Hiking poles needed for My Way Alpine tour?

I bought my poles there. I wasn’t allowed hiking poles on my carry on luggage.

Lots of people hike without poles--they aren't required.
Personally, I bring them on any trip where there is the possibility of walking/hiking on uneven surfaces. I always check a bag anyway, and TSA does not allow them in carryon.

Since you will be on a My Way tour, you will decide how you will spend your days and how hard your hikes are.

Trekking poles are super common in Europe, more than in the USA, particularly in the Alps and Alps adjacent areas. In some areas "Nordic walking" (walking with trekking poles) is the predominant local sporting activity. I had a foot injury on a trip one summer, and even used them in the city in Munich and Vienna. I'm pretty self-conscious, but no one gave a second look.

Good advice to just buy trekking poles in Europe if you don't want to check a bag. We do this all the time. You can find quite good ones for 40 euro or less at sporting goods stores if you shop around a little.

It depends on a few things. What type of hiking you want to do and whether you would be more comfortable hiking with them. And as others have mentioned, they aren’t allowed in your carryon. Can’t stress that enough considering the price of good poles.

Thanks everyone. Yes I know they cannot go in carry on which is what I usually do. I am planning on doing a lot of hiking on this tour and do like my poles if the terrain is at all uneven. Thanks again!

Most people in our group used poles. If you don't bring them, they are easy to purchase. On our first stop, the Dolomites, there was a shop right at the Gondola station going to Alpe di Suisi that had a decent selection. They were also available in Bolzano (our hotel location) at several sporting good stores.). I often use poles, but I didn't use them on this trip. It depends on the hikes you take.

I regretted not bringing mine. They would have useful for all the hikes we did.

We hike in Yellowstone (Bunsen Peak is my favorite).

I use poles for all my trail hiking here in Colorado and always do the same in Europe, even if it means checking a bag (also lets me bring a nice picnic knife).

More and more, I see local people of advancing years using poles while walking around their cobbled sidewalks and steep stairs in European cities.

I always bring poles if outdoor walking is expected. I have, more than once on a RS tour, ended up sharing a pole with someone with mobility issues who found out too late that they should have brought their poles.

Thanks everyone. Since I will be gone for a few months I may not do carry on only. In that case I will bring my poles since I know and trust them!

On our first stop, the Dolomites, there was a shop right at the
Gondola station going to Alpe di Suisi that had a decent selection.

Mary we bought trekking poles in that very gondola station just last summer. Lower quality ones in some of the stores, but the lady in the back corner store had flip locks, not twist locks, for 35 Euro. My wife was pleased with the purchase :)

OP good idea to bring yours; you will be stoked! I swear that if I could carry them on I would pretty much everywhere I fly

If you can only bring carry-on bags on a Rick Steves tour, and airlines don’t allow hiking poles in carry on bags, how are you packing your hiking poles?

I have taken 3 RS tours, including My Way Alpine. I always had a checked bag and never had a problem with it. Be aware that you may have to lug the bag along cobblestones or up 2-3 flights of stairs. You can a day or two in advance from your tour leader and can always pack what you need in a smaller bag and leave the big one on the bus. If you are a single traveler, you may find the hiking poles very helpful. I didn't have them and there were bits that were challenging to me without a helping hand.

On My Way Alpine the only hikes I needed poles were in the French Alps …which were rocky…and I rented them in town near the lifts. Since I typically only do carry on was glad I didn’t pack mine and have to check my bag.