How to choose the right poles for Nordic walking. Detailed guide

Nordic walking is one of the safest و most effective outdoor activities . With its help you can get in shape, strengthen your cardiovascular system, start regeneration processes of lung tissue, make your sleep better and calm your nervous system.

Before going out for your first walk, you will need to buy poles. Without them, the positive effect will be much more difficult to achieve. Let’s break down the main points that you will encounter during the selection of equipment.

How to choose poles

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When choosing poles for Nordic walking, it is important to realize that ski or trekking poles have their own features and will not be suitable for this sport. The main difference is the grip and the handle. A sling is a strap that is usually rigidly attached to the handle and securely fixes the hand. Even if you unclench your palm, the stick should remain in the same position. The handle on Nordic walking poles is usually set at a slight angle or curvature for an anatomical grip and proper walking technique.

Nuances of selection

1. The most important thing when choosing is the comfort of the hand. Therefore, it is better to come to the store and try on several sticks. This will allow you to assess how well the grip fits you and how tightly the bow is tightened.
2. Fixed-length poles are lighter and more reliable than other options. But it’s hard for a beginner to choose the right size the first time. And they are also more expensive. So they are more suitable for a person with experience.
3. Telescopic poles are more convenient in storage and transportation, and also allow you to adjust the height for yourself or someone else. This is convenient if the equipment will be used, for example, by relatives. Telescopic versions are heavier, slightly worse vibration dampening and are considered less reliable. But they are also cheaper. As a rule, telescopic poles are the choice of beginners.

Types of poles for Nordic walking

President of the Russian Nordic Walking Federation

Before buying Nordic walking sticks, contact a professional instructor or a store that specializes in Nordic walking. Qualified specialists will help you choose the right equipment.

There are two types of poles in Nordic walking: folding poles and monolithic poles.

For regular exercise we recommend the monolithic version. The point is that growth sticks better preserve elbow joints, more dampens the residual vibration arising in the stick when pushing off. They are also sturdier than folding sticks. The size of such poles should be about 70% of a person’s height.

How to choose poles by length

There are several formulas to help you find the right size of poles.

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There are three types of stick materials: fiberglass, aluminum and carbon (the most preferred).

As a rule, carbon sticks are the most expensive, but also the best quality. Best at dampening residual vibration, they preserve your elbow joint. They are quite strong, durable, lightweight and easy to use. It is better to buy poles with even a minimal percentage of carbon content. They can be fully carbon sticks, or they can be sticks with a composition of 10% carbon up to 80%. In any case, if the stick has carbon and is monolithic, it is the best choice for regular Nordic walking.

The basics of stick selection

Since the size of the sticks can be calculated using a formula, there are some disadvantages. The formula does not take into account the length of your arms and legs. So the best choice, of course, is to come to the store, feel the poles and pick them exactly to fit:

1. take a height stick;
2. place it vertically in front of you at the toe of your foot;
3. grab the handles;
4. keep your elbows at your sides.

There should be an angle of 90 degrees between the shoulder and forearm – in this case, the stick will be correctly matched to your height. If the angle is less – the stick is high, and if more – low.

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