How to choose sticks for Nordic walking - step by step instruction

Scandinavian walking from Finland came to us. Skiers of this country wanted to support themselves all year round in a sporty manner. As it turned out, this walk is useful for almost everyone, including pregnant women, the elderly, people with heart disease, overweight and after injuries. It actually has no contraindications and activates the work of all muscle groups. An important point is that the cost of equipment, like the sticks themselves, will cost much less than buying a bicycle or a subscription to the hall. The choice of sticks for Nordic walking requires certain knowledge, because the quality and comfort of the training depends on what they will be like. In this article we will tell you what to look for when buying this sports equipment.

The best manufacturers of sticksfor Nordic walking - which firm to choose

Sticks for Scandinavian walking are not produced by domestic manufacturers. But in sports stores they are still represented quite widely. The models existing on the Russian market differ in type, quality and cost.

To achieve high results, it is absolutely necessary to use sticks with an optimum ratio of all the most important characteristics. The leading companies manufacturing sticks for Nordic walking are brands from Finland, Australia and a number of European countries.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with some of the most popular brands:

• Karhu;
• Exel;
• Swix;
• Gabel;
• Komperdell.

If you need to know all about specific models, go to our rating of the best sticks for Scandinavian walking. It describes products that have gained recognition not only from users, but also from experts.

Principle of operation and the device of sticks for Nordic walking

Scandinavian walking is impossible without special sticks. While moving with them, the hand is moved alternately forward and backward by 45 degrees. Thus, not only the muscles of the legs but also the arms are trained, and when the body is turned to the sides, the press is used. Sticks need light, since the load is not due to their dragging, but by working with their own weight.

There are sticks for Nordic walking from the rod( shaft), handles with straps and tips.

The main role is played by the shaft, which must be resilient to push the walker forward and put out blows on the hands, thereby minimizing the risk of damage to the joints.

The hob allows you to lock the handle in your hand, so that, with constant squeezing and unclenching, the stick will not slip.

The last component is the tips. They are needed for convenient passage of distances in different terrains. For hard and soft surfaces, absolutely different types of tips are needed.

As mentioned above, good sticks for Scandinavian walking should be lightweight. The length of the items is selected in accordance with the growth of a person and the tasks that are put by the athlete.

Types of sticks for Nordic walking

Fixed length

Single-piece, solid, sticks do not change their length. Advantages:

• ease and convenience in training;
• no risk of injury;
• reliability and durability;
• are suitable for walking on sand, wet terrain and dirt.

Disadvantages:

• lacks the ability to customize for growth;
• constant load intensity.

Telescopic( sliding)

This view differs from the fixed length of the poles in that it is sliding. Usually sticks are made of aluminum alloy and are cheaper than monolithic variants. There are models with a shaft of composite-carbon material, but the price of such goods is much larger.

Often, to mitigate and compensate for the shock load, a special antishock system is built into the telescopic sticks in the form of a shock-absorbing spring. Advantages:

• is suitable for beginners to determine the required length;
• is easy to configure for any growth;
• are convenient for transportation;
• the ability to change the intensity of the load;
• low cost.

Disadvantages:

• locks break from getting dirt, water, sand or in the cold;
• accidental buildup may result in injury;
• with time there is a vibration and rattling;
• is not suitable for frequent use;
• is not recommended by experienced instructors.

Parameters for selecting Nordic walking sticks

Length

The length of the stick depends on the growth of the user. People from 180 to 200 cm will need products from 130 to 140 cm. The same, whose height from 150 to 175 will need sticks with a length of 110 to 125. This length is recommended for classes to maintain health.

If you plan to practice in fitness groups, then add to the value of 5 cm. The length of sticks for professional training increases by 10 cm.

Weight

When choosing sticks, pay attention to their weight. There are no exact figures, everything is very individual. Everyone should try to walk with the model they like to see if it suits him or not.

The decisive must be a feeling of weightlessness of the sticks, as if they were not in their hands. Remember that the harder they are, the harder it will be to go through the training process.

Elasticity

It is easy to determine the elasticity. You need to do with a stick in the hands of a few quick steps, until it touches the tip of the floor. If it turns out to be easily repulsed and there are no vibrations that are given to the hand, then the desired pair is chosen.

Rod Material

1. Fiberglass. The weight of the products is very small, and the absorption of vibrations is at a high level. Fibers made of fiberglass can not boast of high strength and are often prone to breakage.

2. Carbon. A mixture of CFRP with glass fiber provides the rod with good strength and effective absorption of vibrations, while the weight of the sticks remains small. The amount of carbon fiber will depend on the strength of the shaft. A universal option is 50-80%.

3. Aluminum. Not very common material for the rod. It is more often used in ski sticks. This is due to the fact that aluminum itself very poorly damps vibrations, but when traveling through snow this minus is not significant.

Handle Material

1. Plug-in. One of the most comfortable pen options. Provides an anatomical seizure, does not cause allergies. Can be both from natural cork, and from artificial.

2. Rubber. Most often it is a mixture of cork and rubber. They are found in professional models. Convenient grip, good fit.

3. Plastic. Due to the fact that the plastic does not absorb sweat, the handles become slippery. Because of this, there is an inconvenience and a feeling of discomfort.

Tip

1. The spike ends are made of durable tungsten or carbide. They are used on sticks to walk on loose soil like sand and soil. On expensive stick models, it is possible to change the tip.

2. Walking on a solid requires the presence of tips made of rubber or carbon. There are also plastic ones, but they are less preferable. Visually resemble a slipper, allow you to quickly move on concrete, asphalt, street tile, cobblestone

What sticks for Scandinavian walking choose

1. In the end, once again note that the sticks for Nordic walking should be selected for growth. The greater the load, the longer the rod is selected and vice versa, the smaller the load, the shorter it is.

2. A pole pole made of fiberglass with carbon fiber will be an ideal option for most, since there is an optimal ratio of weight, elasticity and strength. Aluminum products are good only for training on snow.

3. From buying telescopic sticks, you should abstain because there is a high risk of injury from accidental closing, or breakage at the joints of product sections. Monolithic, fixed in length models are preferable and will last many times longer.

4. Sticks with spike tips are great for walking on loose soil, but hard surfaces require hard-alloy tips. It is important that the tip gives a strong grip with the terrain on which you will most often train.

How much are the sticks for Scandinavian walking

1 .Carbon sticks for Scandinavian walking will be among the most expensive. The more carbon in the product, the more expensive it is. The approximate cost is in the range of 3 to 7 thousand rubles.

2. Budget options for sticks do not have interchangeable tips, so they are much faster out of order. You can buy them in the range from 1 to 2 thousand rubles.

3. A wide selection of basic models from world manufacturers offers to purchase sticks from 2 to 4 thousand p. Such products are suitable for most walkers, as they meet the basic requirements.

4. Professional sticks are several times more expensive. They are designed for frequent use, therefore they are usually made of strong and high-quality materials, for example, carbon. In the kit, replaceable nozzles always come with them. Buy these sticks can be from 5 thousand p.

5. Some exclusive versions can cost up to 10 thousand p.