Popularity is growing year on year as people are now seeing the great benefits of this fun full-body activity. Another review of studies found Nordic walking to be more effective at improving quality of life, dynamic balance, muscle strength of the lower body, and aerobic capacity ( 13). With an impressive design, compatibility, and basket tip and drawstring sleeve included, these poles are a worthy investment for anyone needing a super strong, yet light, pair of poles that are versatile for various terrains. While Nordic walking is definitely beneficial for people with heart disease, said Reed, it’s clear that this is a great option for anyone looking for a heart-healthy workout. As the name suggests, this form of walking is popular in Nordic countries and originated in Finland, Jennifer Reed, Ph.D., director of the Exercise Physiology and Cardiovascular Health Laboratory at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, told TODAY. While it’s often associated with hiking, Reed said, Nordic walking or “urban poling” can be done by anyone, anywhere — as long as there is room to walk. To properly Nordic walk, let your arms move as they naturally would when walking, with poles in hand.

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 My experience is that trekking poles make you hike 'smarter' in that your brain is receiving information from places other than your two feet when it decides to inform you how to stay balanced,” says Walker, who got his start as a guide in Switzerland where everyone carried trekking poles, “even the young ones with presumably indestructible knees." We found the large ice and snow basket easy to adjust and the grip handle and padded straps comfortable, even when wearing gloves, scoring the poles a 4.5 out of 5 for comfort and a 5 out of 5 for ease of use. Also around the same time, a man named Mauri Repo started promoting using ski poles to walk as a way to train for cross country skiing all year round.

The humble walking stick is now an essential part of any hiker's kit – discover the best poles for you with our handy buying guide

Another benefit of Nordic walking? The poles can provide stability and prevent falls, the experts noted. “For anyone who’s dealing with fragility or balance issues, I think this is an amazing tool to have in their repertoire,” Baggish said. An effective workout for heart patients Uphill hikes: Shorten your poles anywhere around 5 to 10cm. This will allow you to get more leverage. The rule of thumb is the steeper the slope you’re trekking; the shorter your poles need to be to help you move without placing extra strain on your shoulders due to an unnatural or lifted position. The inside of the clamp is lined with rubber so my rig is sandwiched between two rubber parts for protection and maximum grip. They may look similar but they don’t function the same way and the quality of their materials is cheap.

As this occurs, bring your right foot and left pole forward (close your grip as the pole lands to push it off of the ground) and continue the motion.The best nordic walking poles for beginners usually offer a rubber grip for their soft, non-slip quality. At the same time, more economical alternatives rely on plastic and will likely get uncomfortable over a long hike. For general height adjustments, anyone taller than 6 feet should opt for poles of at least 51 inches in length, with those under 6 feet will be able to use most of the adjustable walking poles on the market to suit their preferences. A study in 2002 by the Cooper Instituteconcluded that Nordic walking burned about 20 percent more calories than regular walking. Over an extended period this a considerable amount. Because most are fixed lengh you will likely need to round up or down to the nearest 5cm when choosing your pole.