Good equipment is as important as good technique

Poles

Exel Nordic Walking Pole
Exel Nordic Walking Pole

As with any sport, you are more likely to achieve optimal benefits if you use good quality equipment. When you attend my classes or personal trainer sessions I provide high quality Exel Nordic Walker® poles. These carbon fibre poles are lightweight, are ergonomically designed and their shafts come with a lifetime guarantee. They are single piece and come in a range of lengths; I will recommend the correct length for you.

Once you've tried Nordic Walking, you'll probably want to buy your own poles so that you can go walking at any time. Here's a link to a website listing local and national retailers.

Shoes and Clothing

shoes

Most classes take place in parks where there is a variety of terrain - including flat, hilly, tarmac and grass. I recommend wearing a flexible shoe with good grip such as a running shoe or a specific walking trainer. Walking boots are OK, and are very good for snowy conditions; however, the ankle cuff does restrict movement.

Check out the weather forecast and wear clothing suitable for a brisk walk in the park. Thin gloves are useful in winter. As the old Russian proverb states:

"No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes"