There are two different kinds of Nordic walking poles.
Fixed length & Adjustable
You may have considered buying poles so you can start learning how to do Nordic walking and get the full benefit of a total body workout but you have absolutely no idea what size poles to buy. The following tips will hopefully help you to make a decision.
Fixed length poles:
You can calculate the height of your poles using the following formula.
Your height in cm x 0.68
For example if you are 165cm x 0.68 = 112.2
Fixed length poles are in 5cm steps. Given that the example above shows 112.2 we would round to the next lower number that can be divided by 5, which in our case would be 110. This means you would order a pole that is 110cm.
The problem with that is that when you start out as a Nordic walker a shorter pole is beneficial but as you improve your technique you may want your poles longer. With a fixed length pole this means you have to buy another pair of poles now. There is also a difference if you put the rubber tips on or not. If the rubber tip is off you may want the pole itself to be a little shorter since the tip adds about half an inch.
If you want the light swing weight of a fixed length pole but still the benefits of an adjustable pole then you have to consider the Leki Speed Pacer Vario. It’s an excellent pole providing the benefits of a fixed length and an adjustable pole.
Adjustable poles:
For the adjustable poles it’s a little easier since those can be fully adjusted from 100cm to 135cm.
The formula used above is still a good one so you have an idea where to start.
You can also loosen up the pole, extend it almost to the max, put tip on ground without tightening up, hold on to the grip and tap with the arm on the pole that rests on the ground. That way the pole will slowly slide down. Once the angle of your elbow has reached between 95 and 100 degrees between upper arm and lower arm you stop and tighten the pole again. Adjust the second pole according to the reading on the first pole.
Adjustable poles have a heavier swing weight than fixed length poles. However, high quality adjustable poles such as the Leki Instructor will work great on any walk. It is a personal preference.
I have been using both the Leki Instructor and the Speed Pacer Vario and I love to walk with both of them. The quality of the lock system is important to me so the poles won’t collapse underneath me and Leki poles surly have held up to great quality.
May experience with teaching people the Nordic walking technique has shown that most people prefer the poles to be on the shorter side during their first few walks and as they progress they’ll lengthen the poles.
I’m always happy to help people find the poles that are right for them.
Happy Walking!
Daniela
Filed under: Nordic Walking Tagged: | exercise, health, leki, Nordic Walking, the great outdoors, walking, walking sticks, weight loss
