Nordic Walking In Non Nordic Countries
Nordic walking was launched in Finland in 1997 as a summer fitness exercise for cross country skiers.
It was later promoted by the Finnish government to encourage the people to exercise.
About 760,000 Finns exercise with this walking regularly.
The Nordic walking spread quickly in the Nordic countries like Norway Sweden Germany , where more people are familiar with Nordic style skiing.
In Finland, at the summer, the mean daily temperature is consistently above 10C but we know that all the countries mentioned here are mostly not very hot.
So what happens in the hot countries where the mean summer temperatures Are around 30C? Is this kind of activity suitable for those countries, where there is no snow at all? I am living in a hot country with summer temperatures around the 30C.
From my experience I can assure you It fits also to hot countries but I have to emphasis the following points: Walking time: Early morning is my preferred time.
The air is usually not polluted.
The car traffic is low.
You have a chance to see the sunrise.
Not many walkers.
Clothing: Use light clothing as possible.
Light shirt.
Short trousers.
A hat if you will meet the hot sun! Footwear: There are specially designed shoes for Nordic Walking , but a good walking shoe or a running shoe can also do the job.
Water: Very important ! I usually carry on my back a water bag , with a pipe so I do not have to leave the walking poles for drinking.
Walking poles : Using the walking poles with gloves is unbearable .
The hands feel very hot and sweaty inside the gloves.
The solution is to use walking poles without gloves but they should not be the kind with smooth cork shaft .
The reason of course is that the sweating hands are sliding on the shaft , so you can not give that push with the hands , which are part of the Nordic Walking .
This leads to the conclusion that the shaft has to be the kind with curves which fit the fingers.
With this kind of shaft you can "play " with the way you holding the walking poles: Before sweating in the hand palms you can have a full grip on the shaft.
Later you can hold the shaft with the thumb and index finger only.
It was later promoted by the Finnish government to encourage the people to exercise.
About 760,000 Finns exercise with this walking regularly.
The Nordic walking spread quickly in the Nordic countries like Norway Sweden Germany , where more people are familiar with Nordic style skiing.
In Finland, at the summer, the mean daily temperature is consistently above 10C but we know that all the countries mentioned here are mostly not very hot.
So what happens in the hot countries where the mean summer temperatures Are around 30C? Is this kind of activity suitable for those countries, where there is no snow at all? I am living in a hot country with summer temperatures around the 30C.
From my experience I can assure you It fits also to hot countries but I have to emphasis the following points: Walking time: Early morning is my preferred time.
The air is usually not polluted.
The car traffic is low.
You have a chance to see the sunrise.
Not many walkers.
Clothing: Use light clothing as possible.
Light shirt.
Short trousers.
A hat if you will meet the hot sun! Footwear: There are specially designed shoes for Nordic Walking , but a good walking shoe or a running shoe can also do the job.
Water: Very important ! I usually carry on my back a water bag , with a pipe so I do not have to leave the walking poles for drinking.
Walking poles : Using the walking poles with gloves is unbearable .
The hands feel very hot and sweaty inside the gloves.
The solution is to use walking poles without gloves but they should not be the kind with smooth cork shaft .
The reason of course is that the sweating hands are sliding on the shaft , so you can not give that push with the hands , which are part of the Nordic Walking .
This leads to the conclusion that the shaft has to be the kind with curves which fit the fingers.
With this kind of shaft you can "play " with the way you holding the walking poles: Before sweating in the hand palms you can have a full grip on the shaft.
Later you can hold the shaft with the thumb and index finger only.