How to choose nordic walking poles?
You don't need to spend a large sum of money to start the adventure of walking with poles. To begin with, comfortable shoes and special poles. This form of activity can bring many benefits: better well-being or improved posture. It is not intensive, so it will also be suitable for beginners. How to choose poles for Nordic walking? How to adjust them to your height? In this article we will try to answer these and other questions about walking with poles.
Nordic walking is a form of physical recreation involving walking with poles. The activity originated in the 1920s in Finland - hence the term "nordic" in its name. Initially, Nordic walking was a form of training for cross-country skiers. Over time, however, it evolved into a completely separate discipline.
What kind of Nordic walking poles to choose?
What kind of poles for Nordic walking? The answer to this question will largely depend on individual needs and level of expertise. An element that is certainly worth paying attention to is the shaft, specifically the material from which it is made.
Most budget poles are manufactured from aluminum. This is a relatively lightweight and durable material. The poles made of it are stiff and transmit energy well to the ground, making walking more efficient. These types of models work well for short, typically recreational walks.
If you need a lighter pole for longer walks, it's worth looking at models containing fiberglass or carbon fiber, or carbon. Fiberglass and carbon have a similar weight, but carbon is more rigid, so poles made of this material allow you to walk more efficiently. The best Nordic walking poles have a high carbon content.
Best Nordic walking poles
There are straight or bent Nordic walking poles on the market. Which to choose? Bent poles generally transmit energy better, but the difference in use is rather small. So you can base this decision on your taste and opt for poles that simply look better.
An interesting solution that you will find in the best Nordic walking poles are gloves with a release function. The function allows you to easily detach the glove from the handle. As a result, we do not have to remove the glove from the hand when we reach for the phone or water. The handle in Nordic walking poles is generally short and flat. Some models have a handle made of plastic, others of foam or cork. If you are planning long and intense marches, during which your hand may start to sweat, then we recommend choosing a handle made of foam or cork, as these are soft and moisture-absorbing materials.
What kind of Nordic walking poles to choose for walking on asphalt, and what kind for hiking in the park or forest? In this case, the important thing is not the type of pole, but the tip. There should be two types of tips in the set - for hard and soft surfaces. On hard surfaces rubber caps work best, and on soft surfaces metal tips. As a rule, the rubber cap is put on the spearhead. When stepping onto a forest path, the overlay should simply be pulled off.
Length of Nordic walking poles
The length of a Nordic walking pole should be selected according to your height - the taller you are, the greater the height of the poles should be. The level of sophistication is also important. So what should be the height of a Nordic walking pole? As a general rule, the safer and more forward-looking choice is to buy a longer pole. However, it is worth knowing that the longer the pole, the more demanding the walk will be.
Choosing a longer Nordic walking pole will make your stride longer, increase your walking pace and increase the intensity of your arms. For this reason, longer poles work well for people with better form who prefer to walk faster. On the other hand, beginners who prefer a leisurely and relaxed walk should aim for poles of shorter length.
A properly chosen pole makes walking easier and helps maintain proper gait technique. How to select Nordic walking poles for height? We recommend you to use the following conversion factor:
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height × 0.68 for beginners and those looking for a stick for recreational, leisurely walking,
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height × 0.72 for advanced people looking for a pole for more intense walking.
To make the above explanation clearer, we will use an example. What height of a Nordic walking pole for a person with a height of 182 cm? If this is a beginner, looking for a model for recreational walking, the appropriate choice would be a length of 125 cm (182 × 0.68 = 123.76). On the other hand, a person of the same height, but with a better condition, wanting to move more dynamically, should choose poles with a length of 130 cm (182 × 0.72 = 131.04).
How to choose Nordic walking poles for height?
If the above description seems too complicated for you, you can get the answer to the question of how to choose Nordic walking poles by using the table below. It does not take into account your level of expertise, but the selection of Nordic walking poles of the length suggested in it should be optimal.
| Height (cm) | Stick length (cm) |
| more than 195 | 135 |
| 187-194 | 130 |
| 181-186 | 125 |
| 174-180 | 120 |
| 168-173 | 115 |
| 162-167 | 110 |
| 153-161 | 105 |
| 145-152 | 100 |
Nordic walking poles - foldable or not?
Nordic walking poles - folding or not? This question is often asked by people planning to buy new poles. There are both fixed-height poles (1-piece) and adjustable models (2-piece and 3-piece) on sale. The former are more durable and better transmit energy. At the same time, however, they are models that are more difficult to store and transport.
Fixed-length Nordic walking poles are also more difficult to properly match to height and level of expertise. This is because fixed length poles are usually produced in 5cm or 10cm increments. Adjustable models, on the other hand, give you the possibility to adjust every centimeter.
Adjustable poles will be a better choice for children and adolescents who are still in their growth phase. This type of model should also be chosen by beginners, who, with time and increasing sophistication, will want to increase the intensity of walking. An additional advantage of adjustable-length poles is the folding design, which makes them easy to transport.
The most compact are 3-piece poles. You can pack them in your backpack and go for a walk right after work. However, 3-piece poles are sometimes less stable than 2-piece and fixed-length models. It should also be mentioned that adjustable poles are generally heavier than non-adjustable ones. So what kind of Nordic walking poles should you choose - folding or not? It already depends on your individual expectations.
Nordic walking - is it worth it?
Nordic walking is an ideal activity for people who want to take care of their health and at the same time cannot afford a more intensive workout. We can march practically anywhere and at any time of the year - regardless of the weather.
Walking in the rain or cold hardens our body and improves immunity. Compared to ordinary walking, Nordic walking engages more muscle parts - we exercise our chest, arms and abdomen. As a result, we burn more calories. In addition, the use of poles helps reduce stress on joint
In the article: How to walk with nordic walking poles? we describe the proper gait technique.
We hope that after reading this article you already know how to choose poles for Nordic walking. We encourage you to check out our range of accessories that will come in handy during your workout. In particular, we recommend comfortable functional clothing and lighting that will increase your safety during evening walks.
