Whether you’re hiking, Nordic walking or trail running, your poles need to be adjusted to the right length. Here’s how to choose the right size.
What size poles should you choose?
The best way to choose the right length for your walking poles or hiking poles is to try them in a shop. To find the right pole length, stand upright on level ground, ideally wearing your hiking boots. Then grip a pole and hold it upright, perpendicular to the ground. Adjust its length until your forearm is parallel to the ground and your elbow forms a 90° angle.
If you cannot try the poles in person, for example when buying online, multiply your height in centimetres by 0.68. The result gives you the ideal pole length. If you fall between two sizes, we recommend the shorter one. For example, if you are 178 cm tall, choose 120 cm poles: 178 × 0.68 = 121.04.
For adjustments
On sloping ground, adding a few centimetres to your pole length can help compensate for the change in height. On flat ground, you can shorten your poles for quicker movement.
If you prefer a more upright posture, you can shorten your poles. If you prefer to lean forward for a faster walking pace, you can lengthen them.
