Grab poles and walk like a Scandinavian
Can 500,000 Finns be wrong? Spreading like wildfire through Scandinavia, Nordic walking crossed the Atlantic a couple of years ago and is catching on fast in the U.S. Started in 1997 as off-season training for cross-country skiers, sauvakavely (“pole walking” in Finnish) transforms walking into all-body fitness by adding rubber-tipped poles. As you plant and push off, you work the shoulders, arms, upper chest and back; lighten the load on your legs and knees; and burn far more calories than simply walking. Rhythmic and stabilizing, doable on street, trail or mall floor, Nordic walking works for every age and fitness level.
-- Roy M. Wallack
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Poles apart
Trek Torpedo: Radically unique pole with a 1-liter water chamber at the bottom.
Likes: Ingenious adjustable-weight design. Feels like a normal pole until you unscrew the two caps of the two-sided chamber and fill it with water -- as much or as little as you want. The 23-ounce pole can add several pounds of water weight, turning Nordic walking into somewhat of a strength workout. Even a small amount of water requires noticeably more effort from your arms. Height adjusts from 41 to 50 inches.
Dislikes: Walking with the chambers even partially filled is so strenuous that it may limit workout time. Instead of a carefree Nordic walking flow, you struggle to develop a rhythm. Permanent rubber tip cannot be replaced with a carbide tip for trail hiking.
Price per pair: $99. (760) 631-1970;
www.nordictrekkers.com.
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The standard
Leki Instructor: Lightweight, two-piece aluminum and carbon high-performance pole for beginners and advanced fitness walkers.
Likes: Fast. Feather-weight pole (7.5 ounces) is lighter at the bottom than the top, reducing “swing weight. “ Left- and right-hand specific grips are very comfortable and natural-feeling, with a form-fitting wrist strap and forward-tilt handle. Unique to Leki is a “trigger” button that, when pushed, lets you click in and out of the pole with the strap on. Under the removable rubber foot is a carbide flex-tip for going off-road. Length adjusts from 47 inches to 38 inches. Includes an instructional DVD.
Dislikes: None.
Price per pair: $149.95. (800) 255-9982; www.leki.com.
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The Ferrari
Exel Nordic Walker Trainer: High-performance, one-piece, ultra-light, carbon-fiber pole.
Likes: Speed and comfort. Barely-there weight -- just 6 ounces per pole in 50-inch length -- lets you move arms with natural motion. Sculpted, form-fitting handgrip is quite comfortable; it includes an ergonomic wrist strap and forward-tilt handle (similar to Leki’s), but adds an asymmetrical shelf that supports the heel of the hand. Removable rubber foot reveals carbide tip for use on dirt trails.
Dislikes: Fixed-length, one-piece design (six sizes available) does not fold up or adjust, so can’t easily be shared, or transported in a small car.
Price per pair: $109.
www.nordicwalker.com.
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Flower power
Life-Link Avalanche Lily, Long: Female-specific model, named after a glacier flower, with a smaller grip to fit women’s hands.
Likes: Solid-feeling 8-ounce pole accommodates wide height range, telescoping from 39 to 57 inches. Built-in snow probe allows it to be used as a ski pole in the winter; a powder basket can be added. Flower graphics add feminine touch.
Dislikes: Although grip is “female-specific,” the unisex Exel and Leki models reviewed at left actually have much smaller grips. No rubber tip is included; carbide tip is loud and scratchy. Be sure to order the optional Walking Tip guard ($3.95 a pair)
Price: $109.95. (800) 443-8620; www.life-link.com.