Cross country skiing is the often credited as being the most effective exercise at burning calories. Walking with Nordic Walking Poles is a wonderful way to achieve many of the benefits of cross country skiing. I love cross country skiing. I have always enjoyed cross country skiing with my family. If I'm lucky my family will go cross country skiing with me with headlamps on when I'm done coaching at the end of the day - I can NEVER get enough cross country skiing (classic or skating techniques). When the snow melts my Nordic Walking Poles save the day.Both cross country skiing and Nordic Walking are gentle on the weight-bearing joints - gentle on the shins, knees, hips and back. Plus both utilize all of the major muscle groups.
No snow - no problem. Nordic Walking Poles are practical year round in any climate. Nordic Walking Poles can help to burn up to 40% more calories than regular walking. In Europe over 8 million people are walking with poles in the cities (with the removable rubber tips on), in the country and up in the mountains. The rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Paws are ideal for pavement and other hard surfaces - even in the mall, on carpet, in parking garages and on indoor and outdoor tracks. With the removable rubber tips off, the metal tips are ideal for trails, grass, the beach, snow and ice.
Cross country skiers use durable one-piece poles that are sized correctly to each individual's height. One-piece poles are also proven to be more effective for Nordic Walking too. One-piece Nordic Walking Poles are proven safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles. Would a ski racer ever use twist-locking poles in a ski race? Would recreational skiers use twist-locking poles? The answer is no - both racers and recreational skiers use one-piece poles because they are more durable and much more user friendly.
The best cross country ski poles are equipped with comfortable patented fingerless glove type straps - patented by the Salomon Ski Company. The best Nordic Walking Poles are also equipped with these comfortable fingerless glove type straps - eliminating the need to grip the poles and allowing the pressure to be applied into the cradle of the straps. My ski poles are one piece, of course, and equipped with SWIX fingerless glove-type straps - patented by the Salomon Ski Company.
When it comes to Nordic Running the one-piece poles shine again. Twist-locking poles typically can not hold up to the added demands of Nordic Running - running with Nordic Walking Poles.
At the American Nordic Walking System and SKIWALKING.COM we are committed to the simple fact that one-piece poles are ideal for Nordic Walking. And Nordic Walking is ideal for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels. The American Nordic Walking System offers a variety of intensity and exertion levels. There is an ideal level of intensity and exertion for everyone. Always be sure to consult your physician though before starting any new exercise program. Like cross country skiing there are risks - including cracks in the sidewalk, tree roots and unexpected terrain changes.
While hosting clinics today I heard from a gentleman from Ohio who told about the problems he had with the twist-locks on his expensive twist-locking poles. He and his wife LOVED our new EXEL Urban Skier Nordic Walking Poles during their lesson and insisted on buying two pairs.
Every day we hear from new customers who have had trouble with their poles' twist-lock systems, but they liked the concept of walking with poles so much that they did some homework and learned that they didn't have to settle for twist-lock or flip-lock systems that prove to NOT be user friendly. Twist-locking adjustable poles often rattle, vibrate and do not hold their settings - allowing the pole(s) to get shorter and/or collapse unexpectedly. One piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be much more user friendly, lighter and hassle free.
The runners and skiers that I coach often utilize Nordic Walking Poles for cross training. Twist-locking poles could NOT hold up to their ambitious wear and tear. The poles do radically reduce the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back - helping to eliminate shin and/or knee pain (shin splints/runners knee).
Walking with poles is the best!
