York Nordic Blue Breeze Design Hiking Walking Poles Lightweight Adjustable

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Using walking or hiking poles can provide stability and balance on trails and added workout benefits like upper body exercise during a hike. Fitness walking poles and Nordic walking poles are designed for exercise on streets, sidewalks, and paths. Trekking poles, on the other hand, are designed for use on trails and uneven terrain.

Walking poles can have different tips depending on their use. Rubber tips provide stability on sidewalks and pavement, and baskets can keep poles from sinking in snow. We reviewed walking poles based on the type of grips and tips they have, whether they are adjustable, and durability.

Here are the best walking poles on the market.

Amazon

These walking poles are our best overall selection for their sturdy, one-piece design customized to your height. The poles have carbide tips and removable rubber fitness tips for use on pavement, and the SWIX glove system for the grips. These poles are lightweight for long hikes but solid enough to provide balance and stability.

Keenfit Fitness Walking Poles. Courtesy of Amazon.com

These poles have a palm strap rather than a demi-glove and they come with instructions in their own pole walking exercise technique. They are adjustable in length. They come with road feet, trail feet, and snow/sand baskets.

 Amazon

Exel Nordic Walker poles are designed for the Nordic walking technique, and this company was at the forefront of popularizing the sport in Europe. The technique requires the poles to have a half-glove strap so you can release the pole on the backstroke and it snaps back into your hand as you move your arm forward. These lightweight carbon fiber one-piece poles have a paw for walking on streets and sidewalks and a spiketip for trails. You must order them in the correct size for your height and they are not adjustable.

Leki Speed Pacer Vario Poles. Courtesy of Amazon.com

These Nordic walking poles include the glove with an easy click release so you don't have to take the glove completely off when you make a stop. The grip is thicker than many of the traditional Nordic walking poles. They fold for travel rather than telescoping. They weigh only 8.6 ounces each and fold to a length of 15.5 inches. You get rubber feet, snow baskets, and a travel storage bag as well. The height is adjustable from 43 to 53 inches, and the manufacturer also has a customized version for shorter people which you can get upon request. The price is excellent.

Brazos Fitness Walking Sticks. Brazos

Some people simply prefer wood. Brazos Walking Sticks has a FitnessWalker design in ash. The curved handles can work for the push off, and they have a cord strap to help retain the poles. However, without a half glove, these are only suited for the exerstriding or trekking techniques rather than the Nordic walking technique. They come in only three lengths and are non-adjustable, but they can make custom lengths to your request. For the natural feel of wood, these will be the right fit for many people.

Types of Walking Sticks or Poles

Single Pole or Staff

A single walking stick, pole, or staff can give you stability, especially on loose terrain or when crossing streams. It also can relieve stress on the joints. A staff can also give you a measure of security, as attackers may be more likely to annoy somebody who doesn't have a stick.

You can find a variety of designs for single walking sticks, including those made of natural wood, as well as lightweight aluminum sticks that telescope or fold for ease of packing when you aren't using them. You can buy single walking sticks at an outdoor store or online. You can also be crafty and make your own walking stick.

Hiking Poles and Trekking Poles

Using a pair of hiking or trekking poles gives you balance and takes more stress off the lower body joints. The grips and straps are designed so you can push down on them to assist you on the trail, but also for quick release if the pole gets stuck between rocks or roots.

Fitness Walking and Nordic Walking Poles

A pair of fitness walking poles allow you to burn more calories while feeling no greater exertion when walking on streets, sidewalks, and paths. These poles come with instruction manuals and often with videos to help you learn the proper technique. Nordic walking grips are designed for that technique, with a half-glove to allow the proper release of the pole on the backswing. They come with a removable rubber tip for switching between hard and soft surfaces.

How to Walk With Poles

Poles come with illustrated booklets, videos, or links for online instructions. Use them! It can take practice until you are using poles to the fullest advantage. With Nordic walking and exercising techniques, you add more vigorous motion to your walking (which burns extra calories), while with the hiking technique you add stability.

What to Look for in Walking Poles

Grip

The best walking pole grip is one with a positive angle, which relieves stress and overuse of the wrist joint. Grip designs differ for fitness walking and for trekking—select the pole to match your activity. Retention straps also differ, with a half-glove used for fitness walking and a simpler strap for trekking. A quick-release mechanism for the strap or glove is very useful.

Adjustability

One-piece poles are lighter and quieter and will be the best choice for Nordic walking. For trekkers, adjusting the length as you go uphill and downhill allows you to keep the correct angle. For travelers and hikers, poles that fold or telescope to store or carry in your luggage or in your pack on the trail are very handy. You may also want a padded travel bag for air travel with one-piece poles.

Air Travel With Poles

Walking poles may not be allowed in carry-on luggage for air travel. While airlines may say they accept them officially, in practice it's the security personnel on the ground who determine whether or not they can fly.

Pole Tips, Paws, and Baskets

Poles made for fitness walking often have a rubber "paw" made for walking on asphalt, set at the proper angle to hit the pavement. Others use a rubber tip similar to a cane tip, which wears unevenly. These are removable and there is a carbide tip underneath for gripping natural trails. For walking in sand, snow, or soft trails, trekking baskets keep your poles from sinking into the soft surface. Many also come with snow baskets, which allow you to use them for snowshoeing.

Anti-Shock Systems

Cork inside the poles can act to reduce shock. Some poles use springs to act as shock absorbers. These systems generally add a little weight to the poles, but can increase your comfort in using the poles.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you use a walking pole correctly?

  Keep a loose grip on your walking poles so you can move them forward with ease for each step. Grip tightly if you need more stability, but then loosen your grip again. Apply pressure with just your thumb and forefinger.

• How do I know what size walking pole I need?

  Walking poles are adjustable so they fit most people's heights. Fix the poles to fit you while standing with your elbows bent, as if you're walking. You'll need to shorten them when going uphill and lengthen them when going downhill.

• How long do walking poles last?

  If you take good care of them, walking poles can essentially last forever. Take them apart to clean and dry per the manufacturer's instructions.

• What are the advantages to using a walking pole?

  Using walking poles has favorable effects on health for people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regular walking with poles leads to improved heart health and improved quality of life. It can even help with chronic pain and exercise-induced anxiety, depression, and difficulty breathing.

• Is it better to hike with one pole or two?

  Hiking with two poles provides better stability and helps keep you from falling. You may experience less knee pain when using two poles, particularly when walking downhill.

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Source: https://www.verywellfit.com/best-fitness-walking-poles-3435994

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