Guest Author - Hellie T.

First adjust the lengthen of your poles
There is no set rule as we are all different heights but it is usually recommended that your arm should be roughly horizontal.
It is important to check that both your poles are the same length.

Second - the correct technique when walking with a pair of poles is to put the left pole ahead and just slightly to the side of you at the same time as you plant your right foot. The reverse applies for the right pole.
Walk naturally and you will find that after a bit of practice you get used to the motion and then it will become second nature!
If you are walking downhill, then path is further below you, so you will need to adjust the poles to a longer length.
Walking uphill your poles should be shorter.

Third - use your wrist straps.
They are there for a reason - they stop you from getting sweaty or aching hands because they provide support - which means you do not have to hold on to the handle so ardently!
If you hold on to the poles like grim death you risk giving yourself blisters on your hands so please follow these guidelines and find out what a help poles can be.

• The first and easy mistake you can make is that you don't thread your hand through the strap from above.
• Put your hand up through the wrist strap from underneath, and then hold the handle downwards, sounds tricky but it isn’t!
• The wrist strap should go under your thumb and across the back of your hand. This allows it to grip on both sides of the heel of your palm when you put weight on it and is actually quite comfortable. You will find that you can guide the pole with the handle, but the weight is taken by the strap.

A plus for if you are trying to lose weight by walking is that recent research has shown walking and trekking poles allow the walker to take the strain off of the lower legs while burning more calories because the upper body is used .

I used to think that only the elderly or infirm used walking poles but having tried them I now wouldn’t be without them, especially for coming down slopes!
Try some poles to see how they feel, better still walk up a slope and you’ll be amazed at the difference of your rate of progress.

For tips on choosing walking poles click here .

Enjoy your walking!

Look after your walking poles by drying them after use and cleaning off any mud or dirt before retracting them and keep them in a dry place.