Steve called them, “a multitool of the backcountry.” They can prevent injury, allow you to hike further with less fatigue, support a shelter, and enable you to shoot a rifle with more stability from various positions.
If you are a backcountry hunter, you should own, carry, and use trekking poles. Period.
In the video (above, or on YouTube), and in the podcast below, we discuss why it is important for backpack hunters to use trekking poles, mistakes made when using trekking poles, and things to look for when purchasing trekking poles…
Header Photo: Mark packs out his 2023 Bull Elk in Idaho.
Topics Discussed
- The trekking poles Steve made, why he built them the way he did, and why he stopped selling them
- Trekking poles will break, eventually, under the unique demands that backpack hunters put on their poles
- Carbon vs Aluminum trekking poles, and the pros and cons of each
- How most trekking poles are made at the same few overseas factories, regardless of the “brand” the poles are sold under
- Why hunters shouldn’t use z-style (folding) poles, and should stick to telescopic pole designs
- Twist Lock vs Lever Lock mechanisms, and the pros and cons of each
- Foam vs Cork grip material, and the pros and cons of each
- The right and wrong way to use wrist straps, and why every trekking pole should have them
- The purpose of trekking pole tips and baskets, and when to use the different types
- Why the weight of trekking poles matters especially when being actively used
- Why Steve calls trekking poles “a multitool of the backcountry”, and the reasons hunters should carry and use them
- The importance of changing trekking pole length based on terrain
- Which trekking pole should move forward with your hiking step
- How to use trekking poles as shooting support (see the video below)
- Steve’s rant on “truth in marketing” and why you should look at (and verify) product specs instead of just reading marketing descriptions
Shooting with Trekking Poles
As mentioned in the podcast and video above, Steve & Mark have used trekking poles with Quick-StiX as a rifle support for many successful hunts. In fact, since 2019, they have shot more animals with this setup than they have from a bipod, tripod, or any other shooting support combined.
In the video below, Mark demonstrates how to use trekking poles as a front rifle support and a pack as a rear rifle support to create a very stable shooting position…
Additional Links
Here are links to items mentioned in the video and podcast. Again, everything at The Experience Project is 100% free from advertising or sponsorships.
- Wiser Precision Quick-StiX
- S&S Backcountry Trekking Poles (Discontinued)
- Trekking Pole Supported Shelters
- Are Trekking Poles Helping or Hindering Your Hiking Experience?
- Muscular and metabolic costs of uphill backpacking: are hiking poles beneficial?
- At Steep Grades Using Trekking Poles is 20% Easier and 10% more Efficient
- Trekking Poles Increase Physiological Responses to Hiking Without Increased Perceived Exertion
Have Questions?
We will be doing Q&A in future podcasts and videos, so let us know if you have a question that we should consider discussing.
