How to descend safely with walking poles: protect your knees on UK hills
Every hillwalker knows the feeling. The summit was glorious, the views stretched for miles, but two miles into the descent, loose stone, wet grass and a path that drops 600 metres in under three kilometres, your knees start to complain. By the car park they are shouting. The descent is where UK hills do the damage, and it is exactly where poles, used well, make the biggest difference.
Do walking poles help on descents? Yes. Going downhill, your knees absorb forces several times your body weight with every step. Planting your poles ahead of and below you transfers part of that load through your arms and shoulders, which reduces knee strain, improves balance on loose or wet ground, and lets you descend faster with more control.
Why your knees take the hit on descents
Walking downhill loads the knee joint far more than walking on the flat. Each step lands with your leg braking against gravity, and the forces running through the joint can reach several times your body weight, repeated thousands of times on a long descent. Poles give that force somewhere else to go. By taking weight through your arms and upper body, they ease the peak loads on your knees and steady you when the ground is slick or loose.
The five rules of downhill pole technique
1. Lengthen your poles before the descent starts
Add 5 to 10 cm before you drop off the top. Longer poles let you reach down the slope and plant without stooping, so your posture stays tall and balanced. Adjust at the summit, not halfway down a scramble.
2. Plant the pole ahead and below
Reach down the slope and plant the tip ahead of your leading foot. The pole should take weight as your foot lands, sharing the braking rather than catching you after a slip. This is the single habit that spares your knees the most.
3. Keep your arms slightly bent
Never descend on locked, straight arms. A slight bend at the elbow lets your arm act as a shock absorber and keeps the load off your shoulder joints. It also gives you a margin to react if a foot skids.
4. Use a wider stance on loose ground
On scree, wet grass or greasy rock, widen your pole plants and your feet a little. A broader base of support makes you far harder to tip, and it is exactly the ground where most UK descent slips happen.
5. Match your rhythm to the terrain
On steady paths, settle into an even pole-and-step rhythm. On steep, technical sections, slow down and place each pole deliberately. Rushing a rocky descent is how ankles turn and knees jar.
UK terrain: why poles matter more here
British descents are made for poles. The classic routes off Scafell Pike, Snowdon or a Munro rarely give you a gentle, even path down. Instead you get wet rock, peat bog, tussocky grass and loose stone, often in rain, often with a full pack. Two extra points of contact turn a nervy, knee-jarring descent into a controlled one, which is why you see so many poles out on UK hills whatever the weather.
Choosing the right poles for UK descents
For descending, three features earn their place. Adjustable length lets you add that 5 to 10 cm for the way down. An antishock system softens the repeated impacts: LEKI's Dynamic Suspension System (DSS) cuts peak impact forces by around 40 percent, which your knees notice on a long, steep drop. And a grippy, ergonomic handle with a secure strap keeps control when your hands are cold and wet.
| Feature | What it does on descents |
|---|---|
| Adjustable length (Speed Lock) | Add 5 to 10 cm so you plant ahead and below without stooping |
| Antishock / DSS | Softens repeated impact, cutting peak forces by around 40 percent |
| Carbide Flex Tip | Bites into wet rock, grass and scree for a secure plant |
| Ergonomic grip and strap | Keeps control and comfort when hands are cold and wet |
How long should your poles be for descending?
Start from your flat-ground setting, where your elbow bends at a right angle, then lengthen by 5 to 10 cm for the descent. Taller walkers and steeper ground sit at the upper end of that range. Adjustable poles make this a five-second job at the top; if you run fixed-length poles, set them at a compromise that leans slightly long.
How long should walking poles be for going downhill? Take your normal flat-ground length, where your elbow bends at a right angle with the tip on the ground, and add 5 to 10 cm before the descent. The extra length lets you plant ahead and below without stooping, so you keep an upright, balanced posture.
Keeping your poles descent-ready
Descents throw grit, mud and water into your poles. Rinse the sections with clean water after a wet UK walk, dry them fully before storage, and check the locking levers hold firmly before you set off. LEKI poles are built around replaceable sections, so a worn tip or damaged lower section is a quick, cheap fix rather than a new pair.
Frequently asked questions
Do walking poles actually help on descents, or is it just comfort?+
They do more than comfort. On downhills your knees take forces several times body weight per step; planting poles ahead and below transfers part of that load to your arms, easing knee strain and improving balance on loose or wet ground.
How much should I lengthen my poles for going downhill?+
Add 5 to 10 cm to your flat-ground setting before the descent. That lets you plant ahead and below without stooping. Steeper ground and taller walkers sit at the top of the range.
Are antishock poles worth it for descents?+
If your knees suffer on downhills, yes. An antishock system such as LEKI's DSS cuts peak impact forces by around 40 percent, which adds up over a long, steep descent with a pack.
What pole tip is best for wet UK descents?+
A carbide Flex Tip. It bites into wet rock, grass and scree, and fit a wider basket if you are crossing soft ground or snow. Keep a rubber pad for hard paths and pavement.
The bottom line
The descent is where UK hills test your knees, and where poles pay off most. Lengthen them at the top, plant ahead and below, keep your arms soft, widen your stance on loose ground, and let the poles share the braking. If you want poles set up for British descents, the LEKI Pole Finder points you to the right length and features.
Poles that suit UK descents include the adjustable Makalu FX Carbon and Khumbu, both quick to lengthen for the way down, with the Legacy Lite a solid value option.
