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Nordic Walking

Nordic walking, which was originally meant as a summer workout for cross-country skiers, is now a year-round sport.
When it's getting cold, these activities require high quality thermal clothing that provides protection from the elements and is at the same time breathable for staying dry.
In that perspective, CIMALP has designed a complete line of technical, high performing and comfortable clothing for Nordic walking.

Free shipping from £100 to the UK and from 65€ to Ireland | Free Return | Secured payment

Nordic walking, which was originally meant as a summer workout for cross-country skiers, is now a year-round sport.
When it's getting cold, these activities require high quality thermal clothing that provides protection from the elements and is at the same time breathable for... Read more

Nordic walking, which was originally meant as a summer workout for cross-country skiers, is now a year-round sport.
When it's getting cold, these activities require high quality thermal clothing that provides protection from the elements and is at the same time breathable for staying dry.
In that perspective, CIMALP has designed a complete line of technical, high performing and comfortable clothing for Nordic walking.

Free shipping from £100 to the UK and from 65€ to Ireland | Free Return | Secured payment

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The benefits, the basics and the gear you need for Nordic walking.


Prepare to drop your preconceptions...

An activity that’s simple, affordable and highly effective? It almost sounds too good to be true. But that’s the reality with Nordic walking. If you’re looking to improve your fitness and even your mental health, you’d be wise to pick up some poles and start striding.

We’d hazard a guess that you’ve already got a few preconceptions about Nordic walking. If you do, we’re sorry to tell you this, but you’ve probably got the wrong end of the stick. First up: the ‘it’s just for old people’ thing. OK, there’s truth in the fact that a lot of older people are Nordic walkers and it’s certainly a great activity for those who have troublesome joints, but the benefits of it certainly aren’t limited to the over 70s… 

The Benefits of Nordic Walking

Another common misconception is that Nordic walking is just walking with poles but there’s actually far more to it than that. Normal walking only engages 50% of your muscles after all, whereas the Nordic style brings up to 90% into the equation. You’re also burning around 20% more calories when you Nordic walk, so it’s a great exercise for anyone looking to lose weight. It’s a whole-body workout and it’s very cardiovascular – it was, after all, derived from the winter training regime of super-fit cross-country skiers.

Don’t forget that there’s the mental well-being side of things as well. Any exercise is good for mental health and being outdoors in nature adds another level of mood-boosting benefits, but Nordic walking can actually enhance those benefits even further. The rhythmical action of Nordic walking can add another level of mood-boosting benefits, especially when you learn to coordinate breathing exercises with steps, creating a relaxing workout with plenty of fresh air.

The most important thing is that your upper body is engaged. To do this, the poles aren’t planted in front of you with each step (as they would be by someone who is using poles for trekking), but instead, they’re trailed behind at a 45 degree angle, with each one planted at correspondence with your stride and used to propel you forward. Your shoulders should be relaxed and down and your arms should be kept close to your body, straightening as they trail behind you. Your wrists should be relaxed and should never come above the waist.

Gear You Need For Nordic Walking

Aside from poles, Nordic walking doesn’t require any specific gear – that’s one of the beauties of it. However, if you plan on building Nordic walking into your weekly or even daily routine to regularly reap the rewards it brings then you’ll need gear that can keep you out rain or shine – and all throughout the year. CimAlp is one of just a few brands that make gear specifically designed for the demands of Nordic walking. In other words, we make protective gear for active use. Our collection includes breathable rain jackets, insulating but fast-wicking base layers, lightweight insulation and plenty more.