Get Outdoors - DayHike: The Art of Hiking: Hiking Poles

How many times have you wished that you had a better sense of balance, or more strength in your knees? A hiking stick might be the most helpful piece of extra gear you carry.Many hikers find a hiking stick indispensible for both up and downhill treks.

When walking downhill, use a hiking stick to brace yourself, take some weight off your knees, and add extra balance and support. For uphill climbs, they allow you to use your arms to help lift the weight of your body and pack.i>Studies sponsored by the manufacturers of hiking poles conclude that over a typical 10-mile day of backpacking, hiking sticks can take up to 250 tons of pressure off of your knees and back.
2 hiking sticks are twice as good as 1 hiking stick. In addition to taking weight off your knees and back, they help with balance and give you 3rd and 4th legs when you have to descend on steep unstable rock or cross snowmelt rivers.

Adjustable-length hiking poles have several advantages over fixed-length poles.

Telescoping hiking poles can be customized to your size. Set their length to suit the conditions or the terrain.
You can adjust them to your liking for uphills, downhills, and long traverses (where you might want the uphill poles to be shorter than the downhill ones).
They also can fit conveniently into luggage and be strapped on the outside of your pack when you don't need them. Strap your trekking poles vertically to the outside of your pack when not in use.