Nordic Walking Poles Burn 20% More Calories, Engaging the Upper Body
Updated
Updated · Boing Boing · Jul 23
Nordic Walking Poles Burn 20% More Calories, Engaging the Upper Body
2 articles · Updated · Boing Boing · Jul 23
Summary
Michael Ham says Nordic walking poles can raise calorie burn by 20% without making a walk feel harder, while turning a leg-dominant workout into a full-body one.
Unlike trekking poles, which are planted ahead with bent arms for balance on climbs, Nordic poles trail behind with straight arms so walkers push off them for propulsion on level ground.
Ham argues that propulsion makes Nordic poles an advantage where trekking poles can feel like a burden, because the poles actively drive movement rather than just steady it.
His preferred model is the Exel Pro Curve one-piece pole, which he said he had to order from the UK.