The Fastest Way to Look Like a Nordic Walking Pro? Stop Doing These 6 Things

You don't need years of experience to look and move like an experienced Nordic walker. Simply avoiding a few common mistakes can make an immediate difference in your technique, efficiency, and confidence.

Nordic walking isn't the same as walking with hiking poles or utilizing poles for balance. It's a technique that uses your arms and the poles to propel your body forward, allowing you to walk faster and/or farther while engaging almost every muscle in your body.

Have you taken a lesson? If not, here are six mistakes I commonly see when people teach themselves.

❌ 1. Putting your boot tips on incorrectly

Many beginners put their boot tips on the wrong way. When you're holding your poles, the pointed ends of the boot tips should face behind you. Positioning the boot tips correctly gives you more stable pole plants and better propulsion.

❌ 2. Swinging your arms from your elbows

Nordic walking is powered by a natural arm swing from the shoulders, not the elbows. Think of your arms as two long pendulums. Your arms should remain long and relaxed throughout the swing, with very little movement at the elbows. Swinging from the elbows shortens your stride and limits your forward propulsion.

❌ 3. Planting your boot tips in front of you

For a smooth, powerful stride, plant your boot tips just behind your heels. Once you're moving properly, you shouldn't be able to see your boot tips because they'll always be behind you.

❌ 4. Looking down at the ground

Keep your head up and your eyes looking ahead. Scan the path for obstacles in the distance rather than staring in front of your feet. Looking forward helps maintain good posture.

❌ 5. Taking regular-length strides

Long arm swings naturally create longer strides. Don't try to force longer steps with your legs. Let your long arm swings lead, and your stride will lengthen naturally.

❌ 6. Focusing on your legs to move you forward

The power in Nordic walking comes from your upper body. Focus on your long arm swings and pressing down and back on the ledges of your handles (or through the straps if your poles use straps). Your arms and poles should propel you forward while your legs simply keep pace.