Nordic, or Scandinavian walking, is a sport that has virtually no contraindications and is available to all comers. To practice this sport requires only two special sticks. There are no special requirements anymore. Do Nordic walking can be almost in any weather and anywhere.
How to choose Nordic Walking Sticks?
Classes Nordic walking allow you to load not only the muscles of the legs, but also the muscles of the press and the shoulder girdle. In this case, the spine is loaded minimally, since the main focus is on the sticks.
For effective training it is necessary to use quality sticks, the choice of which should take into account the following points:
- Nordic walking can not be used with ski poles, as the latter are longer and do not have a removable tip.
- Nordic walking sticks should have a replaceable tip: for the ice, snow and dirt roads, a claw-like cliche is used, as on ski sticks, a wear-resistant rubber tip is used for the asphalt. It should be noted that the stud must be removed.
- The sticks are monolithic and telescopic. The advantage of telescopic sticks is that they are easier to transport and can be customized for the growth of a particular person. However, their reliability and safety is lower than that of monolithic poles.
- Sticks are made of aluminum, carbon and composite material. It is better for beginners to choose carbon sticks with an index between 20 and 30%.
- When buying sticks, you should pay attention to the manufacturer. The best producers are Germans and Finns. The cost of such sticks will be high, but they will be safe and comfortable.
- Sticks should not contain plastic parts. Plastic allows manufacturers to offer the buyer a lower price, but this material is short-lived and inconvenient, especially if it is used on the handle or tips.
- When buying monolithic sticks, you should calculate their length, which is needed by a particular person. In this case, the following formula is used: the growth should be multiplied by 0.68 and rounded to a larger number multiple of 5.
Nordic Walking Shoes
There are no special requirements for shoes for Scandinavian walking. The main thing is that walking is convenient. The easiest way to engage in quality sneakers , with a flexible sole, and a fairly well fixing the leg.