To Hiking pole, or not to hiking pole, is the question that biomechanist Katy Bowman and biologist Jeannette Loram address in this episode.

The use of poles has become a hotly debated topic among hikers and Katy and Jeannette dive in to help explore the issue. They discuss how poles are used in fitness and hiking scenarios, as well as their potential advantages and disadvantages. They specifically get into how the arms and upper body can be used during hiking and explain the mechanics of walking uphill and downhill with poles. They discuss how poles can be useful tools to support balance, decrease fatigue and prevent joint discomfort, but also explain how relying on poles all of the time can leave us missing important movement nutrients and leave some parts of us undertrained.

October Retreats 2026