Should I bring hiking poles to Mt. Rinjani?

Yes, bringing hiking poles to Rinjani is one of the best gear decisions you can make. Honestly, a lot of trekkers who start without them wish they’d brought a pair by the end of the first day. The terrain is deceptively tough because much of the upper trail is covered in loose volcanic scree, gravel, and ash, which shifts underfoot with every step.

That shifting ground places enormous strain on your knees, ankles, and hips. During the summit push, where you’re taking two steps forward and one step back on steep unstable ground, poles provide critical stability and let you distribute effort across your arms and upper body, not just your legs. You’ll understand why when every muscle is screaming.

On the descent, which is often where most knee damage happens, poles act as shock absorbers and can reduce joint impact by as much as twenty to twenty-five percent. Your knees will thank you the next morning. At Lombok-Indonesia.org, trekking poles aren’t included as standard equipment, but they’re highly recommended and can sometimes be rented through local partner shops in Senaru.

Even a single pole is better than nothing, though a pair offers the best balance and relief. For trekkers with existing knee issues, lower back pain, or just a desire to preserve their legs for the rest of their Indonesia trip, poles are a small investment that pays off enormously on the mountain.