The grip technique for holding Nordic walking sticks is designed to help work and stretch your arms more, and to increase rotation of spine and hips. If you hold the poles too tight, your hands will hurt after a while; If you hold the poles too loosely, they can flail about (and the last thing you want is to draw any more attention to yourself! Ha!) The thing … [Read more...]
Choosing a Nordic Walking Pole
Foreword There is no formal, legal definition of what exact characteristics constitute a Nordic walking pole, or stick. Established brands of Nordic walking poles in Europe include Exel (Finland), Gabel (Italy), Kompardell (Austria), Leki (Germany), and Swix (Norway). In Canada, an established brand is Nordixx. There are two points of contention around Nordic … [Read more...]
Setting the correct height on an adjustable Nordic Walking Pole
Adjustable Nordic walking poles come in 2 or 3 sections; you adjust the length of each section to get the overall pole length just right for you. There are two ways of gauging what is right for you: Eye-ball it; or Precise method. 1. Eye-ball the length of your pole When you are holding the pole with the pole angled back so that the tip of the pole is by … [Read more...]
Difference Between Nordic Walking and Trekking Poles
Nordic walking poles and trekking poles are both walking poles but they are meant for two different types of walking activity. Here's a great video by Linda Lemke of Minnesota who discusses with you which one you might really want. This is the best and clearest explanation I have come across so far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp6vMhcazis Here's a written summary … [Read more...]
Nordic Walking: Straps vs Strapless
Straps or no straps? Usually in life, the answer is clear: strapless is considered sexier! But in the world of Nordic walking, the question is the subject of a raging debate. Nordic walking poles evolved from cross-country ski poles, which have straps, and and meant to be planted in the ground at an angle and pushed partly using the strap. (("The grip … [Read more...]
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