By Dana Okoro, Editorial Reviewer · Published September 14, 2026, 6:03 PM ET
Direct Answer
Attach trekking poles to a backpack using the side compression straps or a dedicated pole loop near the base, sliding the tips into a lower loop and securing the grips under a higher strap or bungee near the shoulder. Most hiking packs include this attachment point as a standard feature.
In plain English
Trekking poles are like ski poles for walking. They help with balance and take some strain off your knees. But there are times you need both hands free, like when you climb over rocks, and then the poles need a place to ride on your pack.
Most packs have a small loop near the bottom for the pole tips and a strap higher up for the handles. You slide the pointy ends into the bottom loop, lay the poles up along the pack, and tighten the top strap over the handles. It works like tucking a broom into a holder so it can't fall over.
If your pack has no special loop, the side straps that squeeze the pack smaller can hold the poles instead. Use one strap near the top and one near the bottom. The key is keeping the poles tight to the pack so they don't swing, rattle or catch on branches.
Trekking poles need a secure attachment point for the times you're not using them, such as scrambling with both hands free or taking a break.
How do you attach trekking poles when they're not in hand?
Most packs include a small loop near the bottom of the pack, close to the hipbelt, designed to hold the pole tips, paired with a compression strap or elastic loop higher up the pack to secure the grips. Sliding both pole tips into the lower loop, then folding the poles up alongside the pack body and cinching the upper strap over the grips, keeps them stable without rattling against the frame.
Some packs use a "quiver loop" style attachment on the side of the pack instead of a bottom loop, letting poles slide in diagonally. Either style works the same way in practice: a lower anchor point for the tips and an upper strap or bungee to stop the poles from swinging loose.
Where should poles attach if a pack has no dedicated loop?
On packs without a built-in pole attachment, the side compression straps typically still work for securing poles, though less securely than a purpose-built loop. Threading the poles under two compression straps, one near the top and one near the bottom of the pack's side, holds them close enough to the pack body to avoid catching on brush while hiking.
Do collapsible and fixed-length poles attach differently?
Collapsible or folding poles pack down small enough to slide into a side pocket or strap under a single compression strap, since their folded length is often shorter than the pack itself. Fixed-length poles, being longer, generally need the full lower-loop-plus-upper-strap method to stay secure, since a single strap alone can't control both ends of a longer pole.
When stowing your poles costs little, and when it costs more
Knowing where poles actually help tells you when it's fine to strap them away. In a lab study on a 25-degree downhill ramp, walking with poles significantly lowered ground reaction force and knee joint moment, and knee compressive and shear forces fell by 12–25%.1 The researchers traced the drop to force going into the poles and a more forward-leaning upper body. A 2007 study of downhill hiking found poles reduced lower-limb joint loads with no pack, with a day pack at 15% of body weight, and with an expedition pack at 30%; the benefit held across all three loads.2
Level ground is a different story. A 2011 study found that walking with poles on the flat did not appear to reduce knee compressive load, even when people pushed 2.4 times harder on the poles.3 A small study of obese women also found poles reduced markers of temporary muscle and cartilage damage after downhill walking.4 These are small, controlled studies, so treat them as a guide rather than a rule, but the pattern is consistent: poles earn their keep going down. Stowing them on a flat stretch or a hand-over-hand scramble costs little; stowing them for a long, steep descent gives up their main benefit.
Making the attachment secure and safe
The lower-loop-plus-upper-strap method works because it controls both ends of the pole. A single strap lets a long pole pivot like a see-saw, so the tips swing out and snag on brush. Collapse adjustable poles to their shortest length before stowing them, and point the tips down so the carbide points can't catch your arm or a hiking partner. Rubber tip covers add protection if you stow poles often.
Check that the grips don't stick up above your head. Poles that stand taller than the pack can hook low branches and yank you off balance on a narrow trail. On packs with a side quiver, push the poles all the way in before cinching the strap, so the grips sit behind your shoulder rather than beside your ear.
Poles in transit and in camp
If you're flying to a trailhead, the tip matters. TSA says blunt-tipped hiking poles are allowed in carry-on or checked bags, but sharp-tipped poles cannot go in carry-on bags.5 Many trekking-pole tips are sharp, so plan to check them unless you have blunt covers and confirm the current rules before you fly.
Poles can also be part of your shelter. MSR notes that non-freestanding tarp shelters need a pole or trekking poles plus staked guy lines to pitch.6 If your poles hold up your tent, a secure stowing method protects gear you can't easily replace on the trail.
