Nordic Walking with Leki Walking Poles

Nordic walking is a great way to get fit whilst getting out in the great outdoors, and turns a simple walk into a full body fitness workout. It offers a low impact way of exercising, which is much easier on the knees than running or standard walking.

By using poles when walking, the upper body gets a workout as well as the legs, which helps to build strength and stamina and makes the bones stronger. Walking using poles propels the body forward, increasing walking speed and boosting the heart rate, oxygen consumption an generating greater muscle activity. You will burn up to 45% more calories by walking with poles, which makes it a great way to lose weight, and what’s more, it’s fun!

Whilst you will feel the extra burn in your muscles at the end of the day, you will hardly notice the difference in effort when walking, as paradoxically, it actually feels easier to walk with poles!

Nordic walking started as a way for cross country skiers to carry on with the same techniques throughout the summer and keep the body at the peak of physical fitness. Nordic walking started in the 1930s, however it was not until the 1980’s when it saw a huge surge in popularity.

Today it is being taken up by more and more people as a fun way to get fit for all ages, and there are now over 10 million regular Nordic walking fanatics around the world. It’s easy to learn the technique and requires no special clothing, and whilst the poles will cost around $50 to $200 it is a small price to pay for a lifetime of use, and is much cheaper than a gym membership!

With just a good pair of trainers or walking shoes and a pair of Nordic walking poles and you are ready to get out and start a new and fun exercise routine.

• Increases calorie burning up to 45% more than normal walking
• Boosts oxygen consumption by up to 25%
• Tones both the upper and lower body
• Gives a great cardiovascular workout to boost lung and heart function
• Uses 90% of the skeletal muscles
• Places less stress on the joints than walking, with the poles easing pressure on the knees
• Helps reduce tension in the back, neck and shoulders
• A great full body training program for all ages, all builds, and all levels of fitness.
• Builds up stamina and strength and is great for conditioning the body for endurance sports.

Nordic walking poles differ from standard walking sticks, ski, poles, hiking and trekking poles. The poles help to create a smooth efficient movement and effectively become an extension of the body. It is vital to purchase the right size poles to get the maximum benefit and comfort; however it is very much a matter of personal preference which you tend to find out only when you start using them.

Whilst many seasoned walkers prefer fixed length poles, there are high quality collapsible poles on the market which makes transporting them much easier and will give you the chance to experiment with different lengths. However it is important to spend a little more initially and buy quality poles, as you do not want your poles to collapse when walking.

The best walking poles feature a strap or glove to help with the technique and pads on the end to give the best grip across a wide range of surfaces, be it off road, on the sidewalk or in more slippery conditions.

If you want the best, there is no comparison with Leki walking poles. Leki walking poles are world renowned for offering the highest quality design and construction, perfectly suited for Nordic walking. The company has built an excellent reputation from making skiing and trekking poles and puts over 60 years of experience into their Nordic walking pole designs.

The highest quality materials are used for construction, which offer strength, robustness and security. The poles are constructed from high modulus carbon fibre, aircraft grade aluminium, or a mixture of both. The company is a great innovator, and has designed many useful features into their poles. The trigger straps offer a one touch attachment and release for ease of use, perfect if you want to get something out of your pocket quickly. Leki have also developed the unique Summer Shark attachment system, which consists of a glove strap to keep the hands and wrists perfectly aligned when walking, with a cool-liner to wick away moisture for a comfort fit.

German quality manufacturing ensures that the poles will provide a lifetime of use with the proper care, and they are sold with a lifetime guarantee against breakage, full instructions for use, and a DVD with most models. The poles have been independently tested and receive top marks in user tests and reviews. 

For many beginners it is best to opt for an adjustable length pole rather than a fixed length, as it is often a case of trial and error to get the most comfortable and beneficial length. Leki adjustable length walking poles offer the flexibility to tackle different terrain and gradients, however for seasoned Nordic walkers Leki produce a range of fixed length models too.

There are many walkers who do not rate the locking mechanism on most walking poles, with cheaper brands prone to slipping or not providing the robustness to take the weight when the terrain gets steeper. Leki however have developed the worlds’ strongest locking system so you can place total confidence in your walking poles. The Super Lock System is one of a kind, and can give you the peace of mind, whilst retaining the flexibility of an adjustable walking pole for ascending and descending hills.

For traction, the fitness studded traction tips provide excellent grip across a wide range of surfaces and last up to 4 times longer than competitor tips. The trigger release system offers quick and easy release, great if you want to get access to your water bottle without spiking your walking partner, with a quick one touch release. The adjustable poles run from 56/52 inches (depending on the model) down to 26, and can be packed into a suitcase with ease, and are great for travelling.

If you are keen to take up the sport to get fit or are looking to replace your current poles and want the best quality, then it’s time to take a closer look at Leki walking poles.

With such a wide range on offer the choice can be a little overwhelming, however if you want to have flexibility for use, a strong and secure fitting, convenience and comfort, have a look at the Leki Traveller range – they consistently get 5 star ratings and are widely regarded as one of the finest models ever produced.