higher pastures in the summer, creating the annual Alpine rhythm called transhumance that persists to this day. Those paths created an intertwined network of trails around the massif. In the last 60 years, local communities worked on the ancient routes, upgrading them for modern use by active travelers. In the 1960s, old huts were updated, inns sprang up in the valleys, and the TMB took on its present form.

Starting and finishing in the adventure-crazed alpine town of Chamonix, France, at the base of Mont Blanc, the TMB is perhaps the world’s most famous pedestrian loop and definitely one of its most entertaining, passing through three countries and the resulting variety of cultures. Along with the lively hut scene, Michelin-star dining options en route, and stop-dead-in-your-tracks views, you may also see the world’s best trail runners breezing past.

Getting to Know the Tour du Mont Blanc

I began hiking and trail running the Tour du Mont-Blanc 15 years ago in sections—a day here, two days there. It wasn’t until seven years ago that I did the full loop in one continuous push. It was September 1, 2017, and 2,200 fellow trail runners joined me in the 14th edition of the iconic Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, or UTMB. Held each year at the end of August and easily the world’s most famous trail race, UTMB is one part of the reason the TMB (walking version) has become so popular.����

I’ve lived in Chamonix full-time for five years, spending five summers here before that, and founded and am part-owner of the trail-running tour company The UTMB race is intense. Far more typical is the leisurely eight-day TMB hike I took with my two brothers and a cousin last September. My relatives booked a total of 11 days for the trip, which included their arrival and departure days, a day in Chamonix to adjust to Central European Time, and a rest day in Courmayeur.

We meandered around the range, napping in alpine meadows, chatting with shepherds, and snarfing up lunches at huts and inns all along the way. We started around 8:30 each morning, right after the continental breakfasts, and dropped our bags with the hotel for the pre-arranged transport to the next destination. (Pro tip: Skipping the baggage transfer to save money is a dubious trade-off. You do not want to lug the extra weight over the high passes.) With an organized start time, we’d arrive at our next destination mid-afternoon, usually in time for a shower, a post-hike beer, and a nap before dinner. Our weather was perfect: blue skies, temperatures in the 60s, and a light breeze, day after day.

I’ve hiked or run the TMB a dozen times now, and here’s my advice for beginners on how to do it right.

Tour du Mont Blanc Guide – Quick Links

How to get to the TMB | How Hard is it to Hike the TMB? | How Long Does it Take to Hike the TMB? | The Best Time of the Year to Hike the TMB | How to Book Your TMB Trip | Is the Trail Easy to Follow? | Lodging Options Along the TMB | Should I Plan My Own Trip or Go With A Guide? | Do I Have to Hike the Whole TMB Trail? | What to Pack to Hike the TMB | TMB Etiquette | The Best Piece of Advice of All |�� Resources

1) How to Get to the TMB

Nearly all TMB travelers fly in and out of Geneva, Switzerland, which is just about 90 minutes from Chamonix, the traditional start and end point of the loop. There are multiple shared shuttle services, which typically cost about €35 (about $38 as of August 2024) and should be scheduled in advance. At Run the Alps, we use Mountain Dropoffs. They’re reliable, they track your flight, and their drivers are well trained and always courteous.

2) How Hard Is It to Hike the TMB?

Most fit hikers will find the TMB to be within their abilities, especially if they opt for a luggage transport service between huts and hotels, leaving them to hike with light daypacks. But the trail is a big undertaking and can be challenging.

The longest day is usually about 20 miles, with roughly 4,500 feet of climbing and descending. Most days total around 15 miles, with between 4,000 and 5,000 feet of climbing. The highest point you’ll reach is 8,323 feet, and you work naturally up to it, so altitude is generally a non-issue, though concern about it is a common misconception about the TMB.

A lot of hikers and trail runners will find the TMB to have a good bit of “vert” (vertical gain) along the route. There are almost no truly flat sections, and depending on how you plan your route, you can do up to or even more than 33,000 feet of climbing during the trip. To train beforehand, find a nearby hill, get the pack you intend to use, load it up, and head uphill. If your local terrain doesn’t lend itself to TMB training, sign up for a few months at a gym with treadmills that go up to a 20 percent incline, and start hiking, doing your best to ignore the looks of gym rats when they see your pack on your back.

Old-school hiking boots are fine but, increasingly, TMB hikers are switching to sturdy trail-running shoes, from brands like Hoka, Salomon, or Merrell. No matter what you bring, wear them in well in advance—which means a few weeks of daily use, then at least a half dozen hikes, to make sure they are broken in and fit comfortably.

3) How Long Does It Take to Hike the TMB?

Depending on your jet-lag coping skills and your interest in rest days, plan on anywhere from a week to 12 days. The TMB breaks down nicely into village-based stops, and the most common itinerary looks something like this: Chamonix, France (add a rest day in for the day after you arrive); Les Contamines, France; Les Chapieux, France; Courmayeur, Italy (add a rest day in here); La Fouly, Switzerland; Champex-Lac, Switzerland; Trient, Switzerland; back to Chamonix (add in a rest day or two here before flying out). Bingo, that’s the loop.

4) The Best Time of Year to Hike the TMB

Be forewarned: midsummer is busy. The trail is getting popular. Even before COVID, there was a notable uptick in TMB usage, and last summer saw by far the biggest visitor numbers yet. An estimated 200,000 hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners travel some sections of the TMB each year.

As of now, no permit is required to hike it, but you do have to book huts and hotels. The regional government has been talking with several nature reserves through which the TMB passes about implementing a permit system. Initially, at least, these permits would be both free and unlimited. The goal is to use the registration process to educate guests and track user numbers better—and hopefully to mitigate crowds.

As a result of the surge in use, the gens du pays—the local people who live and work along the TMB—are scrambling 24/7 during July and August. If you must go then, you’ll need to plan well in advance to secure bookings and will pay top dollar. Many tour operators stop taking midsummer reservations for the TMB by mid-winter.

If you have a flexible schedule, I’d suggest booking during the second half of June, or after the UTMB race at the end of August, when things quiet down again.

In the shoulder seasons of June and September, bookings will be easier and refuge staff will have more time to visit with guests and perhaps even share a beer. On the front end of the shoulder season, the last two weeks of June, high passes might still be holding onto their snowfields, and you’ll need to use caution if the slopes are frozen solid. Bring hiking poles with carbide tips and microspikes for traction, and always check conditions locally with tourist offices before striking off.

The September shoulder season is arguably better, thanks to snow-free passes and good odds of blue skies. Most refuges and public transportation are open and running until about mid-September. This late season on the TMB is a wonderful time, with fewer crowds and a bit more wildness. Warmer gear is a must, though, as nighttime temperatures drop to the 50s and lower, and be aware that snowstorms might shut down travel for a day.

July and August are the high season. If that’s your vacation window, booking a year ahead will help you get the hotel you want. (Pro tip: Ask your hotel to pack a bag lunch for you the night before, so you can enjoy lunch from a quiet pasture, rather than waiting to place an order with overworked hut staff.) Huts usually don’t allow picnicking at their facilities, but if you pass by before or after the lunch rush, you can always enjoy a cafe au lait with the view.

Even if it’s busy, it’s still the TMB. If you don’t mind sharing vistas with fellow travelers, the fundamentals are pretty darned spectacular. You’ll need a thesaurus when texting home, because hackneyed travel adjectives like spectacular, stunning, amazing, and jaw-dropping will all sneak into your writing. For once, they won’t be overstatements.

5) How to Book Your TMB Trip

You can set up the whole circumnavigation yourself, go with a guide, or use a tour operator to book everything in advance for you. Whatever you choose, set things up as far ahead as possible. “You need to be planning 10 months in advance to secure space if you want to get into all the hard-to-book places,” says Troy Haines, owner of Alpinehikers, a guided and self-guided hiking tour operator that has been leading trips on the TMB for two decades.

There is good news, though, for those with an open approach. “Being flexible in your thinking really helps,” says Haines. “If you have a range of dates that work, or are happy with a dorm one night or a fourth-choice hotel, or even taking a taxi to a nearby village, then there is almost always something we can do to put together a trip.”

If you’re planning your own TMB hike and working on the logistics in late winter or spring for the coming summer, you may need to get creative in at least one overnight destination and possibly several. Look for hotels and inns in adjacent villages, and schedule Taxi Besson, a service that gives hikers rides to and from trails, to meet you at a specific location and time and return you to the trek the following morning. Places that traditionally get booked out along the trail include: Les Chapieux, France, and La Fouly and Trient, Switzerland. Instead, taxis can take you to the Savoie town of Bourg St. Maurice or quiet, atmospheric villages like Beaufort or Arêches. If La Fouly is full, take the Swiss Post bus to Orsieres and then Champex-Lac, skipping ahead a day. If Trient is full, look to Finhaut, Switzerland, or Vallorcine, France. Consider the switch-ups an adventure, and a chance to explore villages a bit farther afield.

6) Is the TMB Trail Easy to Follow?

Whenever you go, the TMB is one of the easiest trails in the world to follow. No matter whether you’re hiking in France, Italy, or Switzerland, the signage is clear, with distances marked. (Predictably, Switzerland wins for best and most accurate signs.) Many junctions are named, with elevations shown on the signposts. The TMB trail itself is well-worn, so even if visibility is poor, you should have no problem staying en route.

7) Lodging Options Along the TMB

There may be no multi-day trek in the world that offers such an array of overnight options. Some guests are rolling out sleeping bag liners in shared dorm space, while others are sipping pricey Burgundy wines amid the five-star, red-carpet treatment at high-end hotels in Chamonix, Courmayeur, and Champex-Lac. (See the Resources section below for my favorite hotel options along the route.)

For those looking for a sky filled with thousands of stars, camping is an option, but with the recent proliferation of tents popping up around the range, it’s increasingly frowned upon by many of the guides on the trail and staff at nearby huts. If you want to camp, follow good Leave No Trace practices and be as unobtrusive as possible. Regulations vary widely along the TMB. Camping is usually permitted outside of nature refuges after sunset and before sunrise. If you’re overnighting near a hut, drop in during the afternoon and ask permission of the hut caretaker or guardian. Commercial camping businesses exist in all of the key towns around the TMB. Because of the convenient alpine villages sprinkled around the route, however, the TMB is a great choice for anyone who wants to leave the tent and camp stove at home.

Because the TMB passes through three countries, camping regulations along the trail vary. Below is a quick overview of the regulations.

In France, camping is allowed under the following conditions:

• In the proximity of a refuge, with the permission of the guardian.
• ���ϳԹ��� of the Contamines nature reserve, you can pitch a tent between sunset and sunrise (7 P.M. – 9 A.M.). In the Contamines nature reserve, you must pitch your tent in the designated area near the Refuge de la Balme.

In Italy:

• Camping is not allowed under 2500m of altitude.
• In the Val Veny and Val Ferret zones, camping is only allowed in a designated campsite.

In Switzerland:

• Camping is allowed above tree level, but not within nature reserves.

8) Should I Plan My Own Trip (DIY), Self-Guide, or Go With a Guide?

A) DIY

If you’re a planner, the TMB is made for you. You’ll get to cruise around on hotel websites in three countries, poring over photos of standard, superior, and deluxe rooms.

Stephanie Lefferts, the tour manager at my company, Run the Alps, who works with more than fifty hotels, has three tips for DIYers:

• Book directly through a hotel’s website, if possible. You’ll often get a better rate and terms, and more money goes to the hotels, which are often family run.
• When in doubt, go for the half-board option, which includes dinner. As Lefferts points out, “It’s really nice to walk downstairs for dinner after a long day on the trail and not have to wander the town searching for somewhere to eat.”
• You guessed it: “Book early!”

Over the years, a number of planning sites have emerged for the DIYer–see our suggestions below and grab a copy of the venerable TMB bible, by Kev Reynolds. The most recent edition was released in 2020. Be sure to get the IGN Tour du Mont-Blanc map as well.

B) Find an Outfitter Who Sets Up Self-Guided Trips

This means that a company will book everything for you in advance so that all you have to do is show up and hike. Most TMB outfitters know the better inns and hotels along the route. And if you need to spend a night off the trail, they’ll schedule taxi transport for you. You’ll also get route descriptions for each day along with supporting materials that can save hassle and confusion. Most companies will also arrange for transport to and from the airport and baggage transfer during your hiking days.

C) Go With a Guide

In the Alps, so-called “middle mountain” guides (meaning hiking rather than climbing guides) are a common sight, leading hikers and trail runners along paths throughout the region. The English designation is called IML, for International Mountain Leader. In French, it’s accompagnateur for a male guide and accompagnatrice for a woman. Guides in the Alps go through a rigorous training and testing process, and their knowledge runs deep on topics from mountain safety to flora and fauna to local customs and more. The additional cost of going on a guided trip can be well worth it, particularly if you’re busy and would like to just show up and follow a competent and friendly leader.

If you’re going on a guided trip, be sure to confirm that your company uses only licensed guides. Mountain police, Europe’s equivalent of a forest ranger toting a police badge, often check a guide’s paperwork, and more than one hapless group has had its TMB trip stalled by the presence of non-licensed guides.

If you use a commercial company for either a guided or self-guided tour, remember that not all companies offer the same tier of service. The cost difference can be thousands of dollars, and your overnight accommodations might range from a stuffy dorm room to a 600-thread-count king-sized bed with a mountain-view terrace. Read the fine print carefully to see what costs are covered, and if items like airport shuttles and in-country transport are included on your way back.

9) Do I Have to Hike the Whole TMB?

The TMB is well set up for hikers with limited time. Transportation around the region is relatively straightforward. There are multiple buses each day between Chamonix and Courmayeur through the Mont Blanc tunnel, and France’s SNCF passenger trains coordinate with Switzerland’s SBB rail system, which in turn dovetails with the country’s Postbus system. All of which means, getting around is easy. If you’re short on time, try some day hikes. These are my places to stay for dramatic day hikes around the region: Chamonix, Courmayeur, and Champex.

10) What to Pack For Your TMB Hike

Most summer days on the TMB are luxurious, with zephyrs rustling the pastures, blue skies, and great hiking temperatures. But any given day can be downright brutal. Hope for the best, but be ready for the worst. Here’s a typical packing list:��

• Warm and waterproof clothing for cold days, including a waterproof jacket and pants, a thermal top, and hat and gloves.
• Dry bags or a waterproof cover for your pack.
• Hiking boots or sturdy trail running shoes. Go for at least a few long hikes beforehand to make sure they are a good fit.
• Hiking or trail-running poles are a common sight on the TMB, and for good reason. The slight shifting of weight from legs to arms will reduce fatigue later in the day, and the third point of contact will make steep terrain safer.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen.
• A large water bottle or hydration pack that can hold at least two liters.
• First-aid kit including a mix of bandages and blister aids.
• About 200 euros, even though many of the mountain stops and most mountain refuges accept cards.
• A cell phone with an international plan. It’s a good idea to store the emergency numbers in your contacts. In France and Italy, the number is 112. In Switzerland, it’s 114. Calls to emergency numbers are free. Rescue fees vary from free to pricey throughout the Alps. Here’s on the details. (TLDR? Get a membership in the Swiss nonprofit REGA, make sure your health insurance is up-to-date, and buy travel insurance from a reputable company, like IMG.)
• Bring your ATM card–there are ATMs at every stop except Les Chapieux and Trient. Just call your bank first to make sure the card is authorized for France, Italy, and Switzerland. Though Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc, euros are generally accepted around the loop.
• If you’re staying at mountain huts, most require a sleeping bag liner, which you’ll use in combination with wool hut blankets that won’t see a good washing until the close of the season. You can buy cotton, which has more bulk, or silk, which costs more but stuffs into about the size of a rolled washcloth.
• While most huts provide Crocs or flip-flops for indoor use, it’s not a bad idea to bring your own that are actually comfortably sized to you instead of whatever is in the hut shoe cubby.
• Ear plugs if you’re sharing overnight accommodations.

11) Learn the TMB Etiquette

As with many long-distance paths, there are rules to the road. On the TMB, they are well-established, thanks to the long history of the route.

At refuges:

• Shoes and poles in the boot room only.
• In shared rooms, try to be quiet at night, and don’t turn the light on if someone is sleeping. Turn cell phones off or to Airplane Mode.
• Use an indoor voice. (Yes, it really is true: Americans tend to be among the loudest.)
• A small tip is appreciated–perhaps a euro for a snack and cafe au lait, a few euros for a meal.

On the trail:

• Remember that there might be bikers, runners, or faster walkers who want to get past, so be ready to step aside.
• Share a “Bonjour” when passing fellow hikers.
• Please, don’t play music out loud. Grab the earbuds.
• Evidence is starting to mount that swimming in lakes has a negative impact on their ecosystems. Please minimize or avoid it, especially if you’re wearing sunscreen.

12) My Top TMB Advice: Treat Yourself!

The TMB has to be the hiking path with some of the tastiest aid stations en route. While you’ll burn over 4,000 calories a day, if you’re not adding it all back, well, you’re missing out.

This is ten years of in-depth culinary research in a handful of short paragraphs, but rest assured, the pleasure was all mine.

On one of my first TMBs, circling the Mont Blanc massif in four days as part of a trail-running mini-vacation, our group kept a literally running tally of the number of tartes aux myrtilles (blueberry tarts), pain au chocolates, and cafe au laits we had. We quickly lost track, though.

My brothers, cousin, and I repeated a version of this game last fall. In fact, counting tartes and other treats is a classic TMB tradition. Thanks to those baked mountain goodies and endless big views, the miles pass quickly. Before you know it you’ll be back on the steps of the centuries-old St. Michel Church in Chamonix, celebrating with beers from Big Mountain Brewery and looking forward to a fromage-filled celebratory dinner at La Caleche.

Here are some of my favorite stops en route.

• Refuge Plan de l’Aiguille: While not on the TMB, this high hut above Chamonix is well worth a visit. So, book a jet-lag recovery day in Chamonix, and head here for a TMB warm-up. Claude and his staff make what is widely considered the best tarts in the Chamonix valley, fresh each morning. The typical spread is wild blueberry, strawberry, lemon, and raspberry. (Take in the Midi tram, the world’s second-longest, on the same day.)
• Chalet Miage: Stop for lunch at this rustic mountain farm before the French village of Les Contamines and order anything on the menu. Really. It’s that simple.
• Alpage Ville de Glacier: If you’re not taking Col des Fours, look for this farm just outside the hamlet of Chapieux and stock up on local Beaufort and Sérac cheese directly from the farmer.
• Refugio Elizabetta: Time your wanderings to stop in for their traditional Italian lunches like hearty bowls of polenta, and all for a good price.
• Courmayeur, Italy: This TMB stopover town has a wide array of great restaurants, so schedule a rest day here. Get a gelato or an ice cream at the Gelateria in the center of town, and sneak down a side alley for focaccia at Pan per Focaccia. Pro tip: ask your hotel to book a taxi to the QC Terme roman spas at Pré-Saint-Didier. If you end up wanting more, the same company has a new facility waiting to ease the end-of-trip aches and pains in Chamonix.
• Alpage de Bovine: Switzerland is all about comfort food, and the grated potato and cheese Rostï at this high Swiss farm stop will persuade you that all is well with the world. Save room for an apricot or blueberry tart.
• Refuge Col de Balme: Wrap your hands around a thick hot chocolate as you look down to Chamonix and eye the last ten miles of your loop around Mont Blanc.

Santé et à bientôt!

13) Important Resources for the Tour Du Mont Blanc

Helpful Sites for DIY Planners

is a one-stop online planning site, with links to key huts and other services along the way.

offers paid support for DIYers who want a hand building their own trips.

: Taxi Besson is the go-to company to shuttle your bags around the TMB. They work with most major hotels in the region. Drop your bag by in the morning after breakfast, and it will be waiting for you at your next hotel that evening. (In my outfit’s ten years of using them, they’ve never once failed us.) Pro tip: Follow the weight-limit guidelines, ask at the hotel desk exactly where to leave your bag, and don’t tie anything to the outside.

transfers between Geneva and the Chamonix valley.

: With nearly 37,000 members, this Facebook group is lively, filled with useful information. Ignore the know-it-alls, and you’ll find tons of good intel.

If you’re going on your own, Emily Geldard, a longtime resident and the Run the Alps assistant manager, has created a handy summary of options to shorten many of the days, in the event of inclement weather or injury. “” offers information on bail-out options, plus a list of ways to extend each day if yesterday’s pastries have you energized for bonus terrain.

Outfitter Recommendations for Guided and Self-Guided Hiking

, , and are highly regarded tour operators who offer both guided and self-guided trips on the TMB.

Outfitter Recommendations for Guided and Self-Guided Running

is an Alps-based company with U.S. roots. (The author is the founder and part owner.) Run the Wild and Tracks and Trails are two other good options.

If You Need a Doctor

If you have an emergency, use the emergency numbers or ask your accommodation host to call a local doctor. Les Contamines, Courmayeur, and ��������Գپ�è���� have pharmacies.

Apps

A handful of apps make the TMB easier to navigate, including which also contains weather data. is often used for weather.

(Gaia is owned by ���ϳԹ��� Inc., the company that owns ���ϳԹ���.)

Learn Some of the Local Language

French / Italian:

• Hello = Bonjour / Ciao
• Thank you = Merci / Grazie
• Breakfast = Petit Dejeuner / Colazione
• How much is it? = Ça coûte combien? / Quanto costa?
• Do you speak English? = Est ce que vous parlez anglais? / Parla inglese?
• Where are the toilets? = Où sont les toilettes? / Dove e’ il bagno?
• This way? = Par ici? / Da questa parte?
• It hurts here = Ça me fait mal ici / Sono ferito qui
• Mountain hut = refuge de montagne / rifugio di montagna
• I need help = J’ai besoin d’aide / Ho bisogno di aiuto��

Great Side Trails to Explore

One of the best features of the TMB is that there are plenty of side trails to hike along the way. You can truly do your own hike, mixing the standard route with wilder variants, or hopping a local bus to skip sections. Hiking what we call a variant trail can be a great way to get away from crowds and find solitude. Here are a few of my favorites.

• France: Col de Fours: from Les Contamines to the must-see rustic lodge of Les Mottets, this is a direct variant that detours around Les Chapieux. It is a mere 350 feet of additional climbing–though much more technical than the norm–and a bit more than a mile shorter. It includes one of the highest points on the TMB (which should be avoided in bad weather). Best of all, there’s a high likelihood of seeing ibex.
• Italy: Val de Sapin: From Courmayeur to Bonatti Refugio, this adds an additional 1,300 feet of climbing and about a mile of distance. It is a wild and quiet valley, and you are likely to see ibex.
• Italy into Switzerland: Petit Col Ferret: Next to the Grand Col Ferret, this is an alternate route to La Fouly. It is the same distance and elevation, but the rocky descent is more technical. The trail is much quieter than the traditional route.
• Switzerland: Fenêtre d’Arpette: from Champex to Trient, this variant adds about 1,300 feet of elevation, and is a bit less distance, but it is a lot more technical and time-consuming. Because of the high altitude and slippery rock, it should be avoided in bad weather and certainly during the early season. The route’s steep and icy snowfields linger into early summer and have led to a fatal slide every few years. The scenery is wild and other-worldly, and the trail is usually quiet.
• Switzerland into France: Les Tseppes: From Trient to ��������Գپ�è����, France, this variant adds a few hundred feet of elevation and about a mile of distance. The start is steep and daunting, but worth the challenge. The trail is quiet, and you are treated to wide-ranging views of the Vallorcine valley and Mont Blanc.

The Author’s Lodging Recommendations Along the TMB

Chamonix

• High End: If you want modern and plenty of amenities, Heliopic is your go-to. Want authentic French? Head to the Hameau Albert 1er.
• Middle: Le Refuge des Aiglons is modern, with a nice spa, pool, and outdoor seating. For something more rustic, head down the street to Hotel Oustalet, which features a large yard that’s somehow quiet, despite its central location.
• Rustic: La Boerne is located out of town in the tiny collection of chalets known as Tré-le-champ. It’s a ten-minute walk to the local train, which is 20 minutes from Chamonix. There’s also bus service from ��������Գپ�è����, a 15-minute walk away.

Les Contamines

• High End: Hôtel La Chemenaz. Spacious private rooms and suites, with an outdoor swimming pool and spa.
• Middle: Gai Soleil. Family-run by passionate staff, this converted farm has been hosting tourists since the 1920s. The private rooms have a cozy, alpine feel.
• Rustic: Chalet Refuge de Nant Borrants. Set on the TMB trail, a little outside of Les Contamines, this refuge is secluded and traditional. The dormitories are clean, with just six to nine people in each room.

Les Chapieux

• High End: Taxi to Bourg St-Maurice and stay at Hotel L’Autantic or Hotel Base Camp Lodge des Arcs.
• Middle: Chambres du Soleil. Family-run, with excellent food cooked by the husband. There are woodburners in the dining rooms, and blankets in the bedrooms made from local wool.
• Rustic: Refuge Les Mottets. The food is hearty mountain style using local cheeses, and the dining room is decorated with historic farming equipment. A refuge staffer often plays music at dinner time on the player piano in the dining room.

Courmayeur

• High End: Grand Hotel Courmayeur. Modern and stylish rooms, with an indoor pool and spa.
• Middle: Bouton D’Or. Traditional, alpine decor, and a fantastic breakfast buffet that is all homemade. The fruits in the breakfast tarts are grown in the kitchen garden.
• Rustic: Cabane du Combal. A secluded location in the mountains, on the TMB but outside of Courmayeur.

La Fouly:

• High End: Take a taxi to Verbier and stay at La Cordée des Alpes. Modern rooms with alpine decoration.
• Middle: L’Hôtel Edelweiss. Clean, modern rooms that have been recently renovated.
• Rustic: Gîte Alpage de La Peule. This is an active dairy where you can buy the products, and see how different cheeses are made.

Champex:

• High End: Hôtel Alpina. A husband-and-wife partnership with Michelin-standard food cooked by the husband. The building is small and has a private, family feel.
• Middle: Hôtel Splendide. A historic and grand hotel built in the 1930s. Think high ceilings, stained-glass windows, and creaky wooden floorboards.
• Rustic: Relais d’Arpette. A traditional mountain auberge on a variant taking you a 20-minute walk off the TMB, on the Fênetre d’Arpette, in a secluded valley outside of Champex. Fantastic views.

Trient

• High End: Take a taxi to ��������Գپ�è���� and stay at the Hôtel Les Grands Montets. Access to a spa and indoor swimming pool. The rooms are cozy and comfortable with alpine deco.
• Middle: La Grande Ourse. Clean, modern rooms and friendly staff.
• Rustic: Refuge Le Peuty. Excellent food served in a yurt with homemade, artsy decorations.

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• High End: Hôtel Les Grands Montets. Access to a spa and indoor swimming pool. The rooms are cozy and comfortable with alpine deco.
• Middle: With an old standby, the Hôtel de la Couronne, newly sold and under renovation until at least December 2023, middle-of-the-road accommodations are thin in Argentiére. A good alternative is to take public transport or a train to Chamonix or Vallorine, and double up your nights in one of your last hotels.
• Rustic: La Boerne. Another traditional auberge that is right on the TMB trail. It is in a quiet, secluded spot with a beautiful terrace. The building is full of character, with wooden beams and bunkbeds.

If You Get Shut Out of the TMB This Year

Troy Haines of Alpinehikers likes to point clients toward other, quieter destinations in the Alps, such as the Haute Route between Chamonix, France, and Zermatt, Switzerland; Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland; or Italy’s Dolomites. “All of them, TMB included, are simply stunning,” Haines says. “You really can’t go wrong.”

How to Be a Conscientious Traveler

While the are not specifically called out along the TMB, they are excellent guidelines, particularly as the TMB or any other place becomes busier. Learning a few phrases of the local language is always a nice icebreaker and shows respect, and please be patient with busy hut and innkeepers. When passing through the huts, follow the simple protocol of removing and storing boots and poles. Protocols are often posted right inside the doors.

Doug Mayer is the founder of the trail-running tour company . He lives in Montroc, France, 100 yards from the TMB, where he often trail runs with his labradoodle, Izzy. His new book is The Race That Changed Running: The Inside Story of the UTMB.

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Back in October, a buddy and I hiked the 23-mile Sandia Mountain traverse that goes up and over the entire length of the range outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the first 15 miles I felt great. But then, about a mile into the long descent off the top, I developed a terrible pain in my right shin. I was immediately hobbled and started to worry. The remaining miles were steep and if I couldn’t make it down, a rescue effort was going to either involve a lot of people carrying me or a helicopter.

Luckily I’d brought a , just in case. I thought it might take some pressure off my knees on the descent, but as the pain increased, its role quickly transformed from a�� convenience into a rescue mechanism. To get down the last eight miles of the trail I had to put almost all my weight on the pole whenever I stepped down with my right foot. That system got me another four miles or so, and then near the end of the hike the pain got so bad I borrowed my buddy’s two poles and gave him my one so that I could almost crutch my way down. I made it, but just barely.��

Fast forward a month and I was once again in the Sandias, this time to accompany a friend bow hunting for deer. We’d spent the entire day up on the steep faces that line the western side of the mountains so we could look for a buck down on the flats. By three o’clock it was time for me to pick up my kids from school and the only way back to the car was to descend a hill that easily pitched to 40 degrees or steeper.

Parts of the hill were covered in small kitty litter-like rocks that acted like marbles under my feet. Even worse, other parts were covered with re-frozen snow that wasn’t quite as slippery as ice, but came awfully close. Once again my Mountainsmith pole came to the rescue. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I would have taken a couple scary tumbles or slides without it. I was able to keep my footing only by jamming the pole into the rocks and snow below me as I slowly traversed the hill in a series of miniature switchbacks. I still ate shit a couple times but the pole kept me from falling hard enough to really hurt myself.����

Back at my car, grateful that the pole had now saved me twice in a matter of months, I vowed to never leave home without one if I was heading out on a hike, backpacking trip, or hunt. I no longer think about the pole as an extra item that might come in handy, I consider it an essential part of my emergency kit alongside things like a Garmin inReach and first-aid kit. Besides saving me on steep terrain and when injured, when matched with a tarp, it could help me set up an emergency shelter if needed.

You may wonder why I go with an aluminum pole versus something carbon, which would weigh less. The primary reason is that aluminum can take more abuse. On the scree field, for example, the aluminum pole endured scratches and dings, and I never once worried that it was going to fail, or that I was slowly destroying it. I know carbon is plenty strong, but when abused, it can fall apart faster than aluminum. I’ve even strapped a pair of to the outside of a checked suitcase on a flight to France. That’s not something I would do with a set of carbon ski poles.

Some people who are fitter than me and move as fast and light as possible will obviously go for carbon. But I log a lot of miles throughout the backcountry, and I’m never bothered by the extra weight of aluminum. The essential extra jacket and water are far heavier than the pole, so a couple extra ounces of metal is not a big deal.

Finally, there’s the price. Aluminum poles average around $80, versus paying upwards of $150 for an equally robust pair of carbon hiking poles. I plan on having my Mountainsmith poles for a decade or more to come, but if I somehow manage to destroy them, replacement won’t be as painful.��

The post Why I Never Leave Home Without a Folding Aluminum Hiking Pole appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

The first time I used poles for running was in 2008 at a vertical kilometer race in the Italian Dolomites. The slope was so steep I practically scraped my chin on the mossy grass growing on the ascent. I had previous pole experience from years of Nordic skiing, mogul competitions, and even some ski ballet, where I used oversized poles to assist with tricks. But in Italy, I learned the value of using a tool to help propel myself up excruciating slopes. The light, stiff poles let me use my arms in addition to my gassed legs to lighten the load, reduce my effort, and aid my ascent. And, I found they required little in the way of skill or training to reap the benefits. I believe one reason American trail and ultrarunners consistently lose races to their European counterparts is that their continental competition consistently trains and races with the aid of poles on their long, steep trails.

I’ve since learned that poles are not only convenient on big ascents but also useful when you are well into a long run. When you’re fatigued and on new terrain, poles give you a feel for the trail—especially at night or when your sight is compromised—and they make noises to warn animals of your presence in the backcountry. They are also convenient on multiday fastpacking efforts, when they can double as tent poles for lightweight shelters and, in the case of an emergency, as splints for damaged limbs.

On runs and races of any distance, poles can also keep you upright when the footing gets slippery. “Poles are a runner’s friend when it comes to running on slick wintery surfaces,” says Jeff Colt, a professional trail and ultrarunner with On Running and Ultimate Direction who recently placed 14th at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championship as part of the gold medal US team.

Any light trekking pole can be used for running, but just as material and design advances have refined poles for the Nordic, skimo, and hiking markets, running-specific poles are more fine-tuned than ever. If you’re going to use them primarily for running, you’d do well by choosing poles made to meet the needs of the runner, from grip to portability. Here are three of the best running poles on the market.

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Running Poles ($170)

Weight: 3.1 ounces per pole

These carbon poles are the stiffest and lightest on the market, thanks to the “fixed” design that doesn’t collapse or pull apart. The downside: You must carry them at full length when you’re not using them. Fortunately, the 47-inch poles (they come in lengths ranging from 39 to 51 inches) were light enough that I barely noticed them when I wasn’t using them to push me forward, and Black Diamond even thought to add a label mid-shaft to mark where to hold them to keep them balanced when carried.

I also appreciated the EVA foam handgrips, made of recycled materials, which were lightweight and didn’t get clammy. The poles even come with interchangeable rubber and metal tips, which can be swapped out depending on the surface you’re most likely to encounter on the run. And, if they get in the way, you can remove the low-profile baskets.

Colt told me he uses the Distance Carbon Running Poles for his workouts and faster mountain efforts and during short, steep, Vertical Kilometer style races. “If I am doing a hill workout with 5 repeats on a 1,000ft climb, I’ll use these poles and won’t worry about collapsing them, as they are quite light and I’m taking it easier on the descents as is,” he says.

The Distance Carbon Running Poles do pose a problem when traveling long distances, especially via air, because they require special handling outside normal luggage processing. They are not unlike fixed-length fly fishing rods that way. An easy alternative is the brand’s Z Poles, which are slightly heavier and lose some efficiency from the tri-fold design. Colt says he uses the Carbon Z Poles ($190) for big mountain adventures and races.

LEKI Ultratrail FX.One Superlite ($220)

Weight: 4.8 ounces per pole

LEKI has made a big push to dominate the ultradistance running scene and their poles were everywhere in Chamonix, France in late August during the UTMB and its related races. LEKI poles stand out from others because of an integrated “Trail Shark,” system with dedicated gloves that snap into the poles. The snug gloves are designed to transfer power directly from each hand to the center of the pole. Hooks make it easy to click the strap in, even on the run.

While the poles were effective in transferring arm power into forward movement, I found some drawbacks. The largest was that the Trail Shark system forced me to use LEKI’s glove and prevented me from swapping out for a more comfortable one, or a warmer one when the weather changed on the run. It also discouraged me from eating chocolate at aid stations for fear of getting food stains on the gloves. To be fair, you can wear other gloves and use the LEKI straps, but the connection to the poles isn’t quite as direct and it adds a bit of weight.

On the plus side, the Ultratrail FX.One Superlite was easy to collapse and fold into three segments for ease of carrying or stowing away in a belt or vest. At a mere 4.8 ounces per pole, they are, indeed, super light. LEKI also offers an optional trail running basket and concave carbide tip to provide grip in all conditions.

MSR DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles ($170)

Weight: 1 pound, 2 ounces per pole

For those who prefer simple versatility, MSR’s DynaLock Ascent Carbon Backcountry Poles are easily collapsible and don’t require the use of dedicated gloves. The EVA foam grips even offer a variety of hold options. Compared to the other poles in this review, the DynaLocks’ plainness is what makes them so appealing: they don’t require an operation manual.

The Kevlar-reinforced carbon fiber poles allow for nearly eight inches of length adjustment on the fly, using the convenient tool-free aluminum DynaLock mechanism. They fold in thirds for easy stashing and the poles come with removable winter baskets so they can be used all four seasons. Unfortunately, at just over a pound each, they are considerably heavier than the other poles in this review, but that heft also promises to make them more durable, as they are anything but flimsy. They are likely the only set of poles you’ll own, given their utility for a variety of activities.

The post I Never Used to Run with Poles. Now I Won’t Hit the Trails Without Them. appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Whether it’s saving five dollars on a great pair of socks, or a significant discount on a big ticket item like a GPS watch, there’s no shortage of deals to take advantage of at . I searched for the best markdowns on outdoor gear that ���ϳԹ��� staffers use for hiking, climbing, trail running, and relaxing around the campfire.

Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion ($17; 25 Percent Off)

Declared the best hiking socks by ���ϳԹ���’s Gear Guy, Darn Tough’s Hikers (available in and ) are “just damn comfy.” The micro crew height sits just slightly lower on the leg than the crew length version, so they’re versatile enough to pair with both shoes and boots. With Darn Tough’s standard level of cushioning, padding is found on key areas of the socks rather than an all-over wrap, helping reduce foot fatigue without being too bulky inside footwear. These are just solid everyday socks; great on long hikes or drinks at the pub after work. Plus, Darn Tough’s lifetime warranty is about as good a guarantee as it gets.

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Suunto 9 Baro GPS Watch ($400; 20 Percent Off)

If you’ve had your eye on the , now is your opportunity to save a hundred bucks. In his long-term test, Andrew Skurka called it “the most accurate and richly featured watch in Suunto’s line, while also being the nicest to look at, wear, and use.” Among its laundry list of features, the multisport GPS watch has an extensive battery life that endurance athletes will appreciate (up to 120 hours in Ultra mode), a built-in barometer, wrist-mounted heart rate monitor, easy-to-read screen that displays up to seven data fields, over 80 sport modes, and an impressive level of customization.

Black Diamond Storm 400 Headlamp ($37; 25 Percent Off)

Reviews editor Jeremy Rellosa called the Black Diamond Storm Headlamp “a vital part of [his] loadout.” This allows you to switch between three output settings (high, medium, and low) along with three different night vision modes, and the battery meter lets you track how much run time you’ve got left, so you won’t unexpectedly find yourself in the dark (high output will get you around five hours of light). The Brightness Memory feature is handy, too, allowing you to turn the headlamp on and off at your desired brightness level without having it revert to its full power default setting.��

Petzl Luna Harness Kit ($142; 25 Percent Off)

���ϳԹ���’s managing director added the to her V-day wishlist because “it comes with wide loops that are cushy with extra padding.” The women-specific fit has a longer rise and better contours to the lower back and hips, which helps distribute weight and makes for a more comfortable climb. The harness is suitable for rock, ice, and gym climbing, plus the kit comes with a GriGri belay device and locking carabiner.��

Leki MCT Superlite Carbon Trekking Poles ($150; 25 Percent Off)

The streamlined design and carbon fiber shafts on the allow for light, fast, and precise movement, so much so that ���ϳԹ���’s senior gear editor Ariella Gintzler has these in her mountain running kit. These fixed-length folding poles save weight by ditching traditional locking mechanisms, and the simple push-button makes for a quick break down. The grips are the coolest feature: breathable mesh gloves click in and out of the trigger quick-release system in a matter of seconds.

Nemo Stargaze Luxury Recliner Chair ($164; 25 Percent Off)

“Because of its comfort, is a staple in my car-camping kit now and the first chair I reach for during any tailgate situation,” wrote ���ϳԹ��� columnist Graham Averill. This hammock-camp chair hybrid is perfect for lounging at the beach, attending a backyard BBQ, sitting sideline at your kid’s sporting event, or hanging around the campfire. The current iteration has an extended fit range and lower center of gravity than the previous model, providing added stability while you rock back. The flexible aluminum frame sets up quickly in a few simple steps, suspending you above the ground for the ultimate recline. There’s also a padded adjustable headrest, cupholder, little stash pocket for your phone and keys, and it folds into its carrying case for easy transport.

The post The Best Deals at REI’s Labor Day Sale appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

I’ve poured over to find the best deals on hiking gear that I’ve used for years. There’s nothing too technical or niche here, just good quality stuff that’s versatile, durable, and withstands wear. Everything on this list performs great in the field, and most of these pieces function capably in other areas of life, too. Whether you’re planning a backpacking trip or looking for gear that makes family-friendly hiking easier, you can count on these seven items to work well and last a long time. And��they’re all on sale right now.��

Black Diamond Distance FLZ Trekking Poles ($105; 25 Percent��Off)

When I first started using trekking poles, I was surprised at how much balance and support they provided. They’re also fun; I like the repetition and focus they create when I plant them with each step. The����is��lightweight, stowable, easy to use, and rigid when you require��support.��

These poles feature a ton of great��features. First, they combine the best of both worlds: the stowability and simplicity of foldable models with the length customization of telescoping ones (I like to lengthen my poles an inch or two on the descent). The three-section��streamlined design collapses down small (13 to 16 inches, depending on the��size), making them easy to pack, and there’s really no��bulky hardware that might snag on loose clothing. There’s a��minimal locking mechanism on the top section that��allows up��to��eight extra inches of adjustability, but it doesn’t get in the way.��

I trust the Distance FLZ��to help me navigate loose rock, tangled roots, and ever��changing terrain. Its��rubber tech tips are precise, and the low-profile stopper baskets don’t trip me up when I’m moving quickly. The hand grips are comfortable and breathable (the grips on the are slightly shorter), and the wrist straps are easy to slip in and out of. The sliding lock��requires��a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it, deploying them takes a couple seconds, and once they’re locked in place, they’re solid.

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Salomon Wo�����’s Quest 4D 3 GTX Hiking Boots ($172; 25 Percent��Off)

��is an��exceptional all-around hiking boot��that straddles the line between backpacking and day-hiking footwear. It��isn’t��the lightest boot, nor is it��especially��rugged, but it��offers a great mix of features to make it more than��suitable for most adventures on the trail.��

I’ve worn the Quest��year-round on routes��that involved climbing slick and muddy switchbacks, in peak summer temperatures as well as��in pouring rain, and high in the mountains, slogging up scree slopes and over glaciated alpine terrain. It’s��comfortable right out of the box, cushioned, sturdy, provides��excellent��ankle support, and��manages to be both breathable and waterproof (often a tough combo to achieve). This is my go-to hiking footwear because I know I can put them through anything. To borrow from John Cameron Swayze’s famous Timex tagline:��these boots can take a lickin’ and keep on kickin’.

Nalgene Sustain 32-Ounce Wide-Mouth Water Bottle ($7; 50 Percent Off)

The is iconic for two reasons: it’s simple and it works. First created in 1940 for laboratory use, it quickly entered the mainstream and has been a staple on hiking trails for the past 70 years. Now it’s the reusable bottle of choice for, well,��almost everyone. It’s leakproof, odor-proof,��and damn��near bulletproof. You’ll lose this plastic bottle before you break it—and if it does break, it’s backed by Nalgene’s limited lifetime warranty. The Sustain��is made of Tritan Renew, a next-gen recycled resin that turns plastic destined for landfills into BPA, BPS, and phthalate-free bottles (eight��single-use plastic bottles are recycled to produce one Nalgene Sustain).

The easy-to-use design hasn’t changed since its inception—it’s a plastic bottle and a screw-top lid—and it’s compatible with many water-filtration systems. There’s a , but I prefer��the wide-mouth bottle because it’s more versatile;��you can toss in ice cubes, and you can fill��it with��more than just liquid (perhaps��last night’s leftover pasta for tomorrow’s hike). Whether it’s covered in stickers from gear shops across the country or sports��a new national-park graphic design, one thing’s for certain: you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ reusable water bottle.��

Matador NanoDry Towel ($26; 25 Percent Off)

I’m a fan of Matador’s superlight, super-compact because it’s a great take-with-you-everywhere towel. Over the past five years, I’ve brought��it hiking, paddleboarding, camping, to the beach and��the playground,��and just about everywhere else that might require such a necessity. It has also taken��a fair share of abuse��yet is��still in essentially the same condition as when I first got it.��

This ultrathin nanofiber towel stuffs into its own unique silicone case, and with the sturdy carabiner clip, it attaches to the outside of a backpack, which is where it lives permanently for me. Smaller and lighter than my iPhone, it takes up almost no space or weight; with the case, the whole unit weighs five ounces, but the towel itself is only 2.4 ounces. Its size is that of a standard bath towel:��47 by��24 inches. Although it boasts high absorbency, if you take a lake��dip midhike, you’ll probably have to wring the towel out a couple times to get completely dry, given how thin it is. It dries just as quickly��as other microfiber towels I’ve used, but it doesn’t seem to pick up odors or debris like grass or dirt the same way. If you’re looking for the kind of result you get from drying your hair and body with a cushy bath towel, this isn’t it. But if you need a towel that dries sufficiently��and will work��in a pinch and on��the��go, the NanoDry does the job.��

REI Co-op Talusphere Rain Pants ($63; 30 Percent��Off)

The ��is��a versatile pair of rain pants that can handle anything from a big downpour��to an afternoon thunderstorm.��They’re also good for everyday off-trail use, like walking the dog in the rain or hanging with your kid at the playground. Constructed from REI’s proprietary 2.5-layer breathable laminate, these pants pack down into their own pocket for easy stowing. And although not generally as durable or as heavy as three-layer rain pants, they’ll see you through most��trail pursuits just fine. Tightly sealed pockets keep your essentials dry, and the polyester fabric is quiet (read: it won’t sound like you’re walking with two garbage bags rubbing against each other).��

The Talusphere��unzips to mid-calf, so putting them on over hiking boots is easy��enough, while��the generous fit means they can be��donned over an existing layer or two. The elastic waistband and four-way-stretch fabric are��comfortable and facilitate seemless movement, and the hem drawcord and fabric tab over the ankle zipper keep��rain and debris out. A��range of sizing options means you can pick the best fit; these include����(XS to XL), ��(S to XL), ��(S to XL), ��(S to XXL) and����(S to XXL). The one downside: they don’t have vents, but if you don’t need something too technical and you don’t plan to log a ton of miles in inclement weather, the Talusphere��is��a solid pick that will keep you dry.

Arc’teryx Atom LT Insulated Jacket ($179;��25 Percent Off)

Arc’teryx is known for making high-performance products that last, but those��also often come with a��high-performance price tag, which is why any discount on its��gear is something to get excited about. The Atom LT is a supercomfortable midlayer (not to mention an��essential piece of hiking gear to own) that doubles as an outer layer, thanks to DWR coating that allows rain to bead off rather than soak in. After four years, my Atom LT shows almost no signs of wear; the wrist cuffs are just as snug, the color just as black, and the zipper functions��like it did on day one. The synthetic Coreloft insulation, an alternative to down, will keep you warm, but not too warm; in the Pacific Northwest, where I’m based, I get four-season use from��this jacket.��

This Atom LT sits midhip and has a narrow cut, so you won’t fit much underneath except a base layer or light shirt, but it wears well as part of a layering system with an outer shell. Zippered pockets include an inner one at chest level and two hand warmers. What I like most about this jacket is that it doesn’t feel restrictive; the stretchy, breathable, fleece-lined side panels allow for free movement. Whether I’m scrambling��up loose rocks or crouching down to tie my son’s shoes for the umpteenth time, this jacket works with me, not against me. Sizes range from XS to XL for����and S to XXL for��, and as an added bonus, the jacket is��backed by Arc’teryx’s limited lifetime warranty.

Smartwool Performance Hike Light Cushion Crew Socks ($17; 25 Percent Off)

Socks can make or break your hiking experience. Bad socks cause blisters, result in��sweaty feet, don’t stay in place, and are generally a pain in the butt. Good��socks do the opposite, wicking��moisture,��reducing��friction, regulating��temperature, and generally staying put. I always recommend investing in two pairs of hiking socks: one to wear, and one as a backup.��

These Smartwool socks hug your feet in all the right spots, providing cushioning, compression and ventilation where it’s needed most, which is along the top of the foot and up the shaft of the sock to help dump heat. Made with over 50 percent merino wool,��the Performance Hike socks��have light cushioning along the bottom and��mesh worked in throughout key areas to add breathability. Best of all, they don’t move around or bunch up. The crew��version hits approximately��mid-calf��and is a solid��choice if you’re wearing hiking boots or want some extra coverage against the environment. These socks come in both ��(S to XL) and ��(S to L) versions, but for something that sits lower on the leg, the Mid Crews (designed for����and��) have all the same features—they’re just shorter.��

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Partway through a late-summer backpacking trip a few months ago, I realized I had become a trekking pole guy again. I’ve flirted with the concept before: I took a pair of borrowed poles on a 10-day hike in the northern Rockies 15 years ago, and bought a knock-off Leki pole in Kathmandu before a three-week trek in the Himalaya. But I’ve always been lukewarm about them. They feel fine, but I really like having my hands free for snacking, picture-taking, map-reading, scrambling, and so on.

On my most recent trip, I initially picked up a walking stick because the so-called trail we were following—the , in Algonquin Park—turned out to be one long river of rock-strewn, boot-sucking mud. I needed the stick to test whether my next step would be thigh-deep or merely ankle-deep, and to double-check my balance while piggybacking my kids across fast-flowing creeks. But then one of my daughters asked me to carry her stick for a while—and soon I’d settled into a comfortable two-poled rhythm, even on the rare stretches of firm ground. When my daughter asked for her stick back, I told her to find another one.

Trekking poles elicit mixed feelings. Their boosters certainly love them, and not just in the backcountry. “People will still say, ‘Hey, you forgot your skis!’” an “urban poling” instructor a few years ago. “We’re going to change that. In Europe, they look at you kind of funny if you walk around without poles.” On the other hand, the Switzerland-based International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation sounds a more skeptical tone, that using poles too much will sap your balance and coordination, thus raising the risk of accidents in situations like crossing ridges that are too narrow for poles.

There have actually been quite a few studies investigating the pros and cons of pole use, and they’re summarized in by Ashley Hawke and Randall Jensen in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. This isn’t a meta-analysis that aggregates the results of a bunch of studies into one big dataset, because the studies all tackle slightly different questions in slightly different contexts. But bringing all the studies together in one place allows us to extract some common themes. Here are the highlights:

You Burn More Calories with Trekking Poles

This is a fairly consistent finding. By some estimates, it’s about a 20 percent calorie bonus thanks to the added demands of using your upper body muscles. To the urban polers of the world, this is : the pounds will melt away! To the curmudgeons of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation, this just means you’re straining harder to accomplish the same thing: your heart rate, breathing, and energy expenditure will all be elevated. One caveat: you don’t get the extra calorie burn just from carrying the poles with you. You have to actively drive them into the ground.

You Walk Faster and/or It Feels Easier

All six of the relevant studies in the review found that subjects tended to walk faster with poles. It’s not because you’re propelling yourself forward with arm power, though. Instead, the poles seem to enable people to adopt a more normal walking gait, with longer and quicker strides, particularly while carrying a pack or climbing a hill. That gait assistance is also why poles are and other movement disorders.

Interestingly, even though you’re burning more calories in the process, the poles seem to reduce perception of effort while going uphill with a pack. That’s significant, because some scientists argue that perceived effort is what really determines your pace and willingness to continue.

You Take Some Load Off Your Joints and Muscles

When you’re walking downhill (and to lesser extent on level ground), poles take some of the load off your joints. That means the forces and torques on your knees and ankles are smaller, which could be particularly beneficial if you’ve got joint problems like osteoarthritis, or if you are older or overweight. Poles also help you brake when you’re descending, reducing the eccentric muscle contractions that damage your muscles and leave your legs sore the next day.

As you’d expect by now, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation sees the glass-half-empty perspective on this: by unloading the joints, you may be missing out on training your braking muscles, and missing out on the joint stress that triggers adaptations in your knee cartilage.

You Balance Better

This is intuitively obvious, but scientists have indeed confirmed that it’s true by, for example, having subjects walk across a 10-foot “simulated log.” An interesting nuance: according to , you need two poles to improve your balance when you’re carrying a heavy backpack, but only one pole to improve when you’re unloaded. Whether it’s true that long-term pole use hurts your balance remains untested.

So, in summary, you burn a little more energy with poles in exchange for better balance, less joint stress, faster speed, and less effort. The margins are mostly pretty small, and you have to weigh them against the intangibles, like having free hands or hearing taunts about forgetting your skis. Then, as I discovered this summer, there’s the possibility of leaning way forward and resting your forehead on your pole to temporarily take the load of an overstuffed pack off your shoulders and hips while you wait for your wife to extricate your youngest daughter from yet another bottomless mud pit. I don’t plan to start taking poles on my neighborhood strolls. But if my next backpacking trip is anything like my last one, I’ll seriously consider bringing proper poles instead of stealing my daughter’s walking stick.

For more Sweat Science, join me on and , sign up for the , and check out my book .

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They may be backpacking’s most notorious do-it-yourself job: the duct-tape shoes Cheryl Strayed��made after watching one hiking boot tumble into oblivion and chucking the other after it (because what good is one boot?).

“I wrapped my socks and sport sandals in duct tape and I had a pretty darn GOOD��pair of boots,” Strayed��told me via email. “It still makes me laugh to remember them.”

The hack was born of catastrophe, as are many awkward and unlovely—but useful and necessary—homemade backcountry items. It’s one reason hikers make their own gear, but it’s not the only one.

Given backpacking’s glaring absence of luxury, one might be forgiven for thinking it’s a cheap hobby. It’s not. Just setting��yourself up��for a comfortable��overnight trip in the woods requires, at minimum, a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent,��and backpack. If��you select for average quality, buying these four foundational items could lighten your wallet by at least a thousand dollars. Throw in trekking poles, a stove and cooking equipment, raingear, a tent footprint, stuffsacks, trail runners, a base layer, a top layer, a puffy coat, a water-filtration system, a headlamp, a paracord, and a first aid kit, and there goes another grand.

But spend any time in the woods or in online backpacking forums, and it won’t escape your notice that backpackers��hail��from more than one socioeconomic stratum. Sure, rich folks backpack. (On long-distance trails, we call them “platinum blazers” for the credit cards we presume they use for their Dyneema tents, custom-made quilts, and ultralight backpacks.) But ordinary people find a way to get out there, too. How?

Strayed was taking a great leap of faith into a healing journey. “I had a mission, so I spent all the money I had on gear,” she says.��But if long-distance hiking isn’t a question of life or death for you, or if you don’t want to spend all your cash, you can save��some money with a bit of ingenuity and pluck. Backpacking as a hobby self-selects for hearty souls—people willing to endure its rigor and general unpleasantness hardly lack motivation or self-sufficiency. Making your own equipment��and knowing how to fix��gear that breaks or goes missing while you’re on a hike only��reinforces this self-reliance and builds��confidence.

Triple crowner Joe Brewer (who completed the Appalachian Trail in 2012, the Pacific Crest Trail in 2014, and the Continential Divide Trail in 2015) turned crafty when his first thru-hike was just a twinkle in his eye in 2011. The problem was, he says, “I really just didn’t have the money to buy new gear.” So he summoned the skills he learned in a middle school home-economics class. “I slowly dabbled with making gear, borrowing my mom’s old sewing machine and figuring it out as I went.” Brewer stitched himself a hammock, a tarp, and an underquilt using synthetic fabric, 900-fill-power down, and cord and cord locks that he purchased from online DIY suppliers such as ,��, and . All three items lasted him from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Mount Katahdin, Maine. He had had no idea whether his homemade gear would work, “and then I’m hanging in a tree and I’m not falling out,” he recalls.��Brewer’s YouTube channel, , now��brims with more how-to videos.

Even hikers who don’t have a sewing machine or the desire to build major items themselves can save money and dial in their kit to more precisely match their needs.

While I was hiking part of the AT in 2016, by far the most common handcrafted item I encountered was an alcohol stove. You can basically make this tool��,��and��at under two ounces, it weighs less than anything commercial. By cutting the bottom 1.5 inches off two soda cans, punching burner holes in one of them,��sliding the one with burner holes into the other one, pouring denatured alcohol into the resulting vessel, and lighting the alcohol, you have a basic stove.��Be mindful of the open flame.

Another common DIY item is a protective ground cover. Tent manufacturers sell footprints that match the dimensions of their shelters, but these are often��heavy and expensive (for example, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 footprint weighs four ounces and costs $60). Instead, I bought a length of Tyvek, a high-density thermoplastic material��used in everything from house insulation to protective suits, which is waterproof and puncture resistant, from , the first outfitter that northbound hikers encounter on the AT, at buck-fifty a foot. (A note about Tyvek: it’s extremely noisy, especially when new, though it softens over time and use, a process you can speed along by running it through the washer without soap and letting it air-dry.) Amazon and eBay carry various sizes as well. Even lighter—and, accordingly, flimsier—is Duck or Frost King window shrink film.

Some hikers punch grommets into their homemade groundsheets, which snugs��them to their tents—especially useful on rainy nights—but I simply laid mine out and pitched my tent on top of it. A good rule of thumb is to cut the sheet a quarter of an inch smaller than the tent’s actual floor; if it extends beyond the tent’s dimensions, it will sluice rainwater right between itself and your tent floor.

A meal insulator, used for keeping food warm,��is a homespun innovation you can make. Stacia Bennett, a nurse in Asheville, North Carolina, who has backpacked more than 1,400 miles of the AT, made hers out of a cut-up car sunshade. She built it to fit around the quart-size��zipper bags she used to��rehydrate and heat��her homemade��meals. To create this��accessible DIY item, trace around your Ziploc with a Sharpie (leaving a little extra room for the bag’s eventual expansion), fold the car shade over to double the tracing, then cut the shape out, making the end of one side slightly longer��so you have a flap to fold over. Stuff your Ziploc with some balled-up paper to simulate supper, wrap the cut-out car shade around it, and duct-tape the seams. You can affix some Velcro to hold the flap closed if you want something really fancy. “It worked absolutely wonderful,” Bennett says.

By far my personal favorite hack is the hands-free umbrella rig.��Carrying an umbrella on a long-distance hike might seem silly, but everyone I met on my trek who had one counted it among their favorite items. The only drawback is that��you have to hold it, which means stowing a trekking pole and hiking with just one, and if you’re used to hiking with two, that’s a drag. One day, exasperated and wanting to attempt a rock scramble in a drizzle, I lashed the umbrella handle to my backpack’s chest strap with a bandana. The strap and handle made a cross, and I wrapped the bandana diagonally in all four directions, tied a crude knot, and tugged it tight. Presto, I was dry and using both trekking poles.

Families face special challenges in the backcountry, according to��freelance writer and mom Heather Balogh Rochfort. “Where we end up rigging the most gear is with our daughter, who’s two,” she says, adding that although outdoor equipment does exist for kids, “it’s not as technical.”��She and her husband have a child carrier, but they customize it by draping it with “one of those superthin swaddles that every mother has,” since the carrier does not offer 360-degree sun protection. Non-kid-related hacks that Balogh Rochfort uses include��taking a foil emergency blanket into her sleeping bag to add ten degrees of warmth and reimagining first aid applications for tampons, such as plugging bloody noses and bandaging cuts.

Bennett, the nurse, who is also wilderness first aid certified, adds that dozens of items not designed for medical care can nevertheless be put to that use. “A trekking pole can splint a leg, a bandana can stabilize any joint, and you can use a shirt to create a sling,” she says.

The world of DIY options is��great because it saves money and yields more precisely customized items, such as a sleeping bag that’s actually long or short enough for you or��a rain skirt that has pockets. More than that, it strengthens the DIYer. Bennett credits her time on the trail—including having to MacGyver her way out of calamities such as a tear in a puffy coat she patched up with Second Skin��(usually used for blisters) and a raccoon-chewed hole in her pack sewed up with dental floss—with giving her the confidence to fix her car once she got home. She��had a busted radiator but couldn’t afford a car repair, “so I J-B Welded it back together,” she says, referring to the epoxy.

Strayed echoes��the sentiment: “The nature of a long-distance hike requires you to be innovative and to have a DIY spirit. You have to be able to respond to situations as they arise and all you have is what you have on your back, which is rather wonderful.”

The post No One Knows How to DIY Quite Like a Thru-Hiker appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

In spring 2011, I purchased��. I��used them for about 450 days over the next eight backpacking seasons. That pair wasn’t dead yet, but last spring Black Diamond sent me the current model for an updated review.

Some of my use was mild—short days and on-trail—but a considerable portion was not. My original sticks��probably endured more than 1,000 miles of��spring snowfields, rough Utah canyons, Alaska��river crossings, and endless scree.

At $180 MSRP, the Alpine Carbon Corks are among the most expensive poles��on��the market��and will not be a trivial expense for most backpackers. But I still recommend them if you:

• Can afford the best.
• Will justify the expense with extended use.
• Hike on extremely rugged trails��or off-trail and on early season snow.
• Are generally hard on your gear.
• Will stress these poles with a heavy body and/or pack.

These poles have won me over with their comfortable cork grips and functional foam extension grips. The shafts are steady under load, with minimal vibration or bending.��The locks do not slip, wiggle, or corrode��and can be easily operated and adjusted.

If you’re on a budget, don’t backpack often, stay on easy trails, and/or have a petite build and tiny pack, look elsewhere. For most backpackers, I typically recommend the Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber��Quick-Lock poles��($48), which offer 75 percent of the performance for less than one-third��the price,��or the niche ��($150), which are the lightest and stiffest poles I’ve ever used.

Design Changes

From 2011 to 2019, we’ve seen three generations of Alpine Carbon Corks. The colors, locks, and grips have changed each time, but the intended/optimal use has not. I’m uncertain if the pole shafts have ever changed—they don’t��feel like it, and it’s difficult to discern by looking at them.

My set from 2011 is mostly black��with some white. The lever-action FlickLocks are made of plastic, and the grips are the “trigger” style.

The second-generation is ��from Black Diamond, currently at $153. They’re mostly white��with some black. The redesigned FlickLock Pro is lower profile and made of stainless steel, but many people found them hard to use for a variety of reasons. The cork grips are straight, save for a bottom flare.

The ��was released in spring 2019��and comes in a pleasant matte forest green. The grips have remained the same, but thankfully the locks were redesigned��in both material and shape. They’re now made of aluminum and are easier to operate.

Worth Their��Weight

Like with footwear, the weight of trekking poles is especially important��because they undergo more movement than your pack or most of your body. Heavy poles are difficult to swing quickly and place where desired,��and using them burns��up more energy than with lighter poles.

The weight of the Carbon Corks is not ideal, but it’s competitive and explainable. The latest generation weighs in��at 17.1 ounces (486 grams), or 15.6 ounces without the straps and baskets, as I like them. This is in line with my 2011 set, which weighs��17.2 ounces (16��ounces without straps and baskets).

Sacrifices would be necessary to��create a substantially lighter pole.��Thinner shafts would be less stiff. Fixed-length models would be��less packable��and have no adjustment. Removing the grip extension would save��some weight��but greatly reduce��functionality.

…And��Expense

$180 retail, ouch. And since these poles aren’t redesigned every year,��they rarely get marked down. This makes the Carbon Corks a good candidate for one of the “20 percent off one full-priced item” sales at REI or the other large online outdoor retailers.

I wish I could suggest a less expensive model with comparable build quality and specs, but it does not exist. If you spend less, you’ll get something��heavier and��with more vibration and bending, less reliable locks, less durable tips, no extension grips, etc.

Packed Length

The telescoping shafts collapse to 24 inches (61 centimeters), which is comparable to other models in this category. Folding sets like the ��($160, 17 ounces) do about 30 percent better in this regard, but they use thinner shafts to keep the weight the same.

Grips and��Extensions

Plastic grips are uncomfortable and slippery. Rubber grips are abrasive on bare hands. Foam grips are nice��but not very durable. Cork grips are the best: soft, durable, slightly absorbent, with sufficient friction.

I regularly choke up on my poles for improved balance and leverage, mostly when hiking steeply uphill or side-hilling. The foam extension grips below the primary cork grip on the Alpine Carbon Cork Poles offers a much more secure grip than a slick and narrow pole shaft. In fact, I would consider this feature a must-have for the type of backpacking I do.

Recommended Alternatives

If you like the performance of the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Corks but can’t or don’t want to spend $180, I recommend the Cascade Mountain Tech Quick-Lock poles, which are ��($60). Every component is inferior, but they cost less than half the Black Diamond model��and have survived some of my hardest hikes, notably a yo-yo of the Wind River High Route.

The Ultimate Direction FK Carbon Fiber poles��are another recommended option. They’re not collapsible, and the carbide tips will need to be replaced, but they’re stiffer than the Carbon Corks and weigh half as much. If all of my backpacking was local, I’d buy the FK��poles and never look back.

Finally, ultrarunners and petite backpackers should consider folding models like the Distance or Distance Carbon, either the ��(nonadjustable, $100) or ��(adjustable, $190). They are less durable and steady than the Alpine Carbon Corks, but they’re lighter, more packable, and durable enough.

The post Long-Term Review: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork appeared first on ���ϳԹ��� Online.

Last fall, I was enjoying a hike in crisp temperatures near Salt Lake City when I encountered some concerning trail rage. Rounding a corner, I saw a mountain-bike bro heading downhill��full blast in my direction. He was hauling, and I barely managed to dodge off the trail in the nick of time.

“Nice poles, puss!” he yelled aggressively, spinning up a mess of dirt in his wake.

I looked down at my trekking poles, then back at him, then back at them again. Were they that uncool? What did he have against hiking equipment? Sure, the trail was mellow, but I like my poles.

This wasn’t the first time I’d��experienced anti-pole sentiment. This virulent contagion is spreading in the outdoor community. Condescension, judgment, and a hierarchical us-versus-them mentality threatens to grip our trails, boot-packs, and parks. Using them is disdained, like all the unwanted raisins in a well-picked-over bag of gorp. Pole rage is real. And I’m concerned.

As a hiker who shamelessly loves to pole about—often at an aggressively��slow pace—the hate confuses me, because before I started hiking with poles, getting from point A to B was a lot more miserable.

Prior to picking up sticks seven years ago, I remember countless climbs up the boot-pack at Teton Pass��in Wyoming, heaving and wheezing without support. People would pass me and look on in confusion—and with pity in their eyes—at my lack of poles, wondering what terrible thing I’d done to deserve such a fate.

And I recall backpacking��harrowing,��hair-raising sections of the Tonto Platform in the Grand Canyon��sans poles, the trail crumbling beneath my feet. Any slip or fall meant a 2,000-foot plunge. That’s long enough to know you’re gonna die��and still have time to think about it. I would have loved poles then, thank you.

But lately, it seems like there’s been a demarcation—a line etched in the trail dirt—of what type of hike or terrain is pole appropriate.

Sure, when you’re hiking on a 45-degree incline, they make a big difference. We all know that. But for those who aren’t in prime condition (like me), a pole or two can make an otherwise moderate hike downright sublime by adding just the right amount of support.

And��as much as I hate to admit it, I’m not a twentysomething anymore. The rivers and mountains continue to take their toll. At 34, my joints hurt and my ankles are stiff. My back bears the burden of all of the powder days��I enjoyed as a younger man. Poles help, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

I want to use them on every hike, not just the hard ones. And yet��there are those who smirk at my casual usage, deeming me a gaper or a tourist for poling around on green terrain.

It’s easy to adopt an appearance-first mentality in our image-obsessed culture to prioritize looking fashionable or core. But if hiking with poles makes you happy, then pole down, my friends.

Run with them. Hike (slowly) with them. Power walk with them. There is no wrong way to pole—with the exception of leaving them at home when you should have brought them along.

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