Here at Capital Nordic Walking - like many other Nordic Walking organisations - we are really reluctant to sell people poles - or direct them to where they can buy poles online - because Nordic Walking correctly is significantly more technical than people appreciate.
If you don't learn the correct technique, then the best case scenario is you simply won’t experience the benefits - worst case scenario is that you could injure yourself.
In addition, there are many poles with different features - so it's a good idea to try out the different models to figure out what is most suitable for your needs before you invest in poles.
Finally - there is the length of the pole issue - which is critical - if it's too high you will be hitching your shoulders to swing through causing muscle strain and struggling to locate the "sweet spot" for landing the pole; and if they are too short - you simply won’t get the benefits.
Although some pole suppliers will give you an estimated pole length based on your height - this is often incorrect because everyone's body proportions differ (length of arms, legs and torso) and also pole length can sometimes need to be individualised further if the user has restricted range of movement in their shoulders or a shorter stride pattern for example.
So, our advice to you is to please don't invest in Nordic Walking poles until you have learnt the correct technique and are sure that you are going to benefit from it, love it and do it regularly! And don't buy Nordic Walking poles until you are certain about the features that you need in your poles and the correct length of pole.
Learning to Nordic Walk is a bit like learning to ride a bike or use a tennis racquet or golf club - initially it can feel a bit strange and challenging - but with good instruction and regular practice it soon becomes second nature!
So the first step is to find a great, experienced and certified Nordic Walking instructor to guide you in becoming a proficient Nordic Walker - and discover just how effective and awesome Nordic Walking is!
At Capital Nordic Walking we include the use of our loan poles in our course costs - to give you a good amount of time to learn the technique and figure out which poles are best for you!
