Having been at the forefront of pole walking for over 15 years at WALX , we have seen the trends, adapted the techniques and always ensured that our amazing Instructors were able to help people get the MOST out of using two poles.

As we began to add our range of wellness, functional fitness, yoga and total body walking drills to our group programmes over the years, we began to get a real feel for how we could combine comfort, simple learning experiences and above all the RESULTS people can get from using poles for exercise.

Of courses, we still wholly embrace the types of poles (and range of brands – Leki, Fizan, Gabel) we have always used and promoted but we also knew there were things that could be improved and so….

We have developed our own range of ergonomic handled fitness walking poles which combine the benefits of propulsive (Nordic style) walking with other features more recently proven to add comfort and effectiveness to natural fitness walking.

What’s more these poles are UK designed and we work with our European Partners at Fizan in Italy to ensure we no longer ship poles in from the far east, yet use high quality pole shafts made by a factory with credibility and experience.

Driven by a desire to provide affordable, comfortable, high quality poles and reduce our carbon footprint – we are proud to have achieved our goals!

 

Why are they different?

Ergonomic handled walking poles have been around for years and in 2018 we developed our power of poles induction to start the learning process with them before introducing people to the traditional Nordic walking style poles. We did this because we noticed people struggling to engage the correct upper body muscles and movements simple because they were strapped to the poles from the start

Nordic walking armswing and stride

Traditional Nordic walking is of course, a coaching technique based on cross country skiing but as we built it’s appeal in the UK we knew we had to adapt this precise, quite athletic movement to something that could work for all abilities and fitness levels. Initially, we brought in a range of technique ‘gears’ with more manageable range of movement and then we moved to the ergonomic handles instead of strapped poles at the start of the teaching process. We made sure walkers could master both types of pole and select the ones that gave them what THEY wanted from pole walking

NOW, we have moved forward (forgive the pun) again by addressing some of the key issues in relation to strapless poles AND combining them with the latest innovation in Nordic Walking pole development which is the 15 degree pole shaft (outlined in this article where we interview Andrea Zaltron from Fizan re the concept click HERE.)

What this has allowed us to create is a handle that literally  harnesses the power of the whole upper body, through the whole of the hand whilst ensuring a neutral wrist position and no pressure on the ulnar region (outer edge of the hand)

It also helps the walker to understand the propulsive pole angle and not have to learn to not grip the handle – which feels unnatural

The poles are also lightweight, adjustable and we think stylish too! They are perfect for fitness walking but also comfortable for trekking/hiking and use on all terrains from pavements and paths to the peaks! So we are delighted that after 2 years in development plus a lot of help from UK designers and manufacturers and extensive testing by our Instructors, the poles are now available on our website.

There are 3 models to choose from

The TBW (Total body WALX)  poles are our general fitness and Nordic walking style poles. Lightweight adjustable and easy to use. There is a choice of two materials and two pole shaft combinations.

The TBW Aluminium 2 piece adjustable poles can be adjusted to suit sizes from 87 cm to 125cm, they feature the unique WALX ergonomic handle and 15 degree angled shaft. They come in pairs with detachable rubber paws for use on hard surfaces – click HERE to see more or buy.

Total Body WALX Carbon extendable poles which are also adjustable for size but have a longer bottom shaft in order to provide a superior pole plant reaction due to reduced vibration and improved energy absorption. They have the WALX ergonomic handle and the top section of the shaft has the 15 degree angle.They come in pairs with detachable rubber paws (angled nordic style boots) for use on hard surfaces. Click HERE for more information or to buy

Note there are two height ranges to select from to make sure the poles are as bespoke to you as possible.

The sizes  are 107cm – 120cm or 117cm – 130 cm – if you are unsure of the correct one for you, you can always call the WALX team on 0333 1234 540

We have also developed a specific model for use with our rehabilitation specialists and projects. These have been used for training in partnership with Parkinson’s UK and are on the recommended exercise list for patients at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

WALX Xcelerator poles – for support, stability, rehabilitation and the acceleration of recovery.

WALX Xcelerator poles are two piece aluminium with the WALX ergonomic handles and 15 degree angled shaft, they also have additional features for use in rehabilitation and recovery (round stability paw and a wrist strap) You can read more about them HERE and view videos on how to set up and get started.

To view the product and buy click HERE

It’s early days but already the feedback is coming in. See what the walkers say………………….

“Just wanted to say my poles arrived yesterday as you promised. So thank you for that. I used them today for the first time on a Nordic Walk with the Winchester group. And I liked them! I like the “freedom” of them and I found them very comfortable to hold and walk with. So I’m sure I’ll get a lot of use out of them”

“First of all, I wanted to say that the new strapless 15 degree with the moulded handles lived up to my expectations. I love the thumb groove, which makes for a more relaxed grip. It took me three goes to get the right height – I had to use a mirror in the end. Once I got the right height, I haven’t looked back and will be swapping them for my Urban 300s. The Urban 300 poles did much to improve my technique, but the Fizan 15° poles are lighter and less clumsy.”

“With this new handle you can feel that the thumb and the area of the hand next to the thumb is well supported. When pushing,  the hand is well supported and does not tend to rotate inward too much. Inward rotation of the hand is something that happens in the Activator handle.

 On very steep downhill sections you can grip the handle with the thumb over the top of the handle and twist the pole forward in a very comfortable way. 

 On very steep uphill sections you can grip the top of the handle in a close fist manner and is very comfortable too.

 For me, no doubt, this is the best designed walking pole on earth. Works wonderfully on flat and extreme terrain and more comfortable than the other strapless options”