The Fastest Way to Look Like a Nordic Walking Pro? Stop Doing These 7 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 using 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 to be sure you’re not making.

❌ 1. Pointing your boot tips forward

Many beginners put their boot tips on the wrong way. When you're holding your poles, the toe ends of the boot tips should face back 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 length and limits your forward propulsion.

❌ 3. Planting your boot tips too far forward

For a smooth, powerful stride, plant your boot tips well behind your feet. Once you’re moving, you should never be able to see them. Planting your boot tips properly also helps prevent you from tripping over your poles.

❌ 4. Looking down at the ground

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

❌ 5. Taking regular-length strides

Long arm swings naturally create long strides. But don't try to force longer steps. Let your long arm swings lead, and your stride should 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 on the straps or gloves if your poles use these). Your arms and poles should propel you forward while your legs simply keep pace.

❌ 6. Dragging your boot tips

Lift and lower your boot tips, just an inch or centimetre or two, after each pole plant. You should hear a satisfying thud noise with each plant, not a dragging noise. Planting versus dragging your boot tips creates less wear and tear and lengthens their lifespan.