The question we get asked more than anything else is…..which shoes do you advise for Nordic Walking. Our answer is simple – they MUST be flexible soled, comfortable, not too heavy and ideally waterproof but footwear is a very personal thing so no one make or style fits all. In this issue we decided to ask our Tutors (the chaps who have trained all of our Instructors around the UK) what they all prefer and why. You might be quite surprised by our findings! Martin Christie our lead Tutor has been Nordic walking since 2004 and as well as having personally trained over 1,000 Instructors he runs several sessions a week on Hampstead Heath in London. Martin wears  – ASICS Gel Trabuco – he says These trial running shoes are great – flexibility through the forefoot, lightweight, and decent tread and grip. I have a narrow foot and I’ve found the fit of the ASICS gel Trabuco ideal. I don’t choose the Goretex version as I prefer to wear Sealskinz socks when the weather dictates.

And for Nordic walking, they have a tongue pocket for tucking in your laces to avoid poles catching in the lace loops (not that I’ve ever seen that happen). Tanya Adolpho is our Childrens’ fitness specialist and Gymstick (resistance bands) supremo as well as a highly successful Nordic Walking Instructor and Tutor. Tanya wears  – Vibro Trail Barefoot I love Barefoot footwear, with waterproof socks.   They are like marmite; you either love them or hate them!  I absolutely love them and I’m slowly convincing my clients as well. I can feel the floor, not only do I get a free foot reflexology session every walk as you can feel all the lumps and bumps, I have much better grip in the mud. Whilst people around me are slipping and sliding in the mud, I tend to walk with a smirk on my face as my feet mold into the environment feeling the mud whilst remaining upright. FACT – The foot has 33 joints, 26 bones, more than a hundred muscles, tendons and ligaments, as well as a sole loaded with nerve endings and a variety of touch receptors that allow us to feel, giving us vital proprioception to keep our balance as we walk, run and jump. 

Over protecting our feet will stop this all from working, so  I’m convinced that minimal footwear is the way to go. I am also someone who also suffers from lower back pain, and since wearing minimalist shoes they have been fantastic to help keep the back in alignment, thus reducing the osteopath bills! nike toddler shoes for saleAnother plus no more blisters from over protection, my feet can breathebest women's running shoes for snow and move how they have been designed too.buy gucci shoes uk I can’t wait for the summer could be no shoes at all, (although I think I’ll need to keep the paws on the poles for that walk)” Jason Feavers combines a full time job as Exercise referral co-ordinator in York with his role as a senior Tutor with NWUK.

He specialises in  wellbeing and the use of exercise for those with health problems. Through winter (and wet summers) I wear Inov8 Terroc 345 GTX shoes.  The shoes are incredibly waterproof yet breathable and light enough for long mountain walks or shorter walks through wet grass and muddy fields.  In summer I go for a minimalist shoe to really get the feel of the ground and allow my feet to move as naturally as possible.  I’ve tried a number of minimalist running shoes, but found the Merrell Trail Glove to have  the most natural feel.Great for mindful Nordic walking and allowing the feet to work as nature intended. Dawn McLean is a Tutor for both Nordic Walking UK and Later Life Training and her specialism is exercise for the older Adult My favourite walking shoes are trail shoes as they always make me feel that I have a secure footing on all the varied Brooks Hydroflow Trail Blade – These ones are grey with a wee bit of dayglo green on the bottom. I usually take a 6 or 6.5 and these are 6.5 and a perfect fit. 

waterproof but are fabulous and sooooo comfy. I love them both for the comfort and for how they look. My other pair are Asics Gel Trail Lahar which are gore tex waterproof and black with a wee bit of silver on and these are very comfortable too.  Size euro 40.5 is a great fit. Hopefully, this article has helped you to see the vast range of shoes that are suitable for nordic walking and given you some ideas of what to look for when choosing your own pair? We were quite surprised that a couple of our Tutors no longer worry about buying the more expensive Waterproof shoes but wear Waterproof socks instead! This way they can save money on shoes which they need to replace regularly and still stay warm and dry. We love the Sealskinz short waterproof socks so much that we now stock them on our website see hereBest Road Running Shoes for Speed Our road running shoes are perfect for running on any road surface. Delivers a fast, natural & smooth run with optimum comfort & grip.

There are many options when it comes to shoes to wear when working out. Every shoe won’t work for every person since each person’s feet are different and each foot may be different. It’s best to get your feet measured and get advice from a professional shoe store, but here are some basic tips to help you narrow down the large selection of athletic shoes. Walking on a treadmill is different than running, and the same shoes may not work for both activities. It’s a good idea for exercisers to know the type of movements they will be performing during their workout on the treadmill. Running on the treadmill is a very different motion than running on the ground and there is a much higher impact absorbed by the balls of the feet. Shoes that are worn for a workout on the treadmill need to provide proper cushioning to avoid injury. Any exerciser that has foot problems should talk to their podiatrist before buying running or walking shoes because wearing the wrong shoes can cause injury and make foot problems worse.

When buying shoes for exercise for the first time, it’s a good idea to get your feet measured at a store that specializes in athletic shoes. The store employees can measure each foot properly and note any gait issues such as over-pronation and pigeon toes. There are three common types of feet, which are; *Normal Feet – most people have normal feet and there are the most shoe options for people with normal feet. *Flat Feet – people with flat feet have no arch. There isn’t a visible curve from the big toe to the heel. Flat footed people tend to roll their feet inward when walking or running and should wear shoes that stabilize their feet. *High-Arched Feet – high arches need special care because running often causes the arches of the feet to fall. Exercisers with high arches usually roll their feet outward while running. They need shoes that absorb shock and are flexible. Shoes that are designed for walking or running should be lightweight so that it’s easy for the exerciser to move quickly.

The problem with shoes that are very lightweight is that they contain very little padding. Each exerciser should try on a variety of shoes to find their perfect balance between the weight of the shoe and the cushioning it provides. Most people who run on a treadmill put more pressure on their heel than their toe, so extra cushioning is needed in the heel area of their shoes to soften the impact of running on a treadmill. The proper amount of cushioning will support each exerciser’s running stance and help them avoid being sore the next day. Runners who aren’t sore are much more likely to stick to a daily exercise program. The best shoes are the ones that make the exerciser comfortable. Walking or running in uncomfortable shoes can lead to injury. It is also difficult to find motivation to exercise if you know that you’ll be uncomfortable. It may take a few tries to find the right shoes for your feet, but having shoes that fit properly and feel good on your feet is worth the hassle.

According to a study conducted by Eneslow, The Foot Comfort Center, the average American has about 11 pairs of shoes and three of those they don’t wear because they’re uncomfortable. The best shoes for exercising are the ones that the runner or walker feels comfortable in and wants to wear. If athletic shoes are not flexible enough, the exerciser may experience problems such as shin splints. Good running shoes should not bend in the arch, but they should bend at the ball of the foot. The shoes should also twist if someone twists them. It is difficult for manufacturers to find a balance between support and flexibility of each shoe because every foot is different. Cross training shoes tend to be the best for a variety of activities, but may not be the best shoes for just running or walking. Barefoot running is a popular trend, but it can be dangerous to run on a treadmill barefoot because most treadmills generate heat from the friction of the belt moving. Running barefoot on a treadmill can also cause runners to stub their toes where the belt meets the front of the machine.