For stability on the trail, balance up and down gradients, assurance during river crossings and a combination tent pole, walking poles are hard to beat. By Rose Jang

Walking Te Araroa takes some planning: it’s over four months and 3000km from Cape Reinga to Bluff. It can be intimidating, especially if, like me, you’ve never done an overnight hike before, let alone 134 in a row. Tramping shoes? Check. PLB? Check. Sleeping bag, mat, tent? Check, check, check.

What about walking poles? Are they essential or just extra weight? Walking poles are proven to reduce the load on ankles and knees. That’s a life-saver for the physical demands of thru-hiking. I decided to invest.

Te Araroa day 1, Ninety Mile Beach. How does a baby giraffe feel using its legs for the first time; that’s me, pole, leg, which leg, which pole? It’s easy to get tripped up, out of sync. But the beach proved to be the perfect place to establish a rhythm, and I used the seemingly unending coastline to get into the groove. By the end of the day, I was a natural.

Many people don’t learn how to properly use walking poles. But if you put in the effort at the beginning, you’ll get more from your poles in the end. Here’s what to do: pass your hand through the strap from below. Then grip the strap and handle together. When walking, the poles become a second pair of feet, ‘walking’ in sync, opposite pole to foot.

I would guess roughly half of Te Araroa trampers use poles. Those that do (me, for one), swear by them. Those that don’t (my walking companion), don’t seem to miss them. Some combine poles as part of their tent set-up: a walking pole means one less tent pole, less weight to carry.

I used my poles almost all the time while walking. I put the rubber ‘feet’ on when road walking, and removed them on other terrain. The Department of Conservation recommends leaving the ‘feet’ on when tramping sensitive or popular paths, as the carbide tips can damage tracks.

During South Island stretches, with innumerable mountains and rivers, the poles come into their own. I am small, and the poles were an enormous help in leveraging pack and me up the Richmond Range’s large boulders and steep cliffs. Going uphill, I reduce the height of the poles, and going down I lengthen them.

They’re also invaluable when it comes to river crossings. I’m able to test the water’s depth and the current’s strength before stepping in, and my extra pole legs provide me with vastly increased stability. They even came in handy when testing the depth of mud in Southland’s dreaded Longwood Forest.

That said, the poles can’t do everything. On day 90, my companion and I climbed to Goat Pass. When we started out, the weather was fine, then later it began to rain. We kept climbing, and so did the river. Eventually, the current became so strong and the water so high that we could no longer safely cross. Cold, wet, and defeated, I absent-mindedly let go of one of my poles. Into the water it went and in a flash, it was gone.

As a beginner tramper, every step of Te Araroa was a learning journey – about New Zealand, about my gear, about myself. Sometimes it was the little things that made a big difference – like learning to love my walking poles.

2023’s latest walking poles

Trekmates Hiker Shock $79.99/pole

Single, ergonomic three-section walking pole with on/off anti-shock system and multi-position-grip handle. Made from aircraft aluminium, it features a double-locking twist mechanism, multi-grip EVA handle, carbide tip, 32mm mud basket. 67.5cm collapsed. 268g/pole. www.gearshop.co.nz

Salewa Carbonium Tour $219.90/pair

A three-piece telescopic alpine trekking pole with the top section made of carbon and the bottom made of high-strength aluminium to cope with rocks and scree. Ergonomic dual-component EVA foam and plastic grip, carbon-reinforced Powerlock system for fast adjustment and locking. 68cm collapsed. 480g/pair. www.bobo.co.nz

Komperdell Explorer Contour PL $119.99/pole

This three-section aluminium pole has a Powerlock 3.0 easy-adjustment system, a soft foam grip with an extended grip zone for steep terrain and a padded strap. There are two lengths available. 65cm, 57cm collapsed. 239g/pole, 220g/pole. www.bivouac.co.nz

Gabel TransAlp Te Araroa NZ $49.99/pole

A special edition pole with a map of New Zealand depicting and describing Te Araroa Trail. It features a screw-in carbide tip, aluminium construction, ergonomic grip, adjustable strap and 54mm basket. 64cm collapsed. 283g/pole. www.ampro.co.nz

Camp Sky Carbon Eco $399.99/pair

This five-segment pole uses carbon fibre on the upper segments and aluminium alloy on the bottom to balance weight, rigidity and strength. There’s a micro-adjustable tensioning system, adjustable wrist loops, carbide tips with rubber caps and interchangeable baskets. 36cm collapsed. 410g/pair. www.gearshop.co.nz

Black Diamond Women’s Trail Pro Shock $259.99/pair

A women’s-specific pole with 4-stage terrain-absorbing ‘Control Shock Technology’, quick deployment and collapsibility with SmashLock quick-release, FlickLock Pro adjustability, foam grip with solution straps for security, interchangeable carbide tech tips, 38mm trekking basket. 62cm collapsed. 565g/pair. www.southernapproach.co.nz

Masters Summit Light Calu $189.95/pair

This pole is suitable for all levels of outdoor experience. There are three sections with a durable DuPont plastic expansion system that secures sections in place. The pole has a Palmo grip with a light strap with minimal buckle. 61cm collapsed. 424g/pair. www.gearshop.co.nz