For steadier walking, begin with the Urban Poling ACTIVATOR: a button lock and rubber tips the maker states are for stability.
To start Nordic walking, look at the York or the FitTrek, which come with wrist straps.
Both aims call for the same kit: an adjustable pair with rubber tips for pavement. The three pairs below each come with a lock type and a stated user height.
This is general information, not medical advice, so check with your doctor if you have concerns.
The buy links below go to Amazon; a purchase through one pays this site a small commission.
The three pairs, at a glance:
- Urban Poling ACTIVATOR: button lock, stated for users up to 6 ft, removable bell-shaped rubber tips.
- York Nordic Motivator: flip lock, stated for users up to 6 ft 2 in, removable rubber feet.
- FitTrek Nordic: lever lock, stated for users from 4 ft 1 in to 6 ft 1 in, rubber tip for pavement included.
Three adjustable pairs with rubber feet
Urban Poling ACTIVATOR
You want a button lock on a pole made for balance work
Urban Poling ACTIVATOR
Button lock, two sections
Removable rubber bell tips, up to 250 lb
See colors and prices on Amazon
Urban Poling states a button lock. It says an occupational therapist and a gerontologist (a specialist in aging) designed the poles.
The grip has no strap: a wide ledge takes its place, which the maker says reduces the risk of injury.
Urban Poling states it for users up to 6 ft.
The pair weighs 1.44 lb and collapses to 29 inches. Under the removable rubber tip sits a carbide tip for trail, beach and snow.
- Great if
- A stated 250 lb user limit
- Pass if
- You use a cane or walker: Urban Poling says ask a therapist first
York Nordic Motivator Walking Poles
You want a flip lock and wrist straps included in the box
York Nordic Motivator Walking Poles for Balance and Rehab
Flip lock, adjusts up to 54 in
Removable round rubber feet, 230 lb limit
See colors and prices on Amazon
York Nordic states a flip lock. The pole adjusts up to 54 inches and York states it for users up to 6 ft 2 in, with a 230 lb limit.
The grip has two thumb positions and a palm cradle.
York includes one set of adjustable lanyard wrist straps and gives a 5 year warranty.
- Great if
- Round rubber tips, with snow and sand baskets and a travel bag in the box
FitTrek Nordic Walking Poles
You want a lever lock and a quick-release wrist band, with a stated height range from 4 ft 1 in
FitTrek Nordic Walking Poles (2 Pack)
Lever lock, two aluminum sections
Cork and foam grip, rubber tip included
See colors and prices on Amazon
The listing describes a lever lock that is quick to adjust even when wearing gloves. Its listing states a user height range of 4 ft 1 in to 6 ft 1 in.
The pair weighs 15 oz.
The grip is cork with soft foam, and the wrist band clicks in and out of the grip. A rubber tip for pavement comes with the carbide tip.
- Pass if
- You need a stated weight limit: the listing gives none
Which pole for which walker
| Where you're at | Give this a try |
|---|---|
| You want a button lock on a pole made for balance work | Urban Poling ACTIVATOR |
| You want a flip lock and wrist straps included in the box | York Nordic Motivator Walking Poles |
| You want a lever lock and a quick-release wrist band, with a stated height range from 4 ft 1 in | FitTrek Nordic Walking Poles |
Poles or a cane
A cane is the right answer for some walkers. OrthoInfo, the patient site of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, says a cane can help with “minor problems with balance or stability.”
The National Institute on Aging, one of the 27 institutes of the National Institutes of Health, says the cane must be the right size. A physical or occupational therapist can help you choose a device.
Urban Poling says that if you already use a cane, crutches or a walker, you may need therapy for core strength and balance first.
What to look for in a pair
The Arthritis Foundation, a US nonprofit working against arthritis, says your elbows should be at about 90 degrees with the pole tips by your toes. Comfort may change that.
An adjustable pair lets you set the length to your own arms.
A fixed-length option exists, such as the American Nordic Walking System, whose one-piece poles are cut to your barefoot height. With an adjustable pair you can change the length between outings.
For pavement, look for a rubber tip. Exercise physiologist Martica Heaner told the Arthritis Foundation that a metal spike underneath can be covered with a rubber “paw” for asphalt.
Urban Poling uses a wide ledge with no strap, York includes lanyard wrist straps, and FitTrek has a band that clicks out of the grip.
What the research found
The evidence on Nordic walking and balance in older adults is mixed.
A review of 15 studies in people aged 60 to 92 (Bullo and colleagues, 2018) compared it with walking alone. Dynamic balance, lower-body flexibility and quality of life improved, with effect sizes of 0.30, 0.47 and 0.53.
The same review suggested a negative effect on static balance (standing still) against a sedentary group.
A 2019 trial of 33 untrained older people over 8 weeks found no greater gain than free walking in walking speed, its main outcome.
A 2013 pilot trial at McGill University found a larger gain in gait speed with Nordic walking than with ordinary walking. A pilot is small, and none of the three results is a finding about falls.
Steadiness first, Nordic walking first, or a cane first
If steadier walking is the aim, start with the Urban Poling ACTIVATOR. Choose the York Nordic Motivator if you prefer a flip lock.
If Nordic walking is the aim, choose the York or the FitTrek, which come with wrist straps. You can learn the Nordic walking technique in steps, size the poles and find a group.
If a doctor has recommended a cane, or you already walk with one, ask your doctor or therapist before switching to poles.