I wrote my book, The Urban Poling Ultimate Guide to Nordic Walking to capture the Nordic walking tips and advice that I've found myself sharing over and over again for the last 10+ years.
One of the most frequent questions I get is about clothing for winter workouts. Space constraints didn't allow me to include too much detail in the book. So instead I'm sharing some of my favourite items here. (These really are my favourites, and I receive no compensation for recommending them!)
Fleece-lined Pants
Long underwear is a must in the cold months, but a better and easier way to go is the all-in-one approach--pants with a stretchy wind-resistant outer layer and a cosy brushed lining.
My current must-haves are from Mountain Equipment Coop: the Prana Winter Hallena Pant ($120) and the MPG Lined Nemea Pant (sorry, no longer available at MEC but perhaps elsewhere). A bit pricey yes, but worth every penny.
Mark's has a similar pair ($110) (they didn’t fit me well, but might work for you).
I haven’t tried these ones from Uniqlo, but they look and sound good on their website.
Best Socks Ever
Hopefully you know to avoid cotton socks to keep your feet dry and blister-free. My favourite sport socks are these ones from Lululemon ($18). Maybe a crazy price for socks (I ask for them for Christmas), but they're stretchy and thin with just a bit of padding in the right places, they don't slip, and they’re long lasting. Love them!
Thicker/warmer winter workout socks are everywhere including Mark’s.. Always doublecheck labels to be sure there’s no cotton.
Base Layer
In wintery weather, a snug base layer that hugs your skin is key to keeping warm. I have a few of these from Uniqlo. Lots of options from MEC as well.
Mitts
Keeping your hands warm in winter (especially if you’re a Nordic walker or runner) can be a real challenge. If you tend to have cold hands, always opt for mitts over gloves since they trap more heat; mitts with a glove liner are really the best. Be sure they are made of a wind blocking material. This year I’m adding liners like these to my mitts in an effort to keep my almost-always-cold hands warm! On really cold days, I’ll be wearing my cosy battery-operated mitts!
Folding Cap
I recently found this FitKicks Folding Cap ($10.99) at Shoppers Drug Mart's Wellwise store (in Leaside in Toronto). It folds into thirds then in half again to easily fit into your pocket. Perfect when you're out running or Nordic walking in unpredictable weather. Bonus: it's water- and crush-resistant, has a good-size brim and looks great.
Illuminating Waist Pack
Another excellent item from Wellwise is the FitZip Illuminating Waist Pack ($19.99). On dark mornings and evenings, press a button to light up the pouch in one of three flash modes. The zippered pouch easily holds a phone or even a small water bottle or wallet. Best of all, it's rechargeable via a USB port. No batteries required!
Buff
If you haven't done so already, ditch your scarf and get a buff or two. You can buy them at any outdoors store (such as Sport Chek or Mountain Equipment Coop). This multi-purpose tube of light stretchy fabric can be a scarf, cap, hood or face mask or can just be stored on your wrist or in your pocket once you've warmed up and no longer need it. (Try that with a bulky scarf!)
