When used, climbing sticks are similar to ski poles because they have many things in common, such as baskets at the bottom, rubber handles and wristbands. They usually have a maximum length of 135 cm (54 inches), but unlike ski poles, they are usually divided into two or three parts, which can be telescoped as needed, stored or transported when used or folded. When fully retracted, they can be secured to the backpack. Some rods have spring loaded sections that help walking and reduce wrist fatigue under normal conditions, but such devices may only add unnecessary weight and noise to the rods. They are usually made of light aluminum or carbon fiber.

Hikers often use common stick descendants, climbing sticks, for the same reason - to provide a certain rhythm and support for their strides. On flat, flat terrain, although using them can increase the exercise and speed that hikers get from the journey, they are not actually necessary. But on uncertain terrain or steep slopes, they can provide useful lateral stability, and many people turn to them for help with knee pain. They can also be used as an aid when climbing rocks or boulders to detect the depth of mud or water and facilitate crossing. When crossing long distances on steep slopes, some hikers make one pole shorter than the other, making these trips feel like they are going on flat ground.

Some backpack tents are designed to use climbing sticks as tent sticks. Likewise, a bivouac shelter can be built with a climbing stick. Hikers who go to snow boots in winter will find climbing sticks particularly useful.

They can also be used for Northern European walking in rural or urban environments.

Some hikers complain that the use of poles can have a significant impact on the surrounding footpath, such as poking holes in the ground and damaging nearby vegetation. In particular, the most common complaint is that the carbide cutter head leaves visible white scratches on the rock and makes scraping sound. All of this weakens the experience of the wilderness.

According to the principle of "no trace" for leisure activities in remote areas with low impact, the Appalachian footpath reserve (ATC) proposed several measures to mitigate the impact of climbing sticks on the environment. It said hikers should not only know what to put in their poles, but also move away from the basket unless they hike in the snow and use rubber tips to avoid scratches on the rocks. In horizontal sections or areas that may have adverse effects, ATC recommends that the poles be completely separated.

It has been found that "North European walking" is a kind of walking with a pole, which has a beneficial effect on resting heart rate, blood pressure, exercise ability, maximum oxygen consumption and quality of life of patients with various diseases, and it is better than light walking and jogging at some endpoints.