How to Attach Hiking Poles to a Backpack

Learning how to attach hiking poles to a backpack is a little trick that will help you hike with or without your hiking poles as needed on the trail. I am a big proponent of carrying hiking poles with you. After many years of hiking without them, doing longer and steeper treks, I hit a point where I couldn’t walk a mile without knee pain. So after an intensive fall, winter, and spring of physical therapy, I entered the summer hiking season with better posture and a familiarity with hiking with poles.

I am not saying that using a hiking pole will cure knee pain on hikes, but they helped me stand up straighter and kept me from walking in an unnatural stance. My posture ultimately impacted the way I situated my hips, which then impacted my knees.

So, in this blog, I will share how to attach your hiking poles to a backpack with various methods. I will also share some of the reasons to carry hiking poles and share some of my favorites! Let’s get into it!

Complete Guide to Hiking Poles and How to Attach Them to Your Backpack

The methods for attaching hiking poles to a backpack/day pack are going to vary based on the type of backpack you carry and the features your backpack has for attacking poles. This is the standard method or simple way of attaching trekking poles to the side of the pack, but I will share the alternatives later on. While there are proper methods to attach hiking poles to the side of your backpack, the most important thing is that your poles are securely attached and out of your way.

Anatomy of Hiking Poles

• Handle – The handle of your hiking pole will likely be made of a semi-hard plastic or cork.
• Wrist Strap – The strap is used to secure the hiking pole to your wrist so you don’t drop it.
• Baskets – The removable basket at the end of the pole is the “mud basket” or “snow baskets” which will help keep your pole from sinking in mud and snow
• Lever Locks – The length of the hiking pole can be adjusted. On the flat ground, your arms should be at a 90-degree angle. On steep terrain uphill sections, shorten the pole, and on downhill sections, lengthen the pole. Some hiking poles use twist locks.
• Pole Tips – The tip of the trekking pole is going to be a metal point.
• Rubber Feet – Some trekking poles will come with rubber tips to attach to the end of the hiking pole.

Read Next: Ten Essentials of Hiking

How to Attach Hiking Poles to a Backpack

FIRST: Identify the securing strap(looks kind of like a bungee cord) and bottom loop on your backpack. The securing strap is on the shoulder strap of the pack and the loop should be somewhere on the side. If you’re attaching the pole to a backpacking pack, the strap could be on the shoulder strap as well.
Reference the label on the shoulder strap below!

1. If your backpack has a closed loop, loosen it and poke the handle of your hiking pole through it, with the handle pointed upwards.
2. Stick the point of the hiking pole through the loop on the bottom corner of your backpack. The snow basket will keep the pole from falling through.
3. Push the pole down to ensure it is secure.
4. Tighten the cinch, the elastic cord, around the pole to make sure it is secure.

SECOND: Attaching the Second Pole

Repeat the same process for your other trekking pole. This could be in the same loop if your backpack only has one or on the other side of the pack.

Mount Ellinor: You’ll Want Hiking Poles for this Trek

Alternative Methods to Attach Hiking Poles to a Pack

Sometimes backpacks do not have hiking pole attachments like the ones mentioned above. Here are some alternative methods for how to attach hiking poles to a backpack if there are no specific attachment points.

Side Pocket 

If your hiking backpack does not have specific attachment points, but it does have side pockets, this is for you.

• Put the handles of your hiking poles in the side pocket
• Look for the side compression straps and cinch the compression straps around the poles.

Compression Straps Only 

If your pack has horizontal compression strays on your pack you can use them to secure your hiking poles.

• Slide the handle of your poles through the first and then second compression straps. Cinch tight.

Helpful Tip: If the loop at the end of your backpack seems too large, you can loop it around the tip of the poll.

Why Use Hiking Poles

Like I said, I LOVE hiking poles because they helped alleviate my knee pain. However, there are so many reasons to use hiking polls on longer hikes. Here is a condensed list of why you should use hiking poles on your next hike.

1. Reduced Impact on Joints: Hiking down steep hills puts significant pressure on your joints. Hiking poles distribute the weight to reduce strain on joints and muscles.
2. Stability and Balance: Hiking poles add one to two extra points of contact with the ground which enhances stability and balance. This minimizes the chances of slipping and tripping on uneven/slippery terrain.
3. Improved Posture: Hiking poles encourage an upright posture keeping you from leaning too far forward and causing unnatural rounding in the hips. They engage core muscles which keep you properly aligned.
4. Uphill Assistance: Pushing off with the poles on uphill treks can help distribute effort and reduce leg fatigue.

There are so many more reasons to use hiking poles, downhill control, reduced strain on the back and shoulders, and energy efficiency.  Remember that having the correctly adjusted height is going to have the biggest impact on all of these things. Using trekking poles takes a few uses before they become second nature.

Related Reading: How Long Do Hiking Boots Last?

Suggested Hiking Poles

If you’re in the market for a new pair of hiking poles, here are a few options based on best use. My first set of trekking poles were the cheapest ones that I could find at REI. Many people will talk about the benefits of expensive hiking poles, but if you’re just starting out, I don’t really think you need to go all out with the trekking poles. Trekking poles last a long time with proper care and use, so it is important to get something that you will be happy with.

REI Trailmade Trekking Poles

The REI Trailmade Trekking Poles are a great product and have a lower cost to them. They come with all of the needed accessories like mud baskets and rubber tips. They fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and they use lever locks instead of twist locks. These are a good option for people wanting a first set of trekking poles.

Find the REI Trailmade Poles Here – $80

Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork

Black Diamond, arguably, makes the best trekking poles on the market. The carbon fiber in these Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles makes them extremely lightweight, making them great for backpackers and alpine climbs. The cork handle molds to the palm of your hand after continued use. The mud baskets are sold separately, which I will say is a downside.

Find These Poles Here – $200

Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles

If you’re looking for trekking poles for your mountain run, Black Diamond makes collapsible trekking sticks that fold down into a more compact size. They are easier to carry, especially as a trail runner carrying a small pack.

Get Yours Here – $190

Whether you’re doing alpine climbs, going on longer hikes, or simply walking along a local trail and need walking poles, the final decision rests on what you need the hiking poles to do.

Pack It Up

When it comes to attaching hiking poles to your backpack, there is no singular proper method. There are various methods to attaching your poles to your day pack and you can choose one that works best for you. If your backpack does not have specific attachment points, which is common for frameless packs, you will have to get creative with the use of compression straps, bungee cords, and side pockets.

One final thing to note about hiking poles is that if you’re traveling with them for a hiking trip, they are a checked item if you’re traveling on a plane. Since trekking poles have sharp tips, they have been deemed too dangerous for a carry-on luggage item and a TSA officer could choose to confiscate them.

Happy Hiking!