Walking poles are called by different names, including trekking poles, hiking poles, hiking sticks, and walking poles. They are a common hiking accessory that function to assist walkers with their rhythm, provide stability, and reduce strain on the body. Walking poles are usually used by hikers for the same reasons as walking sticks - to provide some rhythm to their walking pace and for added support. They can also be used as aids when climbing rocks or boulders, to probe the depth of mud or water and facilitate a crossing. When traversing steep slopes for long distances, some hikers make one pole shorter than the other to make those trips feel more as if they were taking place on level ground. Nordic walking poles are a type of walking pole that has a long and thin grip, similar to skiing poles, and is usually one-piece.