Is it better to have a straight handle or a T-handle for a trekking pole?

As people's living standards improve, more and more people like outdoor activities, mountaineering is one of them. On the one hand, it can exercise the body, and on the other hand, it can exercise people's willpower and perseverance. When climbing, you need a trekking pole to maintain your body balance. We know that there are many types of trekking poles, which are differentiated according to the terrain and level of expertise. Trekking poles are divided into straight handles and T-handles. So which of these two types of trekking poles is better? Let’s take a look.

From the perspective of wrist strap usage, I think the straight handle is better. Going uphill with the straight handle is more conducive to leveraging upper limb strength (double poles) and relieving leg fatigue. Most people hold the handles of trekking poles tightly when using them, thinking that the function of the wrist strap is only to prevent the trekking pole from leaving their wrists. If you think so, you are wrong. The importance of the wrist strap is no less than the strength of the trekking pole itself!

When we use trekking poles to go downhill, the impact force of the trekking poles should be transmitted to our arms through the wrist strap; when going uphill, the thrust of the arms is transmitted to the trekking poles through the wrist strap to generate assistance for going uphill, so when our wrists pass through the wrist strap, we should not reach directly over the wrist strap to grab the handle.

Instead, we should pick up the wrist strap, insert it from the bottom of the wrist strap, press the strap into our palm, and then gently grasp the handle, using the wrist strap to support the trekking pole instead of holding the handle tightly and applying force. If there is a buckle, make slight adjustments, remembering not to affect the operation of the trekking pole.

As a mountaineering enthusiast, in order to better utilize the function of trekking poles and make your body more energy-saving when climbing, you can choose straight-handled trekking poles. Of course, the T-handle also has its advantages and characteristics. It depends on whether you focus on ordinary exercise or training. In addition, the different mountain terrain will also make some differences in the choice. As an ordinary enthusiast, a straight-handled one will be enough.