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PURPOSE: This study examined whether the use of trekking poles alters metabolic cost in steep hiking by novice hikers and whether the response would be dependent on the grade of the terrain. METHODS: Twelve participants completed two trekking trials (with poles [WP] and without trekking poles [NP]) with round trips comprising three grades: 7.0 ± 0.7°, 12.9 ± 0.7°, and 18.8 ± 1.3°) over a steep mountain at self-paced speeds. During the trials, time spent for trekking (TT), oxygen consumption (VO 2 ), heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and step frequency (Sf) were measured, and step efficiency (Se) and oxygen pulse (OP) were calculated. RESULTS: TT tended to be longer in the WP than NP for both terrains (P < 0.05). HR, VO 2 , and RPE were the same for the WP and NP. Sf was lower in WP going uphill (P < 0.05) but was unchanged going downhill. Se in the WP was higher than in the NP for both terrains (P < 0.01). When analyzed by slope, VO 2 during uphill at 18.8° was lower in WP (37.2 ± 6.3) than in NP (38.6 ± 7.1 ml·kg −1 ·min −1 , P < 0.05), but no difference in VO 2 was found between WP and NP at the 12.9° and 7.0°. TT during uphill was slower in WP than NP at 12.9° (7.9 ± 1.1 vs. 7.4 ± 1.0) and 18.8° (5.3 ± 1.3 vs. 4.9 ± 1.0 min, respectively, P < 0.05). No differences were noticed in HR and OP during uphill at every grade. CONCLUSIONS: Pole use decreased metabolic cost in the novice hikers only in the highest grade but not in the other two lower grades.

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