Get in Shape with These High-Quality Nordic Walking Poles
Nordic walking is an activity that is enjoyed by many, both as a sport and an outdoor recreational activity. Movement is done with walking poles, thin but very strong rods that resemble the kind used for skiing. Some even use them to assist their walking technique after sustaining leg injuries, since it allows the walker to move with more support from the torso, arms, and shoulders than what’s possible from an ordinary stroll. Contrary to its name, Nordic walking isn’t practiced exclusively in the NorthWestern corner of Europe, although it did begin there. Below are ten of the best Nordic walking poles found online. Remember to check out the Buyer’s Guide as well so that you’ll have a better idea of what types suits you the most.
10 Best Nordic Walking Poles Reviewed 2021
Model | Length (Usable) | Height Range | Material | Type | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
LEKI Nordic Walking Stock Response My Pick! | 115cm | 165 - 175cm (5ft 5in - 5ft 9in) | Aluminium/Carbon | Fixed Length | Check Price |
Gipfelsport Carbon Nordic Walking pole Best on a budget! | 75 - 125 cm | 135cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | 100% Carbon | Telescoping (Lever lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Leki Traveller Carbon Nordic | 90 - 130 cm | 135cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | Carbon Fibre | Telescoping (Speed lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Series 300 Urban Poles | 77 - 130 cm | 128cm-190cm | High-grade Aluminium | Telescoping (Twist lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Leki Smart Traveller Carbon Nordic Walking Stick90 | 100 - 135 cm | 136cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | 100% Carbon | Telescoping (Lever lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
ALPIDEX Very Light Carbon Nordic Walking Pole | 100 - 135 cm | 135cm - 195cm (4ft 4in - 6ft 3in) | Modular Carbon | Telescoping (Twist lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Exel Pro Curve ALIS - Nordic Walking Stick | 100 cm | 135cm - 195cm (4ft 4in - 6ft 3in) | Carbon | Fixed Length, Curve technology | Check Price |
Leki Spin Nordic Walking Stick | 100 - 130 cm | 135cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | Carbon | Telescoping (Twist lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Gabel Stretch Lite Nordic walking poles | 75 - 130cm | 135cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | Aluminium | Telescoping (Twist lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Premium Steinwood 100% Carbon Nordic Walking Poles | 65 - 135 cm | 135cm - 190cm (4ft 6in - 6ft 3in) | 100% Carbon | Telescoping (Lever lock), Adjustable | Check Price |
Ultrasport Carbon Nordic Walking/Trekking Poles | 105cm-110cm-115cm-115cm | 165 - 175cm (5ft 5in - 5ft 9in) | Carbon | Fixed Length | Check Price |
LEKI Nordic Walking Stock Response – Best Nordic Walking Poles for Strength
- Built with aluminum and other strong metals; will last years after purchase
- Although lightweight, no vibrations when pressed down on during walks
- The rubber tips come off easy (when needing to replace)
- There’s no way to adjust the length of the poles
GipfelSport Carbon Nordic Walking pole – Best for Casual Walking (People’s Choice)
- Doesn’t cause joint pain when walking in areas where the ground is uneven
- The poles have a long adjusting length that can better accommodate taller walkers
- The handles are slip-resistant
- Unlike the poles themselves, the hand straps cannot be adjusted
Leki Traveller Carbon Nordic Walking Poles – Best for Height Adjustment
- When taken apart, the poles will fit in check-in luggage sized bag easily
- The poles are built well; very strong along the rods
- Doesn’t bend easily, even when force is applied
- No vibrations are felt when applying pressure downward
- Hand grip quality has increased over older models of the poles
- The poles may not fit in some luggage pieces if only collapsed
Leki Smart Traveller Carbon Nordic Walking Stick – Best All-Terrain Nordic Walking Poles
- The length is adequate for both men and women
- The grip is excellent and feels cool on the hands during long walking distances
- Shaking is minimal, and handling doesn’t feel awkward when walking on inclines and declines
- If used on wet pavement, slipping might occur due to thin rubber soles
ALPIDEX Very Light Carbon Nordic Walking Pole – Best for Grass and Asphalt
- The straps can be unfastened from the top
- Comes with extra rubber soles for the metal tips at the bottom
- The poles are at a fixed length but can be disassembled if necessary
- Not recommended for customers that travel frequently
Exel Pro Curve ALIS – Best Nordic Walking Poles for Beginners
- Poles are built with pure carbon
- Suitable for most beginners and expert Nordic walkers
- Zero vibrations, no matter how hard the poles are used on the terrain of all types
- The thin straps may not suit all walkers
Gabel Stretch Lite – Best Multi-Use Nordic Walking Poles
- Looks unique to other Nordic walking poles
- Its durability would make it a useful tool when undertaking activities other than Nordic walking (hiking and trekking)
- All parts are assembled in Italy. I Love It!
- Slight vibration along the bottom if used on concrete surfaces
Leki Spin Nordic Walking Stick – for Men and Women
- The poles have an adjustment range of 39 to 51 inches
- No shakiness when walking over dense surfaces
- Straps are adjustable; can fit large or small hands
- Poles are set to default height; most users won’t have to adjust when they’re unboxed
- The poles have no collapsing feature
Premium Steinwood 100% Carbon Nordic Walking Poles – Best for Cold Weather
- On-the-spot adjustments can be made with the Quick-Lock system
- Multiple soles come with the poles; can be used in snowy and icy conditions
- Comes with a carrying case (both will fit into the bag)
- Almost doubles its height when extended after being collapsed
- Releases for the straps are made of plastic and feel weak
Ultrasport Carbon Nordic Walking/Trekking Poles – Best for Grip and Wrist Support
- Relaxing hand grips are easy on the wrists, never causing pain when walking on long treks
- Handles are produced from authentic cork
- Lightweight construction but built from very dense materials
- Thin grip portion that rests along the thumbs may lead to fatigue in the hands (too thin)
Best nordic walking poles – Buyer’s Guide
Here are some helpful tips to aid in your search for Nordic walking poles.
Choosing the right Nordic Poles
A good pair of Nordic walking poles will have three key features. The first is durability, which is determined by how well the poles are manufactured. Most of them in this category will consist of various metals, most notably aluminum or steel. Others might be made from carbon fiber. Carbon-fiber is lightweight but has high density, which adds lots of strength to the poles. The higher the concentration of carbon in the poles, the better it will stand up to prevent shaking when you walk with the product. The second thing to look for is the quality of everything else, which includes the feet and handles. Good poles will utilize cork, which is also lightweight but easy to handle. It absorbs moisture and keeps the walker’s grips held firmly to the top without slipping. This can prevent wrist strain during walking. Lastly, the third feature is the straps. Just because the poles that you have are nice doesn’t necessarily translate to quality straps. Some of them can fit too tight or loose, so check to see if you’ll need an additional pair besides those that come with the product that interests you the most.
Fixed or Adjustable Height?
Another feature that you should decide if you need or not is whether the poles can have their heights adjusted. Some of them can while others can’t. If they aren’t featured, the easiest way to tell is by looking at the description of the product. If the height is fixed, then you won’t have the option to extend their length. Yet those that do will have a description show the smallest and longest lengths that it can be. For example, poles that will retract will be shown to do so with a (hypothetical) distance of 130 to 190 centimeters. But a pair that can’t be set to the length of the entire pole only. However, even those that can be fixed will have various sizes they can be purchased in. No matter if you’re tall or short pay attention to the sizing of your poles to avoid an unnecessary return.
Where you Walk in Them
Depending on your location, you might have to walk through gravel, dirt, concrete, or both during your Nordic walking routine. Thankfully, some poles are sold to accommodate any sort of terrain that you may come across. Some brands may even have rubber padding for walking through the snow. Regardless, check the product’s description fist to see if anything’s included, then buy separately if you must. Most of them will contain soles for either walking on grass and the road. If your route doesn’t differentiate from this very often, then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
Travel and Transport
If you plan to do any traveling with your Nordic walking poles, you’ll want to ensure they’re lightweight and collapsible. Traveling with those without the features will result in the poles getting in the way of other bags. But with folding poles, height doesn’t need to be worried about. Just push them in and place in any bag that can fit them. Some brands might include a bag that can be used for this. However, these are often in poor quality, so you’re likely better off getting one separately from the poles that you buy (assuming there’s a bag that comes it the pair). But if you insist on getting poles that won’t fold up, you could always rig things up the way golfers do with golf clubs. But always store them in a place where they won’t be exposed to the elements, whether you’re doing it temporarily or between airports.
Conclusion
If you liked one of the Nordic walking poles shown, take a moment to go over any other brands that you may have missed. How do they compare to the one that initially piqued your interest? You don’t want to check out these until you’re sure that it’s the right size, durability, and has the correct features that you want to be included (such as height adjustments and the correct soles). The comparison chart and buyer’s section can assist you in this if you haven’t read it already. In any case, there are two products better than the others, overall. The Leki Traveller Carbon Nordic Walking Poles and Carbon Nordic poles are outstanding in power and height. Place these on your list first if you don’t know which to choose. But if you think one of the other eight have something that the first two don’t, just your better judgment, particularly if you don’t need to adjust the height. There’s something here to make everyone happy, and the poles range the beginner-friendly to expert quality.






Never underestimate the power of a great set of walking poles
Perfect!! finally found a buyers guide to help me make an informed decision on what walking pole to get my dad for Christmas. He loves to hike. Great recommendations. Thanks
manufactured in what country?
Such a great buyers guide! I had the Gabel Stretch Lites in the past but the vibration was too much for me
I’ve always liked the ALPIDEX Carbons and I know other people that love them too
I’m no pro or anything in this activity, in fact I’m just getting started so I appreciate this comparison guide with pros and cons included! It helps beginners like me be more informed as to which Nordic walking pole would fit best. I have big hands so I think the poles of the smaller variety would be out of consideration, haha!
Going to share this with my dad he was talking about wanting some hiking poles
Wanted to buy German sticks from Leki on Amazon, but they are not yet available. What happens to world trade? !!!
Choosing The Right Nordic Poles.
“Good poles will utilize cock…”, I suspect there is an unfortunate typo, and this should say “cork”. A small, nevertheless important point (excuse the pun).
ha ha 🙂
I teach Nordic Walking in the UK and I agree with your choices of Leki and Excel but I have just walked with a client who was using the Steinwood poles and was stunned by the degree of pole shake. It is not a brand I am familiar with which is why I am looking for reviews. I thought they were shockingly bad.
I have never had any problems with getting my Leki Traveler poles to fit in any of my luggage bags. They don’t give me any hassle when I’m taking them apart or putting them together afterward. I recommend to those who might have a short temper with things especially when constructing things.
I have had the Leki Smart Traveller for a few months now and I have never had a problem with them being slippery. I live where it rains on quite a regular basis and the poles have held up pretty well.
I am definitely on the taller side and had some trouble with finding good poles that would work for me for walking. I found that the Gipfelsport Carbon poles were a great fit for me. Since I could adjust them to my height and they extended enough to fit my needs.
I really like the Alpidex brand a lot. All of their gear just really works for me and I find that it fits my lifestyle the best. I don’t do a lot of traveling with my poles and mostly just do the walking nearby so I don’t have to worry about any extensive travel.
I just love my Leki Traveller walking poles. They make it so easy to go and travel without worrying if I can take them on a plane or not. Putting them together and taking them apart is a breeze.
I am just starting out with this whole walking thing and I got the Exel Pro because they’re made for beginners. I just wanted to know what constitutes beginner versus a seasoned walker?
I think that a seasoned walker uses the right Nordic walking technique to use as many muscles as possible. He makes more effort and spends more calories.
I have been searching for the perfect Nordic Walking sticks for a few weeks now and your post has helped me narrow it down so much. I didn’t realize some of the really small aspects of the sticks so I know now which ones will definitely not work.
I have wrist problems and I love to go walking but I just couldn’t until I found the Ultrsport brand. Their straps make it super easy to walk without feeling restricted in my wrists or being too tight that it causes serious pain.
I don’t think I have ever experienced the vibration that you talk about with the Gabel Stretch Lite sticks. I usually walk on concrete with my sticks and if it does vibrate I have never noticed it or it never bothered me.
I have the Alpidex walking sticks and they have served me very well the past few years. They are durable and made to last. Definitely a great investment if you like Nordic walking.
I have unusually small hands and with the Leki Spin walking sticks, I was able to adjust so it would fit them just right. I don’t know how many sticks I went through before finding ones that actually work.
I went through the same process!
I had to stop walking as much due to joint pain so I bought the Gipfelsport walking sticks to see if they really would help. And I can for sure say that they make a big difference. Now, it didn’t completely rid me of my joint pain, but it helps ease it when I want to go walking so I can walk more often than I used to.