NorthstrideFitting Your First Nordic Poles: Sizing by the Elbow
We explain how to calculate correct shaft length by body ratio and forearm angle. You will learn to verify fit on flat timber before walking outside.
Recent field journals and guides
All articles
Walking Technique10 min read
Mastering the Backward Push-Off in Nordic Gait
Walking Technique10 min read
Managing Uphill Cadence with Nordic Poles
Pole Mechanics & Care10 min read
Rubber Paws vs Carbide Tips on Changing Terrain
Footwear & Ground Contact9 min read
Selecting Shoes for Nordic Walking: Heel to Toe
Northern Trail Craft8 min read
Packing for a Three-Hour Autumn Forest Circuit
More on Pole Mechanics & Care
Guides on shaft materials, wedge straps, rubber paws, and workshop repairs.
More on Northern Trail Craft
Route preparation, weather layering, and trail pacing across varied terrain.
Questions readers ask
How does your editorial team choose and survey walking routes?
We plan each route using Ordnance Survey basemaps, then walk the entire path with Nordic poles, recording path surfaces, stile widths, and gradient profiles directly from our Newcastle office.
How is this publication funded without commercial gear sponsorships?
Northstride operates as an independent editorial platform. We do not accept free gear or sponsored reviews, relying entirely on reader contributions and our private guide archives.
What pole materials do you recommend for beginner versus regular walkers?
For tarmac and packed gravel, we recommend carbon composite shafts paired with dense rubber paws. Natural cork handles offer better moisture handling than synthetic foam on longer walks.
How can readers submit route updates or report trail obstacles?
Readers can submit path notes directly through our contact form. Our editorial team inspects reported path closures or fallen trees around Newcastle and updates the relevant online guide.
We walk every trail with poles in hand, noting true ground conditions rather than copying council gazetteers.
Who writes here
Alistair VanceLead Route EditorWrite to our workshop desk
Send us your technical observations, corrections, or suggestions for trail reviews. We read every dispatch with care.