Use PolesAlthough they can take awhile to master, I have seen very few serious backpackers that did not use hiking poles. The benefits that hiking with poles provides are numerous. To begin with, poles allow for the arms, shoulders, and chest to carry some of the load. This results in less fatigue in the knees and legs, a better full body workout, and the ability to hike faster and farther. Poles help with stability and balance, they can be used to intimidate or fight off threatening wildlife (b