There are many benefits to using aids for hiking and some drawbacks: ✅Increase Endurance - using poles offloads some of the work from your legs to your arms. This spreads out the work and lets you hike longer.
✅Climb Hills Better - on steeper grades, the benefit of using poles increases. Your legs work significantly less.
✅Better Balance - like outriggers on a canoe, you can navigate rough or loose ground more safely. ✅Reduce Knee Stress - the lighter load on your legs may result in less knee trouble. But, knee problems should be checked by a doctor too. ✅Increased Workload - poles spread the workload to more muscles but they also increase the amount of work done. Your legs may not be as tired, but your whole body will need to work harder. ✅Poor Technique - unless you learn to use your poles correctly, you won't achieve any of the benefits and they will just be a burden.
Over a long, rough hike you may notice the difference. ➡️Rubber grips - more comfortable handling. The grip should encompass the top of the pole so you can grip it with your palm. ➡️Extendable lengths - many poles are made in 2 or 3 parts that telescope.
Easier to pack and adjustable for other hikers or other uses.
You can shorten the poles when climbing and lengthen when descending to maintain good balance. Make darn sure you have locked the pieces in place before starting out again.