What every hiker or walker wants this Christmas………………..
Do you have a keen walker in your family? Maybe a Nordic walker, Mountain walker or Hiker who has signed up for a challenge next year?
This guide will help you to navigate your way through the gifts that will make them smile with every step.
Rule number one is think about where they walk and how long they are generally out. There’s a big difference between the kit required for a trek in the Peaks versus a one hour fitness walk in the park.
However, two keys things should be considered for ANY walk – safety and hydration
No walker should venture out without a phone and some water ( and ideally a layer to pop on if they get held up or there is an incident)
The easiest way to carry those essentials is in a waist bag which is big enough to add the one essential nobody should leave home without…. a foil blanket! It may seem like overkill but trust us, this tiny lightweight accessory can provide heaps of warmth if there is a sudden change in the weather or a walker is injured and needs to wait for help.
This waistpack also has a slot for a water bottle and zipped pocket for keys etc – for those who like a larger pack there are great ones available with several pockets and more space for clothing/food etc.
Our favourite design is the one pictured which is available on Amazon – click HERE it comes in grey/black too
Waist packs are great for those who use poles as they can be positioned to make sure it does not impede that all important armswing!
Next we come on to poles, it used to be that only Nordic walkers walked with two poles but these days most hikers know that it is far better for the posture to use two and that you get less fatigued if you use them to take the weight off the lower body
The WALX total body walking poles are taking the UK by storm as they can be used for Nordic walking, fitness walking, hiking, trail running and rehabilitation.
Super comfy ergonomic handles ensure the upper body power is transmitted through the poles which are set on the latest 15 degree angled shafts (by Fizan in Italy). This creates a totally natural but comfortable way to share the load throughout the whole body – something any walker will notice immediately.
They encourage a natural comfortable walking gait and yet provide power that increases walking speed and makes you lighter on your feet too. They are lightweight and help to engage the core and upper body muscles with every step. This improves, posture and helps with toning and weight loss too. Just 20 minutes a day provides a total body workout that can be done anyway at any level by anyone. You can read more about them HERE
The great thing too is that they are easy to master so our walking beginner bundles come with an on line instructional course to help them get started OR the option to join a local group to enjoy a Power of Poles session (if there is not one nearby, the WALX HQ team will deliver this virtually instead)
Our experts can teach people how to use poles for fitness, stability, comfort, balance, speed and weight loss. We are experts in nordic walking, challenge and speed walking, walking for rehabilitation or recovery and simply walking well with poles.
We also have a range of gift vouchers so you can simply choose the amount and you favourite walker can use that towards any store items or their pole walking tuition with us on-line or with our network.
If none of those suit – take a look at our Christmas gift bundles – everything from whistles, hand sanitiser, tick removers for example – great stocking fillers which are also essential in the great outdoors.
If you are really stuck, we have a team of REAL people who answer the PHONE ( yes we really do) and we can help you put together the perfect gift for the walker in your life. Call us on 0333 1234 540