First of all, we would like to wish a Happy, Healthy and Fit New Year to everyone

Think of all of those elliptical trainers, exercise bikes and other fitness equipment, which are gathering dust in people's basements, closets and garages. I have a couple of those items as well and they do not seem to be getting much use around here at all.

My Nordic Walking poles in turn get used almost every day. Surprised? Don't be. Nordic Walking poles are compact, relatively inexpensive and very effective fitness devices, which actually tend to get USED and to a great advantage.

They are in fact "pocket-sized gyms", enabling all the exercise that all of those other devices provide and which, in addition, can be taken anywhere.

For those, who would much rather exercise in the great outdoors, instead of their living rooms, or basements, or in stuffy gyms, Nordic Walking offers the optimal combination of both aerobic and muscle exercise for the entire body.

We have just received a nice letter from Google, saying that we are among the most popular search destinations on Google Maps.

Along with the letter, a rather large sticker was provided, with the QR code, that’s scannable by mobile phones - including the iPhone and Android devices, such as my Droid.

Haven't decided yet, whether to put it on window, on the car, or maybe I just should frame it :)

Along with a group of Nordic Walking enthusiasts I have attended a very well-run instructor's course today at Gerstung Intersport in Baltimore, Maryland.

The instructor was Gottfried Kürmer - a master Nordic Walking coach from Austria, universally recognized as a true Nordic Walking expert as well as a great coach and teacher of the sport.

Overall, it was a great and a highly educational experience. I hope to be passing some of the additional information learned during our classes and demos. Gottfried conducted a series of Nordic Walking seminars, including an ANWA Nordic Walking Guide Workshop and an ANWA Basic and Advanced Instructor Certification courses.

The ANWA-sanctioned event was hosted by Siegfried Gerstung, the Executive Director of Gerstung Intersport.

More details available on the ANWA and the Gerstung Intersport websites.

Here's a link to a TV report done a day before the Saturday's Instructor Seminar, which I have attended at Gerstung Intersport. Take a look!

ANWA

Gerstung Intersport

I am re-posting this closer to the top, as it is always an issue of interest

Should we worry about brands, advertising hype and the like?

As far as brands, most reputable companies usually manufacture well-designed, reliable products. That's why in our store at this time you will find exclusively LEKI and Swix Nordic Walking Poles.

LEKI - a German company is a leading manufacturer of quality hiking, skiing and trekking poles and Nordic walking poles as well. LEKI poles have certain unique features, making them very attractive indeed.

Swix, headquartered in Lillehammer, Norway has been the undisputed leader in the cross-country skiing arena for decades and the same expertise, cutting-edge technology and quality is evident in their Nordic walking products.

Most reputable manufacturers will not drown you in hype, so the next concern should be your body type, the kind of walking that you intend to do and the depth of your pocketbook.

Beware of unknown manufacturers and super low prices. You do want your poles to be durable, light and well-designed, don't you?

On the other hand, you can buy excellent and well-designed Nordic walking poles for just over $100. I assure you that if you decide to stick with the sport, you will be much happier with quality poles, than with some off-brand cheapos.

Also, don't believe the hype out there that adjustable poles are inferior and/or unsafe, or that Nordic walking is complicated and difficult to learn. I have taught rank beginners the basic technique in as little as 15 minutes.

Although we use and carry in our store several great one-piece Nordic walking poles models, I assure you that well-designed and built adjustable poles, such as the LEKI models that we offer are great, solid and perfectly safe poles, which offer certain undeniable advantages as well.

Our store

For some time now, certain people and websites have been making totally unfounded claims about the supposed "danger" inherent in the "collapsing" of adjustable Nordic Walking poles.

Maybe their experience has been limited to cheap, off-brand models, or just plain bad luck, or their inability and/or incompetence in making simple, secure adjustments.

Based on our extensive, multi-year experience with quality one-piece and with adjustable poles, we can categorically state that neither us, our students, or hundreds of satisfied customers have had any problems whatsoever with any "collapsing" of any of our quality LEKI and Swix adjustable poles.

Tom Rutlin, the true pioneer of Nordic Walking sells and promotes adjustable poles and so does Marko Kantaneva, another pioneer of the sport.

It is unnerving to hear certain Nordic Walking upstarts and so-called "professionals" demeaning the experience of these two men, questioning their expertise, as well as the safety of quality Nordic Walking poles, made by reputable manufacturers.

Re-posting closer to the top, as this is an important issue for everybody.

There has been a lot of discussion about the safety of different kinds of plastic water bottles and other containers.

Even though the plastics industry has published a great many disclaimers, and even if I believed all of them, there is still the indisputable fact that water from refillable (even super-clean) plastic water bottles does have a "funny" taste. As a matter of fact all kinds of harmful chemical are used in the production of plastic bottles. Many of them leach out and poison our bodies and billions of bottles get thrown out every day.

Considering that, I few years ago I decided to get a water filter and a few 3/4-liter SIGG aluminium water bottles. They are almost indestructible and coated inside with an impervious - to almost anything coating, which does not leach chemicals. Yes, they are more expensive than plastic, but will also last for decades. Having a dented, but perfectly functional water bottle is a badge of honor of sorts, I guess...

Non-toxic, baked-on inner lining is certified by an independent institute (Nehring, Germany) and exceeds FDA requirements. Water-based, not petroleum (plastic).

Although SIGG is not a sponsor of this website, I am a firm believer in their products.

In addition to the health reasons against using plastic containers, every year about 1.5 million tons of plastic go into manufacturing water bottles for the global market, using processes that release toxics such as nickel, ethyl benzene, ethylene oxide and benzene.

In the U.S. alone 1.5 million barrels of oil are consumed in making the bottles. Add to this the transportation, distribution and...price and you have a perfect reason to stop buying water in those stupid, little, plastic bottles.

I have heard all kinds of interesting things about SpringBoost athletic shoes for months, but was able to actually try them out just recently.

First impressions? Why haven’t I tried them earlier?!

SpringBoost’s patented Dorsiflection technology places the heel lower than in most shoes, providing at the same time a built-in rolling action, generated in the forward part of the sole, under the ball of the foot.

This design not only FEELS good, but according to research also leads to:

Increase in strength and explosive power

Gain in speed and vertical leap

Improved posture

Increase in muscle fiber recruitment in specific target zone

More efficient use of energy during training and competition

Quite frankly, after having used the SpringBoost B-Walk Nordic Men's Shoes for about two months now, I am feeling and seeing a marked difference in the strength and look -:) of my calves. Could this be the magic bullet that some of you ladies have been looking for to enhance the look of your legs?

Considering the above-mentioned advantages, SpringBoost Nordic walking shoes have been added to our on-line store.

Our prices are extremely competitive and as usual, include free shipping within the continental United States.

Take a look!

As I have mentioned more than once, the LEKI Traveller poles are definitely my first choice for...you guessed - traveling, since they collapse to only 26 inches and easily fit into almost any suitcase.

At the same time, I love the practicality and convenience of the Swix Twist&Go tips.

The Twist&Go tip is basically a moveable and adjustable tip, enabling the user to switch from the sharp, metal spike, to a rubber tip for pavement use.

When the surface you are Nordic Walking on changes, just twist the Twist&Go tip and you'll have the perfect tip for that new surface. No need to strain to remove the rubber pavement tips, or to orient them in the right direction.

Besides the small folding factor, LEKI poles have also very handy and nice trigger release straps.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a pole, which had all of the above-mentioned features - until now.

The wait is over! Some of our most popular Swix Nordic walking poles - including certain recently unavailable sizes - have just arrived. The top-of-the line Swix CT1's and the 80% carbon Swix CT3's, with the Twist&Go tips poles are here!

Many of our bestselling poles have been disappearing from our web store shelves at an accelerated rate lately, as more and more people in the U.S. are discovering the benefits of Nordic walking.

One-piece carbon poles, with the Swix Salomon patent straps are some of the finest pieces of equipment available.

And considering the great benefits that Nordic walking offers, probably the best investment for your fitness, health and well-being.

Our new and improved on-line store is up and running! We hope that it will provide a better and more informative interface for you

We invite you to browse and ask any and all equipment and technique questions that you may have.

Take a look!