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Trekking pole length

Height times a fit factor you can edit

Pole makers often start the shaft near a fraction of your height, commonly about 0.68, then tell you to shorten it for climbs and lengthen it for descents if the shaft allows. This page multiplies your height by the factor you type. The box can start at 0.68. Change it. A factor above 1.2 is rejected because a pole longer than your height is not a useful starting fit.

Inputs

Result

Fill in the fields and press Calculate.

Disclaimer: A starting shaft length from a factor you can edit. Fit the pole on your arm before a trip.

How to use

  1. Enter your height and the unit.
  2. Leave the fit factor at 0.68 or replace it with the factor your pole maker prints.
  3. Press Calculate. The hero is centimeters. Inches are beside it.
  4. On a climb, shorten from this length. On a descent, lengthen if the pole extends that far. The page does not apply that adjustment.

How it's calculated

Height in inches is the typed height, or the typed centimeters divided by 2.54. Shaft inches = height in inches × fit factor. Centimeters = inches × 2.54.

The 0.68 starting value is a common maker starting point, not a measurement of your arm. Elbow angle and grip height are how you check the number on your own body.

Worked example

A height of 70 inches times 0.68 is 47.6 inches, about 120.9 centimeters. At a factor of 0.66 the same person gets 46.2 inches. At 0.70 they get 49.0 inches.

Assumptions

One factor for flat travel. The page does not add a separate climb setting or a descent setting. A factor above 1.2 is refused.

FAQ

Why 0.68?

It is a common starting point printed by pole makers. Replace it if your brand prints a different fraction.

Do I hold the pole at this length uphill?

Usually you shorten for a climb and lengthen for a descent. This result is the flat-ground start, not those adjustments.

What if I know my pole only in centimeters?

Read the centimeter line. The inch line is the same length.

Is this the same as pack weight?

No. Pack weight adds items. This page is only the shaft length.

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