Trekking poles are used by most hikers. They help me pace, especially on uphills, hold me when descending, and give me two more points of contact, making me functionally four-footed. I aim for hitting soil, not rock, when I land them. I adjust mine so while striding they are extensions of my arms swinging naturally at my sides. In down hills, I rest my palms on top of the handles, using the poles as a prop. (I’m telling you this because it appears that I see many others reaching forward with their poles at chest level, which seems tiring and inefficient to me). I also use one pole for guy-line support for my tarp.
Turn Your Troubles into Blessings