Apex Trekking Pole Set: How to Adjust and Use It on the Trail
By Outdoor Products | #PackForLife | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: Panduan Cara
Set up the Apex Trekking Pole Set correctly and use it on flats, climbs, and descents. A step-by-step guide to height, straps, and walking pole technique.
Quick answer
Set each pole so the grip sits at hip height with your arm bent about 90 degrees, shorten both poles for climbs, and lengthen them for descents. Then use the strap and a planted, behind-you push to take weight off your legs.
Why pole length changes with the terrain
A pole that feels right on flat ground will feel too long uphill and too short downhill. That is why the trekking pole height guide is not one number for the whole hike. On a climb, a shorter pole lets you push down without lifting your shoulder. On a descent, a longer pole reaches the ground ahead of you and absorbs impact before your knee does.
The Apex Trekking Pole Set uses a lightweight aluminum alloy, so length changes are easy to make on the move. Adjust before the slope gets steep, not halfway up it.
When a fixed length is the better choice
If you mostly walk rolling paths with short climbs, setting both poles once and leaving them is fine. Constantly readjusting can cost more time than it saves. The trade-off is that long descents will feel less supported, so plan to lengthen the poles before a sustained downhill rather than during it.
The catalog does not list a packed length or weight range for the Apex set, so check the collapsed size against your pack before relying on it for a trip where space is tight.
Trail setup steps for the Apex Trekking Pole Set
- Set the flat-ground height: Stand on level ground, place the pole tip next to your foot, and adjust until the grip top sits at hip height with your arm bent about 90 degrees. Common mistake: setting length while standing on a slope, which gives you a false reading. Check both poles side by side so they match before you start walking.
- Lock the sections firmly: Tighten each adjustment point by hand until the section will not twist or slide when you press down. Common mistake: over-tightening with tools or leaving a section loose enough to collapse under weight. Press each pole into the ground once before walking to confirm it holds.
- Fit the straps: Slide your hand up through the strap loop from below so the strap crosses the back of your wrist and the wide part sits in your palm. Common mistake: gripping the strap instead of resting your hand against it, which wastes energy. With the strap set, you should be able to relax your grip on descents.
- Shorten for climbs: Before a sustained uphill, shorten both poles by roughly one section so you can plant them without reaching up. Common mistake: leaving poles at flat-ground length and lifting your shoulders with every step. If your arms feel tired on a climb, the poles are probably too long.
- Lengthen for descents: Before a long downhill, lengthen both poles so the tip reaches the ground ahead of your foot without leaning forward. Common mistake: keeping poles short and jabbing them straight down, which gives little braking support. Test the new length on the first few steps and adjust once more if needed.
- Walk with a planted push: Plant each pole slightly ahead and behind your hip line, then push back as your opposite foot steps forward. Common mistake: swinging the poles in front of you like ski poles instead of pushing behind. You should feel the pole take some weight off your leg with each stride.
Product facts
- Apex Trekking Pole Set: The Apex Trekking Pole Set is made of lightweight aluminum alloy and is described as strong enough for heavy use. That combination suits hikers, walkers, and mountaineers who want poles that carry easily but still take repeated ground contact.
Apex Trekking Pole Set
