Hiking Stick for Men

Hiking sticks for men, sized for longer arms and heavier loads

A hiking stick for men takes weight off the knees on descent and gives a third point of contact where the ground is loose, wet or uneven. The range covers telescopic and collapsible designs, anti-shock models with a spring in the shaft, heavy duty shafts rated for larger walkers, short travel versions that fit inside a case and pairs sold for nordic technique. Length is the part most people get wrong, and it is the part that decides whether the stick helps or just swings about.

One hiking stick or a matched pair?

A single stick suits a walker who wants support on steep steps and a free hand for gates, maps and dogs. It also suits anyone protecting one knee in particular. A pair shares the load between both arms, steadies a heavy rucksack on side-slopes and sets up the rhythm that nordic walking poles are designed around, where the arms drive rather than simply prop. Most people who try both end up carrying two on the hills and one on flat towpaths.

How long should a hiking stick for men be?

Stand upright on level ground, hold the grip and let the arm fall: the forearm should sit roughly level with the ground. From there, shorten the stick for climbing so the arm is not pushed up past the shoulder, and lengthen it for descent so it reaches the ground below without leaning forward. Telescopic sections make that adjustment on the move. Fixed-length sticks do not, which is why they suit steady ground rather than mountain days.

Which lock, grip and tip suit longer walks?

• Locking system: an external lever lock is checked by eye and tightened with cold hands, while a twist lock is slimmer and slips once grit gets inside.
• Grip material: cork moulds to the hand and handles sweat; foam is warmer to hold in winter; hard plastic blisters over a long day.
• Wrist strap: worn correctly, the hand comes up through the loop so the strap takes the weight and the fingers only steer.
• Tip and basket: a carbide tip bites rock, a rubber cap quietens it on pavement, and a wider basket stops the shaft sinking into soft ground.

Does an anti-shock spring make a difference?

It absorbs part of the jolt travelling up the shaft on hard descents, which some walkers value at the wrist and elbow. It also removes a little of the direct feedback from the ground and adds moving parts that can rattle. Most models let the mechanism be locked out, so the sensible approach is to switch it off on ascent, where you want a solid push, and on again coming down.

How do sticks behave on ice and snow?

They help with balance and they do nothing for grip underfoot, so the two are not interchangeable. Traction comes from what is on the boot, which is the job of crampons on frozen ground. On a normal winter walk a stick still earns its place: it tests depth ahead, probes bog and steadies a crossing. Anyone comparing shafts, grips and lengths side by side will find the same models grouped in hiking sticks.