Nordic Walking

[Craig Sheppard]

Anyone here tried this sport? Was reading about it online and it sounded interesting... the web sites claim up to 40% more energy expenditure than walking alone. If you've done it, does this sound legitimate to you? Did you feel like you got a much better workout than walking alone? Also wondering if it'd be good exercise for your shoulder, something us tennis folks are always worried about...

[Phil]

Anyone here tried this sport? Was reading about it online and it sounded interesting... the web sites claim up to 40% more energy expenditure than walking alone. If you've done it, does this sound legitimate to you? Did you feel like you got a much better workout than walking alone? Also wondering if it'd be good exercise for your shoulder, something us tennis folks are always worried about...

The poles are so light, and they barely touch the ground, so there is no real resistance. Swinging your arms with an 8 oz. pole cannot be all THAT much better for your arms/shoulders. Sorry I can't give you any specific information on Nordic Walking, but as an avid, and once fairly hard-core, hiker, I can say that no "real" hiker would be caught dead with those things. They are kinda the equivalent to the old ladies who wear gloves to play tennis...we used to laugh when we saw people with those things. Nordic Hikers are typically dressed head-to-toe in "designer" hiking apparel and $250 boots. My (biased) opinion is to save your money and just walk, hard and fast, up and down hills and mountains. I don't need no steen-kin poles!