A recent article extolled the virtues of Nordic walking but missed the mark about Nordic walking poles.
Main point: "Compared to normal walking, the addition of poles or sticks forces the walker to engage the upper body muscles, as well as the lower body, for more well-rounded movement."
More about it: "...we learned from tons of people who purchased the TrailBuddy hiking sticks — which are the highest-rated pair of trekking poles on Amazon — that they offer additional benefits to walking routines, especially for those who may find this vital form of exercise challenging to begin with."
The problem:
- The article touts Nordic walking but points out trekking poles, not Nordic walking poles.
- Trekking poles like the aforementioned TrailBuddy poles are great for hiking but won't give you the full benefits of Nordic walking.
- Real Nordic walking poles facilitate a full arm swing because of gloves rather than straps that are designed for the purpose.
- This image illustrates the gloves on Nordic walking poles:
This embedded video illustrates how the gloves give you a a natural and full arm swing, which engages the upper body more effectively.
I carry Nordic walking poles with me for sale to people who want to get poles right away -
- York Nordic 2-section adjustable poles like the training poles I provide for Nordic walking sessions. $80/pair
- Nordixx 3-section adjustable poles for travel. $100/pair
- FitStar 2-section adjustable poles. These are older generation poles that work well but don't have conveniences like quick release gloves. $40/pair.
- Cash, check, Venmo, Paypal.
You can also order Nordic walking poles online via York Nordic. Use the discount code LEROY10. If you order online from York Nordic, be sure to select “Nordic grip.”
You can also get premium Leki poles from Amazon.
- LEKI Instructor Lite Aluminum Adjustable Lightweight Nordic Walking Poles
- LEKI Traveller Carbon Adjustable Lightweight Nordic Walking Poles
- LEKI Traveller Aluminum Adjustable Lightweight Nordic Walking Poles
- LEKI Traveller Carbon Nordic Walking Poles
- LEKI Traveller Aluminum Nordic Walking Poles
- LEKI Spin Shark SL Aluminum Adjustable Lightweight Nordic Walking Poles