--- title: Do You Need Walking Poles for a Mighty Hike or Charity Challenge? description: Preparing for a Mighty Hike or charity walking challenge? Discover how poles can help, what makes WALX different and why trying them during training matters. url: "https://walx.co.uk/knowledge/is-it-right-for-you/do-you-need-walking-poles-for-a-mighty-hike-or-charity-challenge" updated: "2026-11-04" category: Is It Right For You? --- # Do You Need Walking Poles for a Mighty Hike or Charity Challenge? ### Discover whether poles could help you manage the hills and long miles—and why the WALX Ergo Grip makes them worth trying during training. You have signed up for a charity walking challenge. Your fundraising page is ready, your training has started and you are thinking about equipment. Walking poles appear on the kit list, often as an optional extra. You have seen other hikers using them, but you are unsure whether they are for you. Will they make a difference? Will they get in the way? And if you are already reasonably fit, do you really need them? The decision is personal. Poles can be useful equipment for long-distance walking, particularly when you know how to use them effectively. The best way to decide is to understand what they contribute, then try them before your event. #### Are walking poles compulsory? For Macmillan Mighty Hikes, trekking poles are listed as optional in the organiser’s published kit guidance, which also advises training with them beforehand. For other charity walks and challenge events, check the current guidance for your particular route. Requirements can differ, and the organiser’s instructions should guide your preparation. Optional equipment still deserves consideration. The question is whether poles would make a useful contribution to your day, given the distance, terrain and your experience. A gentle half-day route and a long, hilly challenge may lead you to different decisions. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/images/fundraising/events/trekking/mighty_hikes_kit_list.pdf #### What can poles contribute to a long walk? Without poles, your legs provide most of the work needed to carry you and your backpack along the route. Using poles actively brings your arms and upper body into the movement. When you apply pressure through a securely planted pole, that pressure can contribute to propulsion or support, depending on the terrain. On climbs, this can help you move forwards. On descents, poles can provide additional contact with the ground and share some of the load through your arms. Research on trekking poles has found reduced loading on the lower limbs. One mountain-walking trial also found lower perceived effort during the ascent and less muscle soreness afterwards among participants using poles. Those findings relate to trekking poles generally. How much benefit you experience will depend on your technique, the terrain and your individual needs. #### Will poles save energy for the hills? It is more accurate to think about sharing effort. Poles do not automatically reduce the total energy your body uses. Involving more muscles can increase overall energy expenditure, even when the walking feels more manageable. For a challenge walker, the useful difference may be that your legs feel less overworked because your upper body is contributing. Using poles on suitable sections earlier in the walk can help you establish that rhythm before a demanding climb. You do not have to wait until you are struggling to begin using them. Keep your pace realistic, though. Poles complement preparation and sensible pacing; they do not replace either. #### “I’m fit enough without them” You may be. Plenty of people complete charity challenges without poles. However, fitness is only part of the decision. Distance, repeated climbs, uneven ground and carrying equipment all influence how a route feels. A walk that is comfortable for two hours can feel very different after several more. Your training gives you the chance to discover which equipment remains useful as the demands increase. Consider poles in the same way you consider your backpack or footwear: assess what they contribute to comfort, control and your experience of the route. There is no need to prove that you can manage without useful equipment. #### “I don’t like how they look” This can be a bigger barrier than hikers admit. You might associate poles with older walkers or people who need extra support. Perhaps you worry that using them will make you look less capable, or feel awkward among friends who do not carry them. Those feelings are understandable. But the most useful test is what happens when you walk with them. Try a gentle climb after someone has checked your setup. Notice whether your arms contribute, whether your grip feels comfortable and whether the movement settles into a rhythm. You can then make your decision from experience. For some people, feeling that contribution changes their view of poles more quickly than any explanation. #### What makes WALX poles different? The distinctive feature is the patented WALX Ergo Grip. Rather than a simple straight handle, it is contoured to support the whole hand, with a thumb rest and an angled design intended to encourage a natural hand and wrist position. This matters because your hands are the connection through which you apply pressure to the poles. The Ergo Grip is designed to help you maintain comfortable contact without constantly squeezing tightly. It allows useful pressure through the handle without requiring traditional Nordic Walking straps. For a beginner, that provides a clear place for the hand and a straightforward starting point for learning effective pole use. The handle is one part of the system. Suitable pole height, secure ground contact and well-timed pressure remain essential. #### “I tried poles and they didn’t help” That experience is worth exploring before dismissing them. Perhaps they felt awkward, made your hands tense or seemed to add effort without contributing anything useful. Setup and technique can explain some of these experiences. A pole that is poorly adjusted or placed without useful pressure may feel like something you are simply carrying. Light contact can still be helpful for balance. But if your aim is propulsion, you need to learn how to apply pressure at the appropriate point in your stride. WALX’s whole-hand grip is designed to support that connection. A short coached introduction can help you compare the experience with your previous attempt and identify what needs adjusting. #### Will they get in the way? Poles do introduce practical tasks. You need to manage them around other walkers, at gates and when reaching for food, drinks or a camera. The WALX Ergo Grip is designed for use without traditional Nordic Walking straps, making it straightforward to release the handles when you stop. You still need to hold or stow the poles when both hands are required. Practise these transitions during training. Check how the poles attach to your backpack and whether you can secure them comfortably. On terrain requiring your hands for scrambling, put them away securely. Their usefulness depends on choosing when and how to use them. #### When should you start practising? Introduce poles early enough in your preparation to become familiar with them over several walks. Begin on an easy path. Establish a relaxed grip and comfortable rhythm, then practise on suitable climbs and descents. As your training progresses, use them with your intended backpack and other equipment. Notice how your hands, shoulders and legs feel during longer outings. A WALX instructor can help check your setup and demonstrate the difference between using poles for propulsion and for support. Avoid making event day your first proper trial. Equipment should feel familiar when the distance and atmosphere already give you plenty to think about. > [Preparing for Your First Charity Walking Challenge: Where to Start](https://walx.co.uk/knowledge/expert-tips-and-guides/preparing-for-your-first-charity-walking-challenge-where-to-start) [“Preparing for Your First Charity Walking Challenge: Where to Start” — Walx](https://walx.co.uk/knowledge/expert-tips-and-guides/preparing-for-your-first-charity-walking-challenge-where-to-start/embed/#?secret=6tvwe9IBLA#?secret=p7PIHnFZBt) #### How can you decide whether they are right for you? Arrange a short comparison on a route with a gentle climb and descent, ideally with someone checking your technique. Walk the same section with and without poles. Keep the pace comfortable and pay attention to: - The contribution from your arms on the climb. - Comfort through your hands and wrists. - Your rhythm and control. - Support when stepping downhill. - How easily you manage the poles when stopping. One trial may reveal that you want more practice, or that poles suit certain routes better than others. That is useful information too. Your charity challenge matters—to you, your supporters and the cause you are helping. The aim is to arrive prepared, confident and familiar with the equipment you choose. > [WALX Poles for Hiking and Trekking: A Guide to the Grip, Features and Setup](https://walx.co.uk/knowledge/product-info-and-equipment-guides/walx-poles-for-hiking-and-trekking-a-guide-to-the-grip-features-and-setup) [“WALX Poles for Hiking and Trekking: A Guide to the Grip, Features and Setup” — Walx](https://walx.co.uk/knowledge/product-info-and-equipment-guides/walx-poles-for-hiking-and-trekking-a-guide-to-the-grip-features-and-setup/embed/#?secret=8VTGKm0h9o#?secret=Zbwveweibg) **Preparing for a Mighty Hike or another charity walking challenge? Try WALX poles during training and ask your local WALX team to help you find a comfortable setup and effective technique.** > [Trekking & Hiking Challenges](https://walx-poles.walx.co.uk/trekking-hiking-challenges/) [“Trekking & Hiking Challenges” — Walx Poles](https://walx-poles.walx.co.uk/trekking-hiking-challenges/embed/#?secret=5DkPAnxFxC#?secret=xL1Vj40Co3)