The best clothes for Nordic Walking: how to choose the right ones

Looking for the best clothing for Nordic walkingbut you're not sure how to choose it? Here we tell you what is the best equipment to make the practice of this discipline enjoyable and beneficial for you.

Nordic walking clothing: characteristics

Nordic walking clothing should have three simple characteristics: it should be light, elastic and breathable.

• Slight. Lightness is a fundamental condition for Nordic Walking. If you choose heavy clothing, you should be aware that it will only add weight to your body, restricting your freedom of movement. It is also good that the garments used are short and do not hinder the movement of arms and legs. 
  

• Elastic. This condition of Nordic Walking clothing is also quite important: an elastic garment will allow arms and legs to move freely and improve the position of the musculature. It will also reduce chafing that over time can cause skin injuries.

• Breathable. This is perhaps the most important of the characteristics of the Nordic Walking clothing. By having a breathable garment, moisture is wicked away. When you exercise, your skin perspires and soaks through your clothing. If you wear a breathable garment, the moisture produced by perspiration from your skin will dry much more quickly, thus avoiding discomfort. It is important to know that the use of cotton garments is not advisable.This material takes much longer to dry and gets soaked with sweat. 

When it comes to choosing clothes, we can continue to use the technique of layering, so often used in the mountains. We can overlap them depending on the conditions we find. 

For the upper part we can opt for a first thermal layer in contact with the skin. For cool conditions, it can be long sleeved, as in the model Arc'teryx Phase Ar (see to buy)with elastic fabric Phasic ARa very versatile thermal T-shirt. If the weather is good, you can opt for a short-sleeved technical T-shirt, such as the one we have in the ALPINE TS SS by Millet (click here to view). This first layer can be complemented with a jacket, as long as it allows free movement, such as the Berkner Nilsa multifunctional jacket that can be used for nordic walking. In rainy or snowy conditions, we should go for an outer layer with waterproof and breathable fabric. The variety is huge, but we have jacket models from 115 euros like the Millet Trident 2.5.

For the lower part you can use long or short tights, depending on the time of year. As you can see, we always go for garments that do not impede or hinder movement. They can be tights like the Salomon Agile Long Tight (get them from 56,23 euros) (model for women) or lightweight trousers such as Salomon Women's Lightning Race (Click to view) or the Salomon Bonatti WP (Click here to buy) in its men's version.

The shoes

The shoes to be used in Nordic Walking must be flexibleto accompany the movement of the foot. Of course, if the practice is done on wet dirt roads, the shoes should have some kind of grip to prevent falls and slips.

Special shoes for Nordic Walking are to be considered as different from runningThe shoe should provide good forward grip and stabilise the foot to prevent twisting. This shoe must provide good forward grip and stabilise the foot to prevent twisting. Models designed for running such as the Salomon Sense Pulse (Click to view) (female model) have characteristics that make them also suitable as walking shoes. 

It is also important to check the condition of your shoes, including the soles, before you start any walk. This will help you to avoid any inconvenience during your walk.

Other accessories

Apart from the Nordic walking clothingDepending on the length of the walk, it will be necessary to use other implements to facilitate the walk.

For transporting objects

If the route is short, it is not necessary to carry a rucksack: it will suffice to carry a fanny pack or with a belt with pockets. For a short hike, you can carry documents, first aid equipment, a bottle of water and a small snack. The hydration fanny pack Salomon Xr Sensibelt (from 70 euros on Amazon) can be a good choice.  

If it is the case that the route is longer than this, then a backpack. It is important that the backpack fits close to the body and that it has a chest strap: this will prevent it from swinging against the body and allow a better posture. There are models on the market such as the Salomon Trail 10 (Click to view) that will solve all our needs.

In addition to documentation and a first aid kit, it is possible to bring more food and water: it is important to remember that the hydration is fundamental in any discipline.

The batons

Nordic walking poles are usually made of aluminium, carbon, or a mixture of fibreglass, carbon and aluminium.

Insiders say that a carbon pole guarantees that the cushioning will be better than that of an aluminium pole, as well as being more stable and lighter.

Another element that should not be missing in a Nordic Walking pole is the rubber block. This should be interchangeable and has the functionality to absorb shock and noise from hitting the ground.  

In terms of size, it should not be too long, as this could hinder movement. One way to calculate the length of the pole is to multiply the height of the person by 0.66, 0.68 or 0.7..  

Beginners can use aluminium poles with a steel tip, while more regular users may prefer to use carbon poles with a tungsten tip. The pole model Leki PaceMaker (see here to buy) is suitable for Nordic walking. 

Protection from the sun

Whenever you are active outdoors, it is important to protect yourself from the sun's rays. For this purpose, you can use a cap with visorgood sunglasses and of course, don't forget to protect your skin with a sun cream.