Description
WALX® no longer imports Urban Poling Activator poles into the UK.
After more than 16 years of delivering walking, rehabilitation, fitness, and wellbeing programmes, we made the decision to develop our own ergonomic pole system rather than continue adapting our teaching methods around third-party pole designs.
This led to the development of the NEW WALX® Ergo Grip™ handle and WALX® Xcelerator pole range.
Designed by the WALX Team, the ergonomic handle is positioned at 15° vertically and offset by 12° to better mirror the natural position of the hand and wrist whilst walking. The result is greater comfort, improved support, more natural movement, and reduced wrist strain for fitness, rehabilitation, stability, and wellbeing walking.
Today, many Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, rehabilitation specialists, and walking instructors have transitioned to using the newer WALX® Xcelerator poles.
However, we appreciate that some individuals may still be specifically recommended Activator poles by a therapist, healthcare professional, or existing walking group. If this is the case, please contact us and we will happily discuss your needs directly with you or your therapist to ensure you obtain the most appropriate poles for your situation.
Why WALX® Moved Away from Push-Button Pole Systems
As part of developing the WALX® pole range, we undertook extensive discussions with engineering and manufacturing specialists regarding pole strength, durability, and long-term reliability.
One of the concerns identified with traditional push-button adjustment systems is that multiple drilled holes are required through the pole shaft. Engineering guidance provided to us indicated that introducing repeated drilled holes into aluminium tubing can significantly reduce the structural integrity of the pole.
Over time, we also experienced real-world failures where wear around the button apertures caused enlargement of the holes and eventual instability within the locking mechanism.
Because push-button systems rely on continuous metal-on-metal contact, repeated use can gradually wear protective coatings and contribute to long-term degradation of the surrounding material.
For this reason, WALX® made the decision to move towards twist-lock and external clip-lock systems within our newer pole designs, which we believe provide a stronger, more durable, and more reliable solution for walking, rehabilitation, hiking, and fitness applications.
Developed with European Manufacturing Expertise
We also became increasingly uncomfortable with the fact that many walking poles on the market, including Activator-style poles, are manufactured in China or Taiwan.
The WALX® pole range is now developed in partnership with Fizan in Italy — expert pole manufacturers with over 80 years of experience producing high-quality walking and mountain poles.
This partnership has enabled us to create a modern ergonomic walking pole system specifically designed around:
- natural movement
- comfort
- posture
- rehabilitation
- stability
- Total Body Walking®
Limited Ex-Demo & Part-Exchange Availability
Although we no longer import new Urban Activator poles, we do occasionally receive pairs back through part-exchange as customers upgrade to the latest WALX® Xcelerator poles.
These ex-demo and pre-owned pairs are professionally checked before resale and can provide a lower-cost option for users specifically seeking the Activator design.
If you are looking for Activator poles, please call us on:
0333 1234 540
We can advise on current availability and whether the newer WALX® Xcelerator poles may now be a more suitable option.
Discover the NEW WALX® Xcelerator Poles
The WALX® Xcelerator poles are now the preferred choice for many health professionals, walking groups, and rehabilitation programmes across the UK.
Featuring the unique WALX® Ergo Grip™ handle system, they are designed to support natural movement, comfort, posture, and stability without the need for traditional straps.
View the WALX® Xcelerator poles here:
https://store.walx.co.uk/shop/wellbeing-rehabilitation/wellness/urban-poles/walx-xcelerator-pair/
