Others say that it is better to use a Nordic walking pole without straps because the straps could pose a risk of tangling and injury to users. In the end, it is truly a matter of preference. Because most are fixed lengh you will likely need to round up or down to the nearest 5cm when choosing your pole. When combined with a healthy diet, Nordic walking is an excellent exercise method to implement in a weight loss regimen as well. When you’re Nordic walking, you’re literally using two times more muscular groups than you would through traditional walking and burning double the number of calories. How to Select Your Nordic Walking Poles

For high-performers, you can opt for EVA foam or cork grips that offer greater moisture management while keeping your nordic walking poles lightweight. Additionally, Nordic walking poles usually come with rubber and steel tips. The rubber sits on top of the steel tips and is ideal for flat surfaces like asphalt. These tips can be removed to reveal pointy steel tips, which are useful for uneven terrains, such as hiking trails or grass.Hand grips often have adjustable, sometimes padded, wrist straps that can support your hands, so you don’t have to grip the pole as tightly. They are also useful for keeping your poles securely with you. Make sure your grips and straps feel comfortable to prevent sore spots or blisters. Image: “Nordic Walking Chiarano – sabato 4 agosto 2012” by Nordic Walking Treviso is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Nordic poles need to be the correct height for you to be able to have the proper technique when using them. Because Nordic walking you mainly walk on well-maintained terrain you don’t need to the extra flexibility that aluminum provides. You can walk a couple times a week and really reap huge clinical benefits when it comes to improving exercise capacity which will translate to reduced risk of cardiovascular events,” said Reed. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

When using walking poles for Nordic walking, you are constantly pushing the poles down as you walk, then bearing the brunt as they swing upwards again with the next stroke. These continuous movements are why Nordic walking is so beneficial for your core muscles and upper extremities. You can work out the pole length needed by holding the pole at its grip then standing the pole upright in front of your body with your elbow held next to the body. The inside of the clamp is lined with rubber so my rig is sandwiched between two rubber parts for protection and maximum grip. Overall, we think the combination of solid features and accessories makes this set a great value for the price. Uphill hikes: Shorten your poles anywhere around 5 to 10cm. This will allow you to get more leverage. The rule of thumb is the steeper the slope you’re trekking; the shorter your poles need to be to help you move without placing extra strain on your shoulders due to an unnatural or lifted position.

HOW TO USE WALKING STICKS FOR HIKING

The very first thing you need to consider when selecting Nordic walking poles for your outdoor needs is whether you want a strapped or strapless design. Nordic walking poles are a like a distant cousin of cross country skiing poles, which is why many people look at Nordic walkers and naturally assume they are jaunting along with ski poles in hand. Another benefit of Nordic walking? The poles can provide stability and prevent falls, the experts noted. “For anyone who’s dealing with fragility or balance issues, I think this is an amazing tool to have in their repertoire,” Baggish said. An effective workout for heart patients While Nordic walking is definitely beneficial for people with heart disease, said Reed, it’s clear that this is a great option for anyone looking for a heart-healthy workout. My experience is that trekking poles make you hike 'smarter' in that your brain is receiving information from places other than your two feet when it decides to inform you how to stay balanced,” says Walker, who got his start as a guide in Switzerland where everyone carried trekking poles, “even the young ones with presumably indestructible knees."

Also, it’s worth noting you can use Nordic poles for hiking but you can’t use hiking poles for Nordic walking.

Nordic walking poles

For general height adjustments, anyone taller than 6 feet should opt for poles of at least 51 inches in length, with those under 6 feet will be able to use most of the adjustable walking poles on the market to suit their preferences. You just need to make sure you can change the tips easily and be able to add/change Rubber Tips/Asphalt Paws with ease. Another review of studies found Nordic walking to be more effective at improving quality of life, dynamic balance, muscle strength of the lower body, and aerobic capacity ( 13). Nordic walking is also great for heart health. A recent study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology found that Nordic walking was superior compared to other exercise methods for improving functional capacity, or the ability to perform physical activities, among heart disease patients. These poles felt extremely comfortable, with a natural cork grip-foam extension combo, similar to the Montem’s handle, that kept hands comfortable and dry. The handle felt a little smaller than others. It also has some of the tighter-adjusting wrist straps, which are padded and smooth-seamed, making these well-suited for smaller hands and wrists or for someone who doesn’t like a bulky grip.

As this occurs, bring your right foot and left pole forward (close your grip as the pole lands to push it off of the ground) and continue the motion. The sport is thought to have originated in Finland in the 1960s and 1970s, but it didn’t reach popularity as a sport until the end of the 20th century when companies started to design poles solely for Nordic walking use. What Are the Benefits of Nordic Walking?Because Nordic poles are a little different to trekking poles you need to make sure you choose the right one. Capture the poles with your lower fingers while keeping your thumb and forefingers relaxed and rely on the attached straps. Raise your straight arms from your shoulders into the shaking hands position. In doing so, you'll notice: With Nordic walking, your hands are not fully gripped around the pole and left mostly open. As you walk, you hold the poles behind your body — almost as if you’re dragging them behind you. Therefore, having the right straps is very important for proper technique. This is different from ski or hiking poles, which usually have much larger grips and wrist straps on the upper parts of the grips. These are not designed for Nordic walking and will prevent you from reaping the full-body benefits that this exercise provides. Summary The basic concept is you add upper body activity in the context of using Nordic poles, or walking poles, to assist with moving forward when you’re walking,” Dr. Aaron Baggish, director of the Cardiovascular Performance Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, told TODAY. Think of it as a way to enhance your typical walks by involving more muscles.