Nordic Walking has yet to be enthusiastically embraced here in the USA . However, those of us that are aware of the many benefits of using Nordic Walking Poles couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this wonderful fitness activity with Scandinavian roots. Unfortunately the US market is being flooded by cheap and flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles and rubber tips from China. Many of these poles are equipped with a thin rubber or plastic cap (basically to prevent the metal tips from poking a hole in your car seat or luggage), but sold as Nordic Walking Tips and barely last a mile or two. Some of these cheap twist-lock and flip-lock poles come with what look like authentic Nordic Walking Tip/Asphalt Rubber Tips, but prove to wear out with-in a week or two. I have had numerous students in my Nordic Classes show me the short life span of their tips. They always appreciate the improved grip and cushion of the SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Tips/Asphalt Paws equipped on my Nordic Walking Poles.
I love Nordic Walking and cross country skiing because they are silent sports. Cheap and flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece poles tend to rattle, vibrate and/or collapse unexpectedly. And when the rubber tips wear out on these cheap poles the clank of the metal tip is annoying as well. I like to do my skiing and Nordic Walking in stealth mode and couldn’t tolerate the rattle, clicking and vibration coming from cheap poles from China.
Every day we hear from new customers who opted to purchase cheap twist-lock or flip-lock poles from other sources by mistake, or received them as gifts, and found that the tips wore out quickly and the twist-locks and/or flip-locks were noisy, uncooperative and annoying. New customers tell us that their original poles from EMS, REI, MC Sports, Cabala’s, L.L. Bean, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sports Authority, Target, Wal-Mart, misc. websites, …… did not perform as they had hoped and ended up being returned or sent directly to the landfill.
A recent email from a happy customer reads like this about her old cheap poles:
Thanks for your help Pete. I poked through the Sportline pole tip in less than 20 miles. I like to walk at least 5 miles a day with the poles. The Sportline poles rattle quite a bit, too.
Thanks for the quick reply and the info.
Lynne
We have received feedback from hundreds of individuals that had problems with the cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece twist-lock and flip-lock poles from China that they didn’t get from us. Every day we receive happy customer feedback from current customers in regard to their quality and hassle-free one-piece poles. Our 100% positive customer satisfaction ratings indicate that we are doing something right by promoting user-friendly one-piece poles that are sized correctly to each individual’s height and backed with a Perfect Length Guarantee. Quality one-piece poles that are sized correctly prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap collapsible poles from China.
And when it comes to Nordic Walking tips/asphalt paws we always recommend EXEL, LEKI and SWIX Tips.
When looking for Nordic Walking Poles here are some questions you should ask the seller:
1. Are these poles made in China?
* don’t get scammed by cheap/flimsy 2-piece and 3-piece poles. If the retailer doesn't know where the poles are made assume they are the cheap twist-lock and/or flip-lock poles from China.
2. Are these poles equipped with Salomon Patented Nordic Walking Straps?
* you can’t beat the comfortable and patented Nordic Walking Straps from the Salomon Ski Company
3. Do you carry replacement tips incase I misplace one or wear them out?
* many of the cheap Nordic Walking Poles from China do not have replacement parts available. A reputable retailer will size you into the correct length poles and have a stash of rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Paws.
4. How many different lengths of poles do you carry?
* seniors and individuals with balance issues should never get conned into cheap 2-piece or 3-piece collapsible poles that may collapse unexpectedly. Demand quality one-piece poles that are sized correctly.
At the American Nordic Walking System and WWW.SKIWALKING.COM we carry 14 different lengths and can custom build poles for those over 6’ 6” at no extra charge – ensuring a perfect fit that is backed up by a Perfect Length Guarantee!
For additional info about quality Nordic Walking Poles and natural rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Asphalt Paws contact:
Swix Nordic Walking: http://www.swixnordicwalking.com/
Exel Nordic Walking: http://www.exelnordicwalking.com/
Nordic Walking Blog: http://nordicwalkingusa.blogspot.com/
Nordic Walking Blog USA: http://nordicwalkingusa.wordpress.com/
Nordic Walking Blog: http://nordicwalking.typepad.com/
Nordic Sports Blog: http://nordicsportsusa.blogspot.com/
Email: getfit@SkiWalking.com
Toll Free: 877-SKIWALKING or 877-754-9255
4 comments:
My wife and I have been Nordic Walking for about 3 years. We walk at least 3 times per week, usually between 7 and 8 miles per walk at a pace of around 4 miles per hour in the hills around Austin, TX. We are both in our 60's and find that Nordic Walking is by far the best cardio activity that we have ever done together.
We have solved most of the worlds problem while walking together. I strongly suggest that anyone interested in achieving good fitness and cardio consider Nordic Walking.
Every day I hear tons of positive feedback from our happy Nordic Walking customers.
And unfortunately every day I also hear from new customers that purchased cheap twist-lock or flip-lock poles (made in China) from other sources. Typically their complaints are with the twist-locks or flip-locks mechanisms and sometimes their complaints are about the rubber tips that came with their poles.
I just received a call from a new customer that wished she hadn’t opted for the cheap/flimsy collapsible poles that she picked up at a big box store. She disliked the rattle and vibration for sure, but she was really surprised to find out that the rubber tips didn’t even last an hour during her first walk.
Many of the cheap/flimsy collapsible walking poles made in China either don’t include rubber Nordic Walking Tips/Paws at all or they come with just a thin plastic cap or rubber tips that are basically defective and allow the metal tips to poke through after a short walk.
The feedback that I receive from the Nordic Walking community is that EXEL, SWIX and LEKI make the best rubber tips/paws.
For more info about EXEL Nordic Walking Poles and tips/paws check out: http://www.exelnordicwalking.com
For more info about SWIX Nordic Walking Poles and tips/paws check out: http://www.swixnordicwalking.us
To buy now go to: http://stores.bigwaterhosting.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ski_walking&Category_Code=nordic_walking
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About 8 years ago, I read an article in my doctor's office about Nordic walking. I was at the doctor's office because of knee pain which meant I had stopped taking daily walks. After x-rays, my doctor thought there was nothing wrong until I demanded more tests. Finally a specialist discovered I had a torn meniscus. After surgery, he suggested I begin walking again. I remembered the Nordic walking article, so bought one-piece poles on ebay for myself. My husband insisted he didn't want any for himself. But, then he tried mine (we are close to the same height) and fell in love.
We have been walking daily now for seven years ---unless the weather is extreme. My goal is to walk a minimum of 2.5 miles/day, but often I walk 4.5-5 miles. I can walk farther in one day if I take two shorter walks instead of one long one. Luckily we live close to three parks and our neighborhood is good for walking early a.m. or in the evening when there is little traffic. As I write this, we have taken a day off. We had 6 inches of snow and spent several hours shoveling. Besides being totally beat, our streets are covered with ice and snow ---and being in our late 60s we worry about falling.
Due to a broken ankle about 10 years ago, I have occasional ankle pain. I have some pain in one knee due to arthritis ---the poles help by talking pressure off my joints. Nordic walking has also helped my husband's shoulder pain.
I find I can walk farther and faster with the poles than without. We bought a second set of collapsible poles that fit in a suitcase if we are flying somewhere, but the plugs that hold the wrist straps in place fall out, so we just don't use the straps on vacations. (If we are driving, we take our regular poles.)
In our area (western PA) Nordic walking has not caught on. We are usually the only ones using poles. But once in a while someone stops to ask about them ---and very rarely we see another Nordic walker. I'm so in love with Nordic walking and how it has benefitted us, I've been thinking about offering a continuing-ed workshop at our community college.
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