Nordic Walking
Nordic Walking is not the same as trekking. Nordic walking is a technique with a steady rhythmic pace. Trekking is a general activity with a varied pace , terrain and usually involves added weight such as a backpack for carrying supplies.
Nordic Walking poles are also positioned differently. They are angled back and away from the body which allows the user to push off creating resistance. Trekking poles are gripped with full palm and finger contact in order to support the weight of the user.
The straps on Nordic Walking poles allow for easy release of the hand to the pole at the end of each back stride while keeping the hand in place to grasp the pole again on the return stride. Trekking pole straps are designed to support weight with full hand contact.
These are two very different activities. It is important to understand the use of proper equipment for each activity in order to have the best experience.
Nordic Walking is an excellent way to exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Nordic Walking is a mix between power walking and cross-country skiing and can be enjoyed by all age groups all year. Nordic Walking poles help you accelerate your workout by lengthen your stride. Use all your muscle groups for a full body workout. Use the poles for speed and stability and get in shape with all your friends.
Trekking is a form of travel like hikingand is less-structured than other sorts of travel, as weather conditions and landscape often determine travel plans more than airlines and the availability of hotels. As travelers move on foot through often-rural and rarely explored areas, trekking gives travelers an up-close view of incredible scenery. Many trekkers travel through isolated areas, giving them an experience much different than those who travel in organized groups to more-popular and touristy destinations.It often allows them to interact with nature , doing anything from trekking through glacier carved walkways and hill sides to scaling over mountains and crossing quiet streams or finding a way around racing rivers.
Trekking can be done virtually anywhere . Several areas are particularly popular with travelers, including the mountainous regions such as the Northern Rockies in British Columbia and the Southern Rockies in Colorado.However, treks have been organized in other less-touristy areas regions on almost every continent. Trekking can result in a trip as long or short as participants decide, from daily hikes or trips of a week or more to expeditions that last more than a year. Trekking can be as athletic and adventurous as you want .
Having the right gear will help make your trekking experience more enjoyable. The right trekking pole and a must is a comfortably-fitting backpack. Many trekkers who travel for extended periods need to carry plenty of personal items and clothing with them. A sturdy quality backpack can comfortably fit more than 10-20 kilos . Another important item is hiking boots that have good ankle support and you may want to consider a boot with safety toes that can prevent injury from falling debris. Be sure to carry water and a first aid kit. Dried foods and protein bars are popular as carrying canned goods and bulky items can be wearisome and take up much needed space.
Trekking is a great outdoor activity and an awesome way of travel.When starting out it is a good idea to have a guide or professional trekker to help get started. Beginners may want to start on daily hikes over uneven terrain to help them understand how to use trekking poles and become familiar with the experience. A number of outdoor stores supply many different types of poles and offer information and links to various websites to help you find what you need.
Any Nordic Walking progress or experiences since August 20?
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Yes I have been on a couple walks since August. We did a trip to Moose Lake in northern British Columbia and did some great walking along the trails there. When I am home my wife and I try and walk on a daily basis. The town of Fort Nelson ( our home) are in the progress of building a community trail around our town. That was a great walk we can't wait until completion. I am amazed at how much faster we do walk now. I am upset though that I did not bring the camera. Next time out I will get some pictures of our walks and the poles that we are using.
I guess I better update the nordic walker as much as I can when I am online. It's a hit and a miss where I work, but hey never give up right.
Thanks
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Keep up the good work with your walking campaign! My favorite poles for walking on the roads, out in the country and up in the mountains are dependable and user-friendly one-piece poles.
I hear from folks every day about the problems they have with their cheap twist-lock and flip-lock poles. My daughter is a professional guide and Outward Bound instructor and she has dozens of stories and issues with twist-lock and flip-lock poles.
One-piece poles prove to be safer, lighter and much more durable than twist-lock and flip-lock adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.
Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back - better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout - burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.
Nordic Walking’s winning combination of improved posture, a unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action and shock absorbing benefits - helping many individuals to walk comfortably again. Nordic Walking Poles are helping individuals with balance issues, knee issues or new knees, hip issues or new hips, back issues (including those with rods in their back), weight issues, multiple sclerosis (MS), parkinson's (PD), neuropathy, arthritis, bursitis, scoliosis, lumbar stenosis, fibromyalgia, post polio, osteoporosis, stroke recovery, cancer recovery and other limitations to walking. Nordic Walking poles are helping thousands of Americans get off the couch, successfully get outside, start walking safely and effectively launch much needed walking campaigns.
Walking with poles is the best - and ideal for ALL ages and ALL fitness levels!
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Thanks for your input Peter. I must say I have not encountered any problems with the Lekisport line due to collapsing. The lock mechanisms are top quality and carry a full customer satisfaction guarantee . There are plenty of knock off brands out there that pose these problems but Lekisport is not one of them in my experience. Lekisport and Komperdell are the best out there and are build to last. My neighbor was using solid one piece poles and he does not find them to be very practical for long hikes. I believe a top quality Nordic Walking pole like Leki or Komperdell is the way to go for adjustable poles.
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