If you already walk, you’re in the top 25% of the population in terms of fitness, but walking does little to maintain upper body and vital core muscle strength. Exerstriding simultaneously works all the body’s major muscles and in addition, it more effectively prevents weight gain, helps maintain overall bone density, increases cardiovascular capacity and increases confidence by improving balance and posture. If you’re going to invest in exercise by walking, Exerstriding is like putting your investment in a “bank” with a significantly higher interest rate. Without feeling like you’re investing more energy and with no additional investment in time, you’ll reap much greater fitness returns!
There are physiological and motivational limits to how much walkers can increase their speed. Walking faster significantly increases the stress on the body, and does nothing for your upper body or core. Most people take up fitness walking because it is safe and enjoyable. However, walking faster makes it less enjoyable for some, and the faster one walks the greater the likelihood of injury. No matter what speed you walk, Exerstriding increases the benefits without any significant increase in the perceived exertion and without going faster.
Although wrist weights or hand held weights are the most widely used tools used by walkers attempting to “pump up” their walking workouts, the benefits of their use are minimal and the risks are significant. While it’s true that weights increase calories burned, most experts agree their risks far outweigh the benefits. Swinging these weights back and forth puts significant stress on the tendons and ligaments of the shoulder. Ankle weights alter gait mechanics and put dangerous stress on the ligaments of the knee.
The use of weighted bands, belts or backpacks adds stress to the neck and shoulders, feet, ankles, knees, hips and spine as though you had suddenly gained an excess of body weight.
Exerstriding is safer and more effective than weights or bands. It targets larger muscle groups resulting in increased strength, endurance, balance and better posture. You’ll easily increase the energy cost of walking by nearly 25% without feeling like you’re working any harder, and by more than 70% with serious effort, benefiting your cardiovascular health.
Exerstriding puts every major muscle to work against relatively low levels of resistance for literally thousands of repetitions, building muscle endurance while also increasing strength. However because the muscles are not overloaded, they will not significantly increase in mass. Exerstriding is for body conditioning rather than body building. Unless you are an athlete whose activities require exceptional levels of strength, the type of “functional strength” and muscle endurance that Exerstriding builds are preferable, and you get plenty of functional gain with no pain.
Exerstriding is a true total body exercise. Unlike running and other “half body exercises,” your heart will work to pump blood to every major muscle in your body, simultaneously improving overall vascular fitness and gradually increasing muscle strength and endurance. It does this without all the years of pavement-pounding forces to get fit.
*Yes! I too am a former runner, and I’ve now been Exerstriding for nearly 30 years now. I quit running when I realized that by simultaneously working all of the body’s major muscles, I could actually accomplish more fitness goals in less time. I’ve maintained good cardiovascular fitness, lean body mass, overall strength and endurance and healthy joints. I just put my entire body to “good use” as I Exerstride just over two miles each day! -Tom Rutlin
Unlike Nordic ski machines and cross-country skiing, Exerstriding does not require a high level of balance, coordination or skill. Walking is programmed into your DNA. If you can walk, you can learn to Exerstride in no time at all. Walking with poles requires little more coordination than just walking and swinging your arms. The instructional video and manual included with each set of poles will give you all the easy to follow instructions you’ll need to learn to Exerstride.
The design of our exclusive high-carbon rubber tips (a compound very similar to quality auto tires) allows you to Exerstride anywhere you would otherwise walk. The tips are tough, non-marking and provide unmatched traction on nearly any stable walking surface. They work equally well for mall walking and hiking on nature trails. They are even used in school physical education classes on wood gym floors. They also work great on composition tracks like those used in health clubs. The tips are tough enough to hold up to paved surfaces and yet safe to use on even the most delicate floor surfaces.
Many people ask if you can Exerstride on a treadmill. The answer depends on the width of the treadmill belt. Most home treadmills have belts that are just 14″ to 18″ wide. Since the poles travel alongside the body, it is not possible to Exerstride safely on these treadmills. On institutional/health club treadmills with belts 20″ or wider, it is quite possible to master Exerstriding with some practice.
*I do nearly all my Exerstriding on paved surfaces, but my all-time favorite surface is on the wet sand that is left as waves lap up on lake or ocean shores. -Tom Rutlin
Exerstrider pole grips are uniquely designed to be ergonomic and low fatigue without straps. Even a light grip will maintain control on the ERGO/SC (ergonomic strapless comfort) grip. Exerstrider ERGO/SC grips allow for effortless control while keeping the wrist in a safe, comfortable and neutral position.
Straps can be hot and uncomortable in warm weather and clumsy to use in cold weather with gloves. They can restrict circulation and can cause chafing. Straps are also more likely to cause injury to hands, wrists, arm or shoulder in the unlikely event of a fall.*
*NOTE: While Nordic walking in any form is a very safe activity, in the event of a fall, the most frequent injuries associated with Nordic walking are to the wrist and thumb as a result of being attached by straps. For this reason it is highly recommended that persons with balance issues and senior exercisers avoid using poles with straps and instead switch to Exerstrider poles.
We’re glad you found us!
Exerstriding has been improving peoples live since 1988. We’ve been in scores of national magazines and been written about in over 100 newspaper articles, as well as being featured on several nationally televised shows. Over the last three decades, dozens of fitness equipment and gimmicks have been powerfully marketed to hopeful masses and failed to deliver on their promises. Exerstrider fitness walking poles deliver real quality and results to our customers without the need for fancy advertisements and in-your-face sales techniques.
The benefits of Exerstriding are enjoyed by people ranging from 9 to over 100 years old.
Exerstrider poles can provide greater strength, balance, stability and the joy of motion to people of any age.
If you have lost confidence and balance, Exerstriding works even better than canes or walkers. Research has proven that even people into their nineties can significantly increase their strength by doing regular resistance or weight training. Exerstriding is a safe and effective means of resistance training.
Through our work with the International Council on Active Aging, we have launched popular and successful Exerstriding programs in continuting care retirement communities all across the US and Canada.
No, you won’t! Exerstriding is not about speed! By the time you have reached your desired level of fitness, you will find it easy to maintain at whatever speed and overall intensity works for you.
If weight loss is your goal, try to maximize the duration of each Exerstriding session until you reach your goal, and then gradually reduce the length of your daily strides until you find the duration at which you maintain your desired body weight.