The poles come with added tips and baskets for traversing off-road terrain, and you can choose from a variety of colors and patterns. Regardless of their quirks, we still enjoyed these poles and recommend them for their durability, easy setup, and great value for the price. 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.

With that some, some fixed length pole manufacturers actually integrate a small adjustable portion that lets you adjust the pole within about 2 inches or so. Fixed length Nordic walking poles are typically more lightweight, with more stability and ease of use for beginners than adjustable poles have to offer. Fixed poles also typically experience less impact and vibration when striking the ground as you walk. This version was designed specifically for the Knees Over Toes Guy and his ATG (Athletic Truth Group) programs. If you are new to Nordic walking in general, you might prefer the straps to give you something to secure your hand in place and offer an extra source of stability. On the other hand, if you think straps will get in your way and you’d rather have your hands free, simply opt for the strapless option. Fixed Length or Adjustable Poles? One of the most important considerations you need to make is the kind of hiking you’ll be engaging in to get the proper adjustments:

Types of Nordic walking poles

The ergonomic grips are made from cork, but there’s also a rubberised “extension” for added grip on steep terrain, so you get the best of both worlds. The padded wrist strap feels really secure, too. The poles come with two basket sets (including one for deep snow) and interchangeable carbide and rubber tips for when the going is soft and hard. The biggest difference between traditional walking and Nordic walking is the use and positioning of the poles. Always make sure the poles are on an angle and never come in front of you. Summary

In addition, the use of Nordic walking poles helps activate the upper-body muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi (lats), trapezii (traps), forearm flexors, pectoralis majors, deltoids, and triceps. It’s also more effective at targeting your abdominal muscles ( 8, 9). Nordic walking is an excellent low impact option for those wishing to increase their cardiovascular fitness. In one small review of eight studies in people with heart disease, those in Nordic walking programs showed significantly improved exercise capacity, exercise duration, and oxygen uptake compared with those in standard cardiac rehabilitation programs ( 6). How often should you walk? It depends on the person and their activity level, the experts noted, but any amount of activity is better than being sedentary. The “sweet spot” for most healthy adults is 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity, said Baggish, which can be divided up in whatever way people feel comfortable. Given all the benefits, why isn’t Nordic walking more popular? Also, it’s worth noting you can still use an adjustable length Nordic walking pole but they aren’t usually considered a true Nordic walking pole. The PawsLimits the impact on your joints which is helpful with someone who has arthritis, feet, knee or hip problems. Popularity is growing year on year as people are now seeing the great benefits of this fun full-body activity. While arthritis pain may require multiple interventions (e.g., medication and physical therapy), incorporating Nordic walking is a cost-effective, low impact exercise that may help alleviate arthritis pain. Summary