When It Comes to Poles, Quality Pays for Itself

Unsolicited testimonial about 20-year-old poles.

On Thursday, I wrote a congratulatory blog post to Tom Rutlin on the 20th anniversary year of his Exerstrider poles. Ed Urbanski, also a longtime Nordic Walking enthusiast, posted a comment reminding me also to laud Tom's wife, Wendy, adding, "I bought my first pair of Exerstriders in 1988, and still use that pair today."

It is a great testimonial to those particular poles that Ed Urbanski is still using them after 20 years, and in a broader sense, it is also a testimonial to quality poles in general. I've seen websites and online ads for very, very, very cheap poles for fitness walking, and to the untrained eye, a picture of one type of pole looks pretty much like a picture of any other pole. A close look on the computer screen will show a difference in straps -- wide and supportive, or narrow like those found on ski poles or trekking poles -- or in the case of Exerstriders, no straps at all. But otherise, an image cannot show the quality of the shaft material (there are different grades of aluminum and different formulations for carbon-fiber), the configuration, the grip, the swing weight or other important features.

If you are new to Nordic Walking and can afford it, don't go cheap-o when buying poles. Invest in a quality brand (not necessarily a top-of-the-line model or even an internationally known name but one that is well made), perhaps poles with replacement tips and caps (paws) available, and those that stand behind their product with a decent warranty. You won't be sorry.